While the overall outlook for dealership transactions remains strong, the pace of buy-sell deals slowed during the first quarter of 2025. Presidio estimates first-quarter totals will hit 82 transactions involving 106 stores once all deals are reported, down from 90 transactions involving 175 dealerships recorded for the first quarter of 2024.
Presidio also updated its transaction tally for full-year 2024 to 390 deals involving 559 stores. As some 2024 deals are still being reported, that could increase. As it stands, it’s higher than the 2024 estimate Presidio shared three months ago and similar to the final tally for 2023, when 384 transactions involving 582 stores were recorded.
The first-quarter slowdown is likely related to hesitation in dealmaking late last summer and fall, in part influenced by uncertainty around the regulatory and business environment ahead of the presidential election. With many deals afoot throughout the industry, transaction pace should pick up for the rest of 2025; Presidio’s own pipeline is robust, with deal closings expected to accelerate this summer and fall.