For DIY mechanics and professional technicians alike, AutoZone and O‘Reilly Auto Parts are two of the most well-known and frequented retailers for automotive parts, tools, fluids and accessories in the United States. While both companies operate in the same industry with a similar business model of corporate-owned stores, there are notable differences between them in terms of size, selection, pricing, policies and service.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll provide an unbiased, side-by-side comparison of AutoZone and O‘Reilly Auto Parts, examining key factors that matter most to shoppers. Our goal is to arm you with the information you need to decide which retailer is the best fit for your specific automotive needs, preferences and budget. Let‘s get started!
Company Overview and History
First, let‘s briefly review the background and history of each company:
AutoZone
Founded in 1979, AutoZone has grown to become the leading retailer of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. The company was started by J.R. "Pitt" Hyde III as a division of his wholesale grocery business Malone & Hyde. In 1987, the company was spun off as a freestanding corporation and went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1991.
Over the past 3 decades, AutoZone has aggressively expanded its retail footprint across the US and into Mexico and Brazil. Along the way, the company has made strategic acquisitions to boost growth, including ALLDATA, an automotive diagnostic and repair software company, in 1998.
Today, AutoZone operates over 6,000 stores in the US, Mexico and Brazil and employs over 100,000 people. The company‘s mission is to be the "best place to shop for everyone‘s automotive needs" and its culture centers on customer service and Trustworthy Advice.
O‘Reilly Auto Parts
O‘Reilly Automotive was founded in 1957 by Charles F. O‘Reilly and his son Chub O‘Reilly with a single store in Springfield, MO. The company initially operated under the name O‘Reilly Automotive Distributors and focused on wholesale distribution to automotive shops, gas stations, fleet operators and jobbers.
In 1975, the company began shifting its business model by opening retail stores under the O‘Reilly Auto Parts brand name. From the late 1970s through the 1980s and 1990s, O‘Reilly steadily grew its retail store base through new store openings and acquisitions of regional auto parts chains. The company went public in 1993.
In the 2000s, O‘Reilly accelerated its growth trajectory with major acquisitions, including Mid-State Automotive Distributors in 2001 and CSK Auto in 2008 which added over 1,300 stores. Today, O‘Reilly Automotive operates over 5,500 stores in 47 US states and 25 stores in Mexico under the Orma Autopartes brand. The company employs over 80,000 team members.
Store Count and Geographic Footprint
As of 2024, AutoZone operates approximately 6,850 stores across all 50 states in the US, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Brazil. Of those locations, about 6,200 are in the United States, 670 are in Mexico, and 60 are in Brazil. AutoZone has a larger retail footprint overall and in the US compared to O‘Reilly.
Meanwhile, O‘Reilly Auto Parts has nearly 5,900 stores total, with just under 5,600 locations in 48 US states and about 300 stores in Mexico. O‘Reilly does not have retail operations in Brazil like AutoZone. However, O‘Reilly has been quickly expanding its presence in Mexico since entering that market in 2019 and plans to have over 400 locations there by 2025.
Sales Revenue
AutoZone is the larger company in terms of revenue. For its 2023 fiscal year ended August 26, 2023, AutoZone recorded sales of $17.3 billion, an increase of 7.1% over 2022. Domestic same store sales increased 4.4%.
For the 2023 calendar year, O‘Reilly Auto Parts generated revenue of $15.7 billion, up 6.8% over 2022. Comparable store sales rose 5.1% year-over-year.
Both companies have posted steady revenue growth over the past decade driven by new store openings, rising same-store sales, and acquisitions. AutoZone and O‘Reilly have benefited from consistent demand for auto parts, a streak of extreme weather events, and an aging vehicle fleet. However, their sales gains have slowed some in the past year due to inflationary pressures on consumer spending.
Product Selection
Both AutoZone and O‘Reilly offer an extensive selection of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket automotive replacement parts for domestic and import vehicles. This includes parts across all major categories such as batteries, brakes, suspension, engine, cooling, drivetrain, HVAC, electrical, ignition, and more.
In terms of product availability, the two retailers are well-matched, with each stocking tens of thousands of different part numbers and variations in-store and hundreds of thousands more available to order. If either retailer doesn‘t have a specific part at a local store, both offer the ability for customers to easily order it online for fast delivery to their home or for pickup at their nearest store.
Comparing the two head-to-head, O‘Reilly locations tend to stock a somewhat wider variety of niche and specialty parts in-store, making them more likely to have an oddball item immediately available for an uncommon vehicle. O‘Reilly also gets high marks from professional mechanics for regularly stocking more premium parts from well-respected brands.
That said, AutoZone‘s parts selection and availability is still excellent overall, especially for more common maintenance and repair items on mainstream vehicle makes and models. Many DIYers appreciate that AutoZone usually offers a wider variety of parts at different price points, including a good selection of value-priced house brand parts from Duralast, Valucraft and Econocraft.
In addition to parts, both companies are well-stocked with popular automotive tools, fluids, cleaning products and accessories. However, O‘Reilly tends to have a bit deeper selection of professional-grade tools and equipment favored by technicians and shops.
Pricing and Value
On major brands and commonly-purchased parts, AutoZone and O‘Reilly‘s prices are usually within a few percentage points of each other, if not identical. Pricing is extremely competitive between the two retailers, as they‘re often located right across the street from each other.
That said, AutoZone more frequently offers lower prices on economy parts from value brands. With its popular Duralast lines in particular, AutoZone delivers excellent bang-for-the-buck on items like brake pads, rotors, alternators, starters, and more.
O‘Reilly is less promotional overall than AutoZone and doesn‘t discount parts as deeply or frequently. However, for harder-to-find parts and premium brands, O‘Reilly‘s everyday prices are often very competitive. Where O‘Reilly really shines on value is in its broader selection of high-end parts that deliver more features, performance or durability for not much more money.
Your best bet is to comparison shop for big-ticket items like a DieHard battery or full brake job since the price difference between AutoZone and O‘Reilly can sometimes exceed $50-$60 in those cases. For smaller purchases, it‘s usually not worth your time to price compare between them since the difference may only be a couple bucks.
In-Store Services
In terms of free in-store auto services, AutoZone offers a bit more than O‘Reilly currently in most locations:
Free AutoZone Services
- Battery testing and charging
- "Check Engine Light" code scanning
- Starter and alternator checks
- Wiper blade and bulb installation
- Oil recycling
- Loan-a-Tool program for specialty tools
- Used motor oil and battery recycling
- Tire pressure checks
- Free "Fix Finder" repair guides
- Complimentary store pickup for online orders
Free O‘Reilly Services
- Battery testing
- Alternator testing
- Starter testing
- Check engine light testing
- Wiper blade installation
- Light bulb testing
- Oil recycling
- Battery recycling
- Loaner tool program
Both retailers will also make hydraulic hoses, custom batteries cables, and "build-a-box" items in-store for a small fee.
Return Policy
O‘Reilly offers an extremely generous lifetime guarantee on most of the parts it sells. You can return or exchange any part at any time for any reason with your original receipt for a full refund. Without a receipt, O‘Reilly will attempt to look up your purchase in their system. If it can‘t be found, you‘ll receive store credit for the item‘s current selling price. O‘Reilly will even take back opened, installed or used parts.
AutoZone likewise guarantees its parts for life and will exchange any defective part with a receipt. For returns, most unopened or unused parts in new condition can be returned to AutoZone within 90 days with a receipt for a full refund. For parts without a receipt, you‘ll typically receive store credit for the item‘s current selling price. Some exceptions apply for special order electrical items and computers/chips which must be returned in 30 days and cannot be returned if opened.
Price Matching
Both companies offer price matching on identical items from other auto parts stores. To receive a price match, you must present a current ad, receipt or photo showing a competitor‘s lower price. Qualifying competitors include other national auto parts retailers, auto dealerships, and independent auto parts stores.
However, neither AutoZone nor O‘Reilly matches prices from online-only retailers like Amazon or RockAuto.com. Price matching does not include clearance, special order, or "Buy Online Pick Up In Store" items that are only available online.
Shipping and Online Ordering
AutoZone and O‘Reilly both allow you to conveniently order parts online for home delivery or in-store/curbside pickup at your nearest location. Shipping is free on most orders over $35. Standard shipping is 1-5 business days while expedited and premium options are available for an added fee in most areas.
In addition, both retailers now offer same-day delivery on many parts and accessories from stores in select major metro markets. Simply place your order online and choose the "Same-Day Delivery" option at checkout if available.
Customer Loyalty Programs
Both companies offer customer rewards programs that allow you to earn points on purchases that can be redeemed for discounts on future visits. Here‘s a quick breakdown:
AutoZone Rewards
- Earn a $20 reward after every 5 purchases of $20 or more
- Rewards expire after 3 months
- Receive exclusive offers and discounts
- Extended 2-year warranty on Duralast parts (1-year standard)
- Earn bonus rewards for writing product reviews
- Free to join
O‘Reilly O‘Rewards
- Earn 1 point per $1 spent in-store and online
- Get a $5 reward for every 150 points earned
- Points can be redeemed on a future purchase
- Access member-only deals and offers
- Extra points on select bonus items
- Free to join
Customer Satisfaction
According to the authoritative American Customer Satisfaction Index‘s 2023 retail survey, customers rated AutoZone first for customer satisfaction among auto parts retailers with a score of 84, up 3 points from 2022. O‘Reilly Auto Parts ranked third with a score of 81.
Consumer review site Trustpilot shows an average rating of 3.7 stars out of 5 for AutoZone and 2.1 stars for O‘Reilly based on over 200 reviews for each company. While automotive professionals tend to slightly favor O‘Reilly, AutoZone earns higher marks from DIYers for its service and value.
Employee Satisfaction
On job review site Indeed, AutoZone has an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars from over 24,000 reviews by current and former employees. 57% of reviewers said they would recommend AutoZone to a friend. Pros mentioned include decent pay, flexible schedules, growth opportunities and generous benefits. Cons cited include stressful work environment, demanding customers and lack of work-life balance.
O‘Reilly‘s Indeed page shows a 3.3 average rating from nearly 4,000 reviews, with 56% willing to recommend the company to a friend. Employees praised O‘Reilly‘s pay, benefits, training, and promote-from-within culture, while knocking the company for its retail hours, fast pace and occasional short-staffing.
Summary
So which auto parts retailer should you choose? Honestly, it depends on your specific needs and preferences. AutoZone and O‘Reilly offer more similarities than differences these days in terms of parts availability, prices and the overall customer experience.
If you‘re a DIY-focused shopper looking for the best deal and widest selection of affordable replacement parts, AutoZone is probably your best bet. You‘ll appreciate their unmatched parts coverage, excellent value on house-brand parts, and expansive store network.
However, if you‘re a professional mechanic or diehard enthusiast who needs less-common, original, or higher-end parts right now and is willing to pay a small premium, O‘Reilly is hard to beat. You‘ll enjoy their deep selection of pro-grade products, stellar lifetime warranty, and helpful, knowledgeable staff.
Fortunately, with both companies aggressively expanding and constantly improving, DIYers and professionals across the country can enjoy the convenience of having two world-class, full-service auto parts retailers nearby for all their vehicle maintenance and repair needs.
