Many customers have shown up to a Carquest storefront only to find the doors locked and a closure notice taped to the window. Others have seen posts on social media claiming the entire brand is shutting down for good. Neither picture is completely accurate — and the real story is worth understanding before drawing conclusions.
This article covers who actually owns Carquest, what the current closure plan looks like, which regions are most affected, and what it all means for customers, employees, and independent store owners.
Carquest Is a Brand Owned by Advance Auto Parts — Not a Standalone Company
This is the most important thing to understand before anything else. Carquest is not an independent business. It operates as a brand under Advance Auto Parts, one of the largest automotive parts retailers in the country.
Advance runs both Advance-branded and Carquest-branded locations. Some of these are corporate-owned stores, while others are independently affiliated — meaning local business owners operate them under the Carquest name through an agreement with Advance.
Advance operates over 4,700 stores across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with Carquest-branded locations spread across these markets.
Because of this structure, any decision Advance makes at the corporate level — whether to close, rebrand, or exit a market — directly controls what happens to Carquest locations. Think of it like a restaurant chain owned by a larger parent company. The parent can close underperforming locations in certain cities while keeping the brand active elsewhere. That is essentially what is happening here.
Advance Auto Parts Announced a Plan to Close More Than 700 Locations
In November 2024, Advance Auto Parts announced a large-scale restructuring plan. The goal was to close more than 700 locations by roughly mid-2025. This was reported by Fortune and confirmed by USA Today in follow-up coverage in February 2025.
The breakdown of the plan looks like this:
- Approximately 523 corporate stores
- Around 204 independent locations, including Carquest-affiliated independents
- 4 distribution centers
Carquest-branded stores — both corporate and independently operated — are included in this wave of closures. This is a significant number, and it explains why so many customers are noticing local shutdowns.
However, it is important to be clear about what this is and what it is not. Advance has described this as a “restructuring and asset optimization” initiative aimed at achieving steady, profitable growth. There has been no bankruptcy filing, and the company continues to operate thousands of locations.
As of February 2025, Advance confirmed the plan was proceeding on schedule. In the 52-week period ending December 28, the company had already closed 40 Advance and Carquest locations while also opening 42 new ones — a sign of active portfolio management rather than a full collapse.
Certain Regions Are Facing Complete Market Exits
The closures are not evenly distributed. Some regions are being hit far harder than others, which is driving most of the concern in local communities and online discussions.
Advance has referenced complete market exits in certain Western states during earnings discussions. Social media posts and local news reports suggest that West Coast Carquest stores — including locations in California — are largely closing. These reports are directionally consistent with what Advance has said about Western market exits, though the company has not published a full state-by-state list.
Montana: A Significant Regional Impact
Montana is one of the clearest documented examples. Local media confirmed that the company operating all Montana Carquest locations plans to close them as part of the broader corporate restructuring. That amounts to roughly 21 stores across the state — a meaningful loss in a region where Carquest was often the primary auto parts supplier for both consumers and repair shops.
Springfield, Missouri: A Local Franchisee’s Perspective
The Springfield Business Journal reported that Carquest of Springfield, Missouri closed — and the local franchisee made a telling statement. He said the closure was not his decision. It came from Advance Auto Parts at the corporate level. This example illustrates how independent operators can find themselves with little recourse when Advance decides to exit their market. They run the store, but they do not control the larger business relationship.
This pattern is likely playing out in multiple states where independent Carquest operators received notice that Advance was ending their agreements.
Why Advance Auto Parts Is Reducing Its Store Count
The closures follow a period of weak financial performance. Advance has been working to improve its profitability, and this restructuring is the most visible part of that effort.
A few specific factors are driving the decisions:
Overlapping Store Locations
In higher-density markets, Advance had both Advance-branded and Carquest-branded stores operating close to each other. This created internal competition and inefficiency. Closing redundant locations allows the company to consolidate customer traffic into fewer, better-performing stores.
Distribution Network Overhaul
Advance is also restructuring its supply chain. The company plans to consolidate into 12 larger distribution centers by the end of 2026. This kind of backend consolidation typically requires reducing the number of stores being served, particularly in markets where demand doesn’t justify the logistics costs.
Focusing on Core Retail
Advance has stated that its strategy centers on “core retail enhancements” — meaning it wants to invest in its strongest remaining stores rather than spread resources across a large and partly underperforming footprint. Exiting weaker markets, even if it means leaving some customers without a nearby location, is part of that calculation.
None of this points to a company in freefall. It points to a company making difficult but deliberate decisions to become more financially stable.
What This Means for Customers, Employees, and Independent Owners
For Customers
If your local Carquest is closing, you may need to travel farther to reach another Advance Auto Parts or Carquest location. In some markets — particularly rural areas and parts of the West — the next closest option may be a competitor like NAPA, O’Reilly, or AutoZone.
Warranty claims are worth handling promptly. If you purchased a part with a warranty from a closing Carquest, you should generally be able to use that warranty at another Advance Auto Parts location — but bring your proof of purchase and act before the store closes. Call the location directly to confirm the process before showing up.
To check whether a specific store is closing, call the location, monitor their hours on the Advance Auto Parts store locator, or watch for liquidation signage and local news reports. The company has not published a public master list of every closing store by location.
For Employees
Store closures mean job losses, particularly in smaller towns where Carquest was a stable local employer. The scale of the closures — over 700 locations — means a significant number of positions are being eliminated across the country. Workers in affected stores should verify their situation with management and review any severance or transition support offered through Advance’s HR processes.
For Independent Store Owners
Independent Carquest operators occupy a difficult position. They invested in building a business under the Carquest banner, often with deep ties to their local community. When Advance decides to exit a market, those operators are affected even if their individual store was performing well. Some may be able to transition to a different brand or operate independently, but that depends heavily on their existing supplier relationships and local market conditions.
For anyone researching this topic in the context of running or starting a parts-related business, resources like StartBusinessBase offer useful guidance on navigating franchise relationships and market changes.
Is the Carquest Brand Disappearing Entirely?
The short answer is no — not entirely. The Carquest brand is shrinking, but it has not been announced as fully discontinued. Some Carquest-branded locations continue to operate in regions where Advance has not exited the market. Others have already been rebranded to Advance Auto Parts over the past several years, a trend that predates these latest closures.
The brand’s long-term visibility will likely depend on how many independent Carquest affiliates remain active and whether Advance continues to support the dual-brand approach in certain markets. What is clear is that the Carquest footprint will be noticeably smaller after this restructuring is complete.
The Bottom Line
Carquest is not going out of business in the way the phrase is commonly understood. The brand is not bankrupt, and the parent company — Advance Auto Parts — continues to operate thousands of locations. What is happening is a large, deliberate reduction in store count, driven by financial underperformance and a strategic shift toward a leaner, more profitable operation.
For customers and communities in affected regions, the impact is real. Stores are closing, some markets are being exited entirely, and independent operators are losing their affiliation. Those effects deserve to be taken seriously — even if the headline answer to “Is Carquest going out of business?” is more measured than the rumors suggest.
If you have a local Carquest and are unsure of its status, the most reliable step is to contact the store directly and act on any warranty claims or commercial accounts before a confirmed closure date.
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