CNAE codes for auto repair, body shops, auto electricians and parts in Brazil
The main CNAE code for auto repair shops and parts stores in Brazil is 4520-0/01 – Serviços de manutenção e reparação mecânica de veículos automotores (Mechanical repair of motor vehicles). Body shops use 4520-0/02, auto electricians 4520-0/03, alignment 4520-0/04, car washes and oil change 4520-0/05 and parts distributors 4530-7/01. To prospect this segment, search codes 4520-0/01, 4520-0/02, 4520-0/03, 4520-0/04, 4520-0/05, 4530-7/03, 4530-7/01 as both primary and secondary CNAE, keep only active CNPJs, then filter by company size and city.
CNAE codes for auto repair shops and parts stores
CNAE (Classificação Nacional de Atividades Econômicas) is Brazil's official activity classification. Every company registered with a CNPJ declares one primary CNAE and any number of secondary ones. These are the CNAE 2.3 subclasses most used by auto repair shops and parts stores:
| CNAE | Official description (pt) | English | When it shows up |
|---|---|---|---|
4520-0/01 | Serviços de manutenção e reparação mecânica de veículos automotores | Mechanical repair of motor vehicles | Auto repair shops |
4520-0/02 | Serviços de lanternagem ou funilaria e pintura de veículos automotores | Body and paint repair | Body shops |
4520-0/03 | Serviços de manutenção e reparação elétrica de veículos automotores | Automotive electrical repair | Auto electricians |
4520-0/04 | Serviços de alinhamento e balanceamento de veículos automotores | Alignment and balancing | Alignment and tire centers |
4520-0/05 | Serviços de lavagem, lubrificação e polimento de veículos automotores | Washing, lubrication and polishing | Car washes, oil change and detailing |
4530-7/03 | Comércio a varejo de peças e acessórios novos para veículos automotores | Retail of new auto parts and accessories | Auto parts stores |
4530-7/01 | Comércio por atacado de peças e acessórios novos para veículos automotores | Wholesale of new auto parts and accessories | Auto parts distributors |
Search primary and secondary CNAE
Many auto repair shops and parts stores register their real activity as a secondary CNAE, because the CNPJ was opened under another primary activity or because they do more than one thing. Repair shops often declare several class-4520 services and parts sales as secondary. Filtering on the primary code alone misses part of the market.
Who sells to auto repair shops and parts stores
Brazil's automotive aftermarket has tens of thousands of independent shops and stores buying frequently.
- Parts, lubricant and tire brands and distributors
- Equipment (lifts, scanners, tools)
- Shop management, estimating and booking software
- Card machines and consumer financing
- Paint and body shop supplies
How to build a list of auto repair shops and parts stores in Brazil
- Pick the codes: start with
4520-0/01and add4520-0/02,4520-0/03,4520-0/04,4520-0/05,4530-7/03,4530-7/01depending on what you sell. - Search them as primary and secondary CNAE.
- Keep only active registrations (situação cadastral ativa) to drop unfit, suspended or closed CNPJs.
- Narrow by location (state, city, neighborhood) and company size (MEI, ME, EPP, other). Most shops are ME; auto centers and chains are usually EPP or larger.
- Keep companies with contact data (email or phone) and save the filter as a reusable segment.
- Write a segment-specific opener and track replies in a pipeline.
1Lead runs all of these filters in one search over Brazil's public company registry, and its AI suggests adjacent CNAE codes from a plain-language description such as "lubricant distributor looking for repair shops and auto centers in Ribeirão Preto". The product interface is in Portuguese.
Qualification signals
- Several class-4520 services: an auto center with larger, varied purchases.
- Shop that also sells parts: buys for resale and service.
- Recently opened: equipping and choosing suppliers.
How to approach this segment
Shop owners value parts availability and fast delivery. Show lead times, range and terms for weekly buyers.
Example first message (in Portuguese, with translation)
Frequently asked questions
What is the CNAE code for an auto repair shop in Brazil?
4520-0/01, mechanical repair of motor vehicles.
Where is the official CNAE table?
IBGE publishes it in the CONCLA online search, with the full hierarchy (section, division, group, class, subclass) and notes on what each code includes and excludes.