Automotive retail is one of the most data-intensive ecommerce categories. Fitment data — which vehicle a part fits — is the primary purchase decision for every customer buying a functional part. Without accurate Year/Make/Model/Engine compatibility data, customers cannot buy with confidence. Migrating to Shopify from WooCommerce requires bringing this fitment data and choosing the right fitment lookup solution for the new storefront.

Automotive product categories

Engine and drivetrain: Filters, belts, spark plugs, gaskets, seals, timing components. Highly fitment-specific.
Brakes: Brake pads, discs (rotors), calipers, brake fluid. Vehicle-specific — brake pad friction material also matters.
Suspension and steering: Shock absorbers, springs, ball joints, wishbones, steering racks.
Electrical: Batteries, alternators, starter motors, sensors, bulbs. Bulbs have direct universal equivalents (H7, H11) as well as fitment variations.
Body and exterior: Wing mirrors, grilles, trims, spoilers. May be vehicle-specific or universal.
Interior accessories: Floor mats, seat covers, dash mounts, steering wheel covers. Many are universal.
Tools and workshop equipment: Diagnostic tools, socket sets, jacks, ramps. Generally not fitment-specific.
Car care products: Shampoo, polish, wax, ceramic coatings, tyre dressings. Universal.
Tyres: Size-specific (e.g. 205/55R16 91V). Major category needing specialist fitment.

Vehicle fitment data — the central challenge

For functional parts (brakes, filters, suspension), customers must be able to confirm compatibility with their vehicle before purchasing. In WooCommerce, this is typically handled by:

Storing compatibility in product attributes (Make, Model, Year as attributes)
Using a WooCommerce fitment plugin (WooCommerce YMM — Year Make Model Search, or a custom implementation)
Structured data in the product description

In Shopify, the options are:

Fitment Industries Year/Make/Model app: Adds a YMM selector to the storefront. Customers select their vehicle and see only compatible products. The industry standard solution for automotive Shopify stores.
Universal Fitment by YMM: Alternative fitment app.
Metafields with search: Store compatibility as metafields and use Shopify's search/filter to let customers filter by make and model. Works for smaller catalogues.

Fitment metafields

product.metafields.automotive.fits_make = "Ford / BMW / Volkswagen / Toyota"
product.metafields.automotive.fits_model = "Focus / 3 Series / Golf / Corolla"
product.metafields.automotive.fits_year_from = "2012"
product.metafields.automotive.fits_year_to = "2018"
product.metafields.automotive.fits_engine = "2.0 TDCi 136ps / 1.6 TDCi 115ps"
product.metafields.automotive.fits_body_type = "Hatchback / Saloon / Estate / All"
product.metafields.automotive.oem_part_number = "1234567"
product.metafields.automotive.aftermarket_part_number = "NK 224789"
product.metafields.automotive.universal_fit = "false"

OEM and aftermarket part numbers

Part number searchability is critical in automotive retail. Customers often know the OEM part number they need:

Store OEM part number as a searchable metafield (or in the product title for the most common OEM numbers)
Multiple OEM references for the same part (cross-references from different manufacturers) should all be findable
Shopify's default search indexes product titles and descriptions — include key part numbers in the title or description to make them searchable
Predictive search apps (like Searchie) can be configured to search across metafields for part number lookup

Tyre sizing

Tyres use a standardised sizing format (205/55R16 91V): width/aspect ratio/rim diameter/load index/speed rating. In Shopify:

Use product variants for the key dimensions (width, aspect, rim diameter)
Or use a tyre-specific app (eBay Motors Fitment, or specialist tyre retail apps) that understands the format
Tyre products typically require fitment confirmation (vehicle registration lookup or manual size entry) rather than YMM

Post-migration checklist for automotive stores

Fitment app installed (Fitment Industries YMM or equivalent)
Fitment data imported: make, model, year range, and engine variant for all fitment-specific products
OEM part numbers in product titles or as searchable metafields
Aftermarket cross-reference numbers as metafields
Universal fit products: flagged as universal in metafield to exclude from fitment filtering
Tyre products: size format standardised; fitment lookup configured
Hazardous goods: brake fluid, aerosol products assigned to appropriate shipping profile
Heavy items (batteries, exhausts, body panels): freight shipping profile

Migrating an automotive and car parts store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)