When customers walk into your auto repair shop, they’re trusting you and your team with the health of their vehicle, one of their most expensive assets.
They’re coming in with a problem or set of problems and expect your team to effectively fix those problems in a reasonable time frame.
And modern expectations for customer service have shifted as our technology has evolved. Customers don't want to have to find time for a phone call when they can just get texted updates about their repairs, and digital tools make it easier for shops to build transparency in their process.
Modern auto repair shop software not only makes it easy but lays the foundation for a modern customer experience at every step.
Offering a Modern Auto Repair Shop Customer Experience Starts with a Modern Shop Management System
We're big advocates of modernizing your auto repair shop, and we don't necessarily mean replacing all your racks, updating all your compressors, and swapping out your alignment rack. Sure those might help, but we get those can be really big investments.
That's why we're focused on the behind-the-scenes operations of your shop, the overall management and flow of repair orders. Modern shop management software enables owners, managers, service advisors, and technicians to gain visibility into, and control over, their individual part of the process with specific functions:
Cloud-based shop management
Real-time control
Digital Vehicle Inspections
Built-In Payment Processing
Digital Shop Communications
Efficient Parts and Inventory Management
While all of these directly work to modernize your shop operations, they also work to modernize your shop experience for customers.
When your shop is using Digital Vehicle Inspections instead of paper printouts, you're not only making it easier for your technicians and service advisors to communicate and collaborate, but you're also modernizing how your shop interacts with customers, by emailing or texting results and approval requests.
How Automotive Shop Programs Give Customers More Agency
The common way shops get repair authorizations from customers is verbally, either in person or over the phone. But this approach is rife with the risk of misunderstandings.
By contrast, digital vehicle inspections give you a way to transparently show your customers what’s going on with their vehicles, as well as a way for them to clearly indicate how they want to proceed.
Technicians can concisely break down findings, send photos and videos of issues, and indicate the severity of each issue using a color-coded system. Service advisors can then quickly put together estimates that clearly display those findings, and email or text them to customers.
Customers will then receive their estimates and clearly see which issues are the most pressing, as well as the expected costs. With digital authorization, customers can check off the repair work they want, and your team can start tackling repairs.
How Automotive Shop Programs Help Your Team Move Jobs Along Faster
With automotive shop programs, service advisors can get a high-level overview of every repair order at your shop. They can see which repair orders are pending authorization, in progress, or completed. Your team can even see more specific details at a glance, like which repair orders still need parts ordered, so they can swiftly move repairs along.
Service advisors can also see exactly what each technician has on their plate, so they can then assign the outstanding repair orders to the technicians that have the most availability, evening out workloads at your shop. Service advisors can dispatch specific jobs in one repair order to different technicians to avoid lopsided workloads.
As for technicians, they can use the system as their digital to-do list; they can glance at it and know exactly what they’re responsible for each day—and in which order they should tackle repairs.
How Automotive Shop Programs Help You Keep Customers in the Loop
Using automotive shop programs, service advisors get a snapshot of how far along every repair order is so they can communicate updates to customers without ever having to leave their workstations and interrupt technicians’ workflow.
As each technician works and marks labor lines as complete within their own work area in the system, service advisors will see the corresponding updates and be able to tell customers exactly where their repairs stand.
How Automotive Shop Programs Simplify How Your Customers Get In Touch With Your Shop
An automotive shop program with true two-way texting simplifies communication for you and your team. And adding your shop’s phone number to the system opens a new channel of streamlined communication.
Service advisors can message any customer directly from the system, the message will show up as a regular text message on the customer’s phone, and they can text right back. Back at the shop, every service advisor with access to the system will see their response within the system.
With true two-way texting, your team and your customers will be able to avoid the pitfalls of verbal communication and exchange information with more clarity.
Plus, with true two-way texting, there will be a record of the information exchanged between your shop and the customer, enabling you to safeguard your shop.
How Automotive Shop Programs Make It Easier for You to Get Paid
An automotive shop program with a text-to-pay feature benefits all customers, especially those on the go. Service advisors can send customers a payment link right to their smartphones when it's time to pay, and customers can then quickly punch in their credit numbers and authorize payments on a secure platform.
In turn, service advisors will have an easier time collecting payment and will be able to keep track of which customers have paid, and which customers haven’t.
How Automotive Shop Programs Make It Easier to Give Back
You can benefit from a referral program where you give back to your customers. Of course, if you do decide to give out discounts, you want to make sure that they don’t negatively cut into your bottom line.
An automotive shop program with real-time reports will enable your team to use discounts strategically. Giving back can also be as simple as handing a customer their favorite soda to sip on while they wait out their repair.
Facilitate Delivering the Best Auto Repair Customer Service Possible With Tekmetric
Tekmetric’s various features, including DVIs, the Job Board, and the Tech Board, help you streamline your team’s ability to provide exceptional customer service that gets people back behind the wheel quickly, and has them telling their friends and family about your shop.
Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Tekmetric Sunil Patel joined Editor Chris Jones on Ratchet+Wrench Radio to talk about how shop management software suites are changing the landscape of the auto repair industry, especially when it comes to building relationships and communicating effectively.
Sunil also touched on the history of some of Tekmetric’s relationships and how Tekmetric makes sure the voices of shop owners are heard.
Listen here, or catch some of the highlights below.
Note: some of the following answers have been condensed for clarity and brevity.
Relationship-Building 101: Laying Down a Solid Foundation
Jones: The last time we saw each other was at WorldPac STX in Orlando. And that’s where you guys announced a partnership with Advance Auto Parts. I know a lot of our readers have seen it, but can you share a little bit about the details with our audience, just from your own words and perspective?
Patel: So we’ve had a great relationship with Advance Auto Parts for a very long time. And we wanted to leverage the relationship to try to get more shops to use Tekmetric, and it just happened to be the right place, right time.
Side note: For those that don’t know, Advance Auto Parts actually owns WorldPac and Sunil Patel’s relationship with both goes way back. Before co-founding Tekmetric, Patel owned an auto repair shop that was one of the highest purchasers of parts from WorldPac in Houston for almost a decade.
Jones: That’s kind of cool to see how the relationship evolved over the years.
Patel: It’s a big company. It’s not like turning a speedboat, it’s like turning a steamship. Sometimes it just takes time to let some of these relationships play out. It affects so many people. We have to be absolutely sure of how this is going to play out, and how it’s going to work.
Using Shop Management Software to Get Everyone on the Same Page
Jones: So let’s talk about shop ownership a little bit. You were once a shop owner kind of in the Dark Ages before we had these robust shop management software suites. What was it like for you to operate on these limited tools?
Patel: You know, it was tough. Customers didn't always respond back, and we would always have to follow up with a phone call. There was always a disconnect.
We were probably ahead of our time 12 years ago trying to get some of this stuff out. Tekmetric used a combination of manual processes and text messaging. Text messaging was pretty popular back then, but MMS or multimedia messaging or picture messaging was not so popular.
So adding that in the mix with communications and whatnot into one platform has been very paramount to the success of our company because it closes the loop between the vehicle owner, the shop owner, the technician, and the service writer.
It keeps everybody on the same platform and communications thread. That way everybody has full visibility into what's going on with the repair of that vehicle to ensure a timely repair—ultimately making the customer happy.
When he set off to create Tekmetric, founder and CEO Sunil Patel had an ace up his sleeve: experience running his independent auto repair shop.
Running a repair shop is the background of everything we do. It's that partnership between Tekmetric and the auto repair shops that leverage the platform daily that enable us to build the absolute best tool for the job: running an independent auto repair shop.
So we set out on a mission to deepen our connection with our customers and understand each shop's unique challenges and wins by visiting as many customers as possible.
We wanted to understand the unique challenges and victories each shop faces, to truly deepen our connection with you. The results? It blew us away. Your stories, your shops and your teams are the heart of what we do. You inspire us every day to provide the best solutions for the independent auto repair industry.
Tekmetric's Customer Obsession
Whether your shop is general repair, like brakes, fluids and check engine lights, or a specialized business focused on older European cars, there’s one thing that’s always the same: the amazing, critical work your shop does to get people back on the road!
And it’s your amazing shops that use Tekmetric that make all this possible. Our customers' valuable feedback is what helps us develop a better platform, and the proof is in the pudding.
No one knows what it takes to run an independent auto repair shop better than the teams that rely on Tekmetric to power their operations.
Here's what we heard from shops and why they love Tekmetric:
Tekmetric's ease of use and simplicity in running your shop
Everything you need to run your shop is organized, tracked, and maintained in one tool.
Whether you're a shop owner peaking into real-time performance reports or analyzing shop trends, a general manager ensuring cars flow quickly and efficiently through your shops, a service advisor supporting customers, or even a technician fixing cars, Tekmetric can help your shop operate like a well-oiled inline 6.
Tekmetric empowers shop to grow and reach their next level
We constantly hear how shop owners have leveraged Tekmetric to grow their business in ways they never expected.
Whether that means opening and managing multiple locations, simply adding a few new bays moving into a larger location, or even expanding your operations to service more customers, Tekmetric's simplicity and complete control over your shop makes it easy to track, plan, and grow.
Tekmetric's commitment to transparency and communication
Because we're so customer-obsessed, we're always here to help! As a cloud-based solution, Tekmetric helps run your shop by doing a lot of the operational "heavy lifting," so to speak.
Not only do we provide the right tools for the job, but we're here to partner with your shop. Our support doesn't end, and we're always a quick message or phone call away, anytime you need support!
Our Commitment to Shops Like Yours
Because we're here to help your great shop get even better, we're always open to hearing how we can make Tekmetric even better!
The automotive industry is one of the largest and most stable sectors in the U.S. economy, and becoming an automotive mechanic offers a rewarding, hands-on career path with plenty of opportunities for advancement.
Whether you're interested in working at local repair shops, car dealerships, or even starting your own garage, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
What do mechanics do?
Automotive technicians are responsible for diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing vehicles of all types—from compact cars to light trucks and SUVs. Their work involves inspecting brake systems, replacing worn parts, and performing routine services like oil changes. Many mechanics work in repair shops or at car dealerships, but others prefer to start their own repair shop.
Mechanics work with a variety of tools and diagnostic equipment. They often use computerized systems to identify issues and ensure the car is functioning properly. In today’s rapidly evolving automotive industry, mechanics are expected to stay current with new technologies, especially in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Below, you will find practical steps you can take today to start your path to becoming an auto mechanic.
6 Steps to becoming a car mechanic
Starting a new career path can be challenging, so we outlined 6 practical steps you can take to jump-start your career.
1. Do your homework
Before you start your career, it is wise to consider if this is the right job for you. Will it pay enough to support your needs? Will you be able to keep up with the physical demands of the job? These are just two of the questions you need to ask yourself before moving forward.
How Much Do Automotive Mechanics Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for automotive service technicians and mechanics in 2024 was approximately $49,670 per year, or about $23.88 per hour. However, salaries can vary based on several factors such as:
Location: Mechanics in cities or states with a higher cost of living tend to earn more.
Certifications: Holding ASE certifications or specializations can boost income.
Experience: Entry-level technicians typically earn less than seasoned professionals.
Industry: Working at car dealerships or as a mobile mechanic can pay differently than working in a small auto repair shop.
2. Training and education
Pursuing the right education, certifications, and training programs will set you on the right path to a successful career. Each path has unique benefits but it is best to select the path that will help you achieve your career goals.
Do I need to go to school to become a mechanic?
While formal training is not always required, it is highly recommended. Employers in both independent repair shops and dealerships prefer candidates with a solid educational background and certifications. If you opt not to pursue formal education, you will need to find a personal connection or an apprenticeship program where you can learn while working.
How long will it take to become a mechanic?
The timeline to becoming an auto mechanic depends on the education path you choose. In total, it may take anywhere from 6 months to 4 years to become job-ready, depending on the path and certifications you pursue. Here are the most common routes:
High School Diploma or GED: Most mechanic jobs require at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
Vocational Schools or Trade Schools: These typically offer certificate programs lasting 6 months to 1 year, giving students a fast track into entry-level roles.
Community College or Associate Degree: Completing an associate degree in an automotive technology program usually takes about 2 years and provides a deeper understanding of vehicle systems.
Apprenticeships: These allow students to earn while they learn and may last 2 to 4 years.
On-the-Job Training: Some auto mechanics begin their careers with no formal education and learn through hands-on experience at a repair shop or dealership.
3. Complete certifications
The most respected credential in the field is the ASE certification, offered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Mechanics can earn ASE certification in areas such as engine repair, brake systems, electrical systems, automatic transmission, and heating/air conditioning.
To become ASE certified, you’ll need at least two years of work experience or a combination of formal training and on-the-job training. You’ll also need to pass one or more certification exams. Mechanics who pass tests in all major areas and have the required work experience can earn the title of Master Technician.
Being ASE certified shows employers and customers that you're a professional who meets industry standards. Many employers pay higher wages to certified auto mechanics, and some dealerships require ASE credentials for certain positions.
4. Prepare for your interview
Finding the right shop to start your career at can be a daunting task. It is often easiest to start at an express shop so you can get your feet wet before pursuing your career goals. Once you have applied to a shop, it is time to start preparing for the interview.
Mechanic Job Interview Questions
Whether you're aiming for a position at a dealership or local garage, be prepared for a formal interview. Here are common questions you may encounter:
Tell me about yourself and your experience as an automotive technician.
Why do you want to work for our company/shop?
How do you stay up to date with new automotive technologies and repair techniques?
What certifications do you currently hold (ASE, manufacturer-specific, etc.)?
Are you comfortable working weekends, evenings, or overtime if needed?
When answering, emphasize your hands-on training, work experience, and your commitment to continuous improvement. Don’t forget to highlight soft skills like teamwork, communication, and adaptability.
5. Utilize modern tools
The modern repair shop has embraced new technology to help improve efficiencies and revenue. Strive to have a solid understanding of modern diagnostic tools, apps, and software so you can hit the ground running. Another way to stand out to your future employer is to already have experience with their shop management system, so they don’t have to train you as much.
6. Get your hands dirty
Let the fun begin! Once you have landed your first job, learn to fail fast and ask questions as you meet more experienced technicians. Ask yourself each week if you are enjoying your job and if you think this is still the right career path for you. Don’t forget to make connections in the industry to boost your network and career path.
Final Thoughts
A career as an auto technician is more than just a job—it’s a skilled trade that keeps America moving. Whether you're working on a simple oil change or a complex engine repair, you'll be solving real-world problems and helping people stay safe on the road. With growing demand for mechanics who can service modern vehicles equipped with sophisticated electronic systems, the field is only becoming more essential.
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)