I-CAR executives received 58% compensation increase in 2025
I-CAR gave $2.8 million in bonuses and other compensation to its eight-person executive team in 2025, ultimately increasing what it spent on the team, including base pay bumps, by 58% from the year before, according to Form 990 documents.
The compensation bottom line is somewhat bloated because of I-CAR’s CEO transition, with John S. Van Alstyne leaving the position in 2025 and Kyle G. Thompson entering as his successor.
With Van Alstyne’s compensation removed from the mix, I-CAR’s executive team compensation, including bonuses and base pay, increased by $1.2 million, or 49%.
“The compensation figures reflected in I-CAR’s 2025 Form 990 include one-time long-term incentive and retention payments associated with the outgoing CEO transition,” I-CAR said in a statement to Repairer Driven News (RDN). “These transition-related costs are not expected to recur and will not appear in the 2026 filing. As with all executive compensation decisions, these payments were Board-reviewed and approved.”
While the executive team’s compensation increased by 58% with Van Alstyne and 49% without Van Alstyne, the compensation and benefits for employees across the entire non-for-profit, including the executive compensation, increased by significantly less at 11%, or $5.4 million.
When RDN asked for specific details on pay increases given to instructors in 2025, I-CAR did not provide those details.
“All I-CAR employees are compensated relative to market rates and benchmarked against comparable roles for similar organizations and receive regular merit increases with a focus on attracting and retaining the talent needed to equip repair professionals with the knowledge, skills, and support resources required to help ensure complete, safe, and quality repairs for consumers,” I-CAR said in reference to the question.
I-CAR announced earlier this month that it would implement a 5% price increase on select training and services starting next year.
The not-for-profit told RDN that the increase is expected to generate about $3 million annually.
Michael Brandshaw, Collision Partners executive vice president of operations, pointed to I-CAR’s 2025 Form 990 in a social media post following the 5% increase.
He said I-CAR lost about $3.6 million in revenue last year, yet gave the non-for-profit’s executive team $2.8 million in bonuses and incentive compensation.
I-CAR’s Form 990 shows the organization went from revenue exceeding expenses by about $3.6 million in 2024 to a $3.6 million deficit in 2025.
“So the organization had a decline in performance, increased bonuses and incentive pay, and still managed to increase its reserves to roughly $106 million by year-end,” the post states. “Yes, $106 million in the bank — while telling the industry that, as a not-for-profit, they need to charge us even more.”
The 990 document also shows I-CAR’s net assets or fund balances were $103 million in 2024. It increased to $106 million in 2025.
“Over 55% of I-CAR’s reserves are set aside in the Operating Reserve, a best-practice 6-12 months of operating expenses to help I-CAR continue serving the industry in the event of challenging business conditions,” I-CAR said in its statement to RDN. “The other portion of I-CAR’s reserves are held in the Industry Impact Fund to support board-approved special initiatives that benefit collision repair professionals. Importantly, they are not intended to fund ongoing operating expenses.”
The statement directed RDN to its website for more details on the reserve.
Bradshaw said that collision businesses will now have to absorb more cost with the price increase.
“Maybe I’m missing something, but that seems incredibly tone-deaf to the industry I-CAR serves, and to the current business climate,” Bradshaw writes. “Sadly, I feel like being tone-deaf to us small businesses has become pretty on-brand for I-CAR leadership…”
Following its price increase, I-CAR told RDN that the impact will vary slightly for each shop. However, it added that the average shop can expect an increase of less than $250 for a year of training.
The increases help offset ongoing, rising training operating costs, including delivery of hands-on, instructor-led programs, while sustaining the continued development of the technical resources, programs and services the industry depends on, I-CAR said in a statement.
“Taken together, and with board oversight, the distinction between one-time, transition-related costs and the ongoing investments that power I-CAR’s programs and services underscores the organization’s continued commitment to the industry,” the statement says.
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