5 Things Shop Owners Can Do to Prepare for Tax Season

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January 16, 2023

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Read time: 3 min

Have you submitted your taxes yet, or are you struggling to get your records in order and submit everything on time? Wherever you are in your tax prep process, you need to pull together a plan and act fast or you may have to pay penalties.

Sometimes, even hearing the word taxes can be scary, but unfortunately, taxes are one fear we don’t get to avoid indefinitely. Auto repair shop Tax Day is the same day as everyone else’s Tax Day, and things just get more complicated if you don’t file on time. The clock is running out on your time to file without an extension this year, and even filing for an extension comes with its own deadline.

But if you tackle the process with knowledge and empowerment, doing business taxes and sales tax on car repairs at the shop doesn’t have to be difficult.

Here are five tips that can help you have a better auto repair shop tax season.

Disclosure: the information in this article is not to be taken as formal tax or legal advice. Individual business circumstances vary, and you should always consult with a CPA and tax attorney.

1. Send Out Your 1099s and W-2s

The people you do business with, whether they’re full-time employees or subcontractors, need tax forms sent to them. Anyone under full or part-time non-contract employment with your business will need a W2.

However, 1099s need to go out to anyone who provides services to your business who is not an employee, such as:

  • Your landlord
  • Accountants
  • Subcontractors

Stay on top of deadlines

1099s and W-2s are due on January 31st of each tax year. Sending them to the relevant parties should be your first priority at the start of each year. Make sure you order your forms, if needed, in December so you can have them in time. They can take up to two weeks to arrive!

Your CPA can also handle this task. You’ll need to send them your payroll reports for each employee and subcontractor, so make sure that your records are up to date before you ring up your CPA.

All of your employees, including yourself if your business is an S corp, will need a W-2 form which contains total wages and reports the amount of federal, state, and other taxes withheld.

Make sure you have submitted the appropriate amounts to the correct tax agency. If you are behind, have your CPA help you get caught up and in compliance immediately.

Being behind on payroll tax and sales tax obligations can put your shop out of business.

2. Get Your Books In Order

Day-to-day life as a business owner is hectic. Sometimes, you are so focused on the nuts and bolts that you don’t have time for detailed paperwork and your books end up in a mess. You’ve got a box of receipts and spreadsheets filled with outdated information. What now?

You still have time to make a plan, talk to your CPA, and get those books in order.

Your CPA will need all of your records such as loans, payroll, profits, and major purchases in order to help you do your tax filing. You’ll need to make sure your books are up to date and accurate.  With a system like Tekmetric, you can view real-time reports on business performance and download and send these to your CPA to save precious time if you’re running behind. Some reports you can find in Tekmetric include:

  • Sales Tax Reports
  • Profits Reports
  • Accounts Payable Reports
  • Accounts Receivable Reports

You can use these reports to streamline your record-gathering process and make sure no details fall through the cracks. Little mistakes can mean lost deductions, so make sure you share as much information as you can with your CPA.

You’ll thank yourself later for investing your time in updating your books.

As you get your books in order, here are some questions to consider.

Do You Need to File for an Extension?

Talk to your CPA about the deadlines and obligations for your particular business, as it can vary depending on how your business is set up. That way, you can get on the right track toward compliance.

Remember: if you file a request for an extension, that is only for the paperwork, not the taxes due. Taxes must be paid by Tax Day to avoid penalties and fees, though you might still have to pay certain fees if you skipped quarterly taxes in 2021.

Add these dates to your calendar:

  • March 15, 2022 is the deadline for extending tax filings to September 15, 2022 for partnership and S corporations
  • April 18, 2022 is the deadline to apply for a tax extension to October 17, 2022 for sole proprietorships, C corporations, and single-owner LLCs.

Are You an S Corp?

Under IRS rules, an S corporation must pay a reasonable amount of money to its officers in exchange for provided services. This money is treated as employee wages for tax purposes and not as distributions. If you’re an S corporation owner, make sure you compensate yourself correctly to stay in compliance.

Have You Considered Retirement and Profit-Sharing Plans?

Do you have a retirement plan set up for yourself or your employees?

If you have a profitable shop, it might be worth looking into a profit-sharing or cash balance plan. These contributions need to be made by March 15 (or September 15 if you have applied for an extension).

Are You Complying With Reporting Rules for Cash-Based or Accrual-Based Tax Payers?

Under federal law, cash-based and accrual-based tax payers follow very different rules for reporting.

If this is news to you, you should check out the IRS’s guide, Accounting Periods and Methods.

Are Your Day-to-Day Transactions Current?

Make sure that your day-to-day transactions are all up to date and have been entered and categorized.

This includes:

  • Payroll
  • Sales
  • Received payments
  • Bill payments
  • Credit card purchases
  • Any other transactions

Tekmetric simplifies this process by giving shop owners a wealth of downloadable reports they can quickly save as CSV files.

What About Assets and Depreciation?

Don’t forget your assets! For example, if you finance a lift, it should be categorized as an asset so that you can claim the tax advantage. Other tangible assets you previously purchased will also need to be inventoried in order for them to be depreciated properly.

Your CPA will be able to calculate the depreciation on your shop equipment, which is an important tax deduction that you could miss out on. So, plan accordingly!

Have You Been Doing Bank Reconciliations Monthly?

Take time to catch up on your bank reconciliations. Each month, you should be comparing your books to your bank statements to make sure that every transaction is accounted for. If you don’t, you could miss out on important deductions for business expenses.

3. Gather All Tax Documents

Now that you’ve gotten all your books updated and organized, it’s time to compile everything together to send to your CPA. Tax season is an incredibly busy time for every accounting firm, so you will need to stay in contact with your CPA.

If you still haven’t talked to your CPA this year, make sure to call your CPA to start getting everything in order. Make sure you include digital copies or scans of all of your documents, especially receipts that will be used for deductions.

Shop management software like Tekmetric can radically simplify and speed up the process of getting the documentation you need.

With real-time reports that show you how your business is performing, you can see your income, inventory, profit and loss statements, and other necessary information—without spending hours upon hours calculating everything by yourself (or putting your CPA in that unlucky position)!

Though you will have to pay any taxes owed on time, you may be able to file for an extension if you are still waiting on certain transactions or documents.

Your CPA will need all of your:

  • Income and expense records/asset reports
  • Inventory total and financial business reports from the year
  • Previous year’s tax returns
  • Payroll data
  • Stock or bond information
  • EIN or SSN number

Other documents you will need to gather include:

  • Payroll and subcontractor documents: W2s, 1099s, etc.
  • Cryptocurrency transactions
  • Child tax credit letters
  • Gambling bets and wins
  • Investments
  • COVID-related information: stimulus checks, PPP loans, employee retention credits, etc.
  • Income statement
  • Balance sheet
  • Bank and credit card statements
  • Partnership agreements
  • Accounting documents
  • Asset purchase details
  • Depreciation schedule

4.Run a Tax Projection

No one wants to be caught by surprise when it’s tax time. You can forecast your tax situation right now by running a tax projection. Tools like TurboTax can help you run a tax projection, but it’s also helpful to sit down and run a tax projection with your CPA.

If you are in a spot where your books aren’t in order, the main thing your CPA will focus on is to mitigate losses.

Don’t be surprised if your projection includes a number of charges for failing to meet various IRS and state requirements. In the future, however, working with these partners earlier in the year can help you stay ahead of the game and better prepare for business growth.

When running a tax projection, you should include income taxes, sales taxes, payroll taxes, and capital gains taxes in your calculations.

Information You Need for Your Tax Projection

To run a complete tax projection, provide your CPA with:

  • Your business income for this tax year: If you’re not sure, you can start with what you reported last year and make an estimate. If your books are up to date, you may just need to run a report.
  • Your business expenses for the year: You can use the same method as before to determine expenses, but also consider any big purchases you made this year.
  • Your personal taxes (depending on how your business is organized): If so, you will need to include personal income, deductions, credits, exemptions, and any withholding of federal income taxes from your personal income. In the same way as you estimated your business income and expenses, you can use information from prior tax returns.
  • If you sold any real property: This is defined as land and anything attached to it. For example, if you closed a location and sold the shop, you will need to include this information as well, as it could be taxed differently than your other income.

There are numerous tax calculators online that you may be able to use. But if you have Tekmetric at your shop, you can pull reports that have automatically calculated a lot of figures for you, like your annual Gross Profit and purchases.

Even if you don’t have a system like Tekmetric, now is the perfect time for you and your team to consider implementing one to help you out moving forward.

Remember, even if you file for an extension, you will need to pay this estimated tax amount, so don’t put off making your projection. And again, we need to stress how important it is to talk to a CPA.

5. Foundations for Next Year

Now that you know what to do and can get everything in your accountant’s hands, you probably feel relieved.

Bookkeeping and tax preparation can be complicated and confusing. Set yourself up for a less stressful tax time by making a follow-up appointment with your CPA to review everything and prepare for next year.

Having a plan and structure in place can alleviate a lot of stress and allow you to focus on what’s important: the success of your auto repair shop.

You and your CPA can discuss various events that may need future planning, such as:

  • Setting up additional locations
  • Selling your shop
  • Renovating your current shop
  • Buying large equipment like lifts
  • Investing in training programs for your technicians and service advisors

On your journey toward growth and better bookkeeping practices, you should consider implementing shop management software as well. Having a tool that can track your numbers in real time will keep you on top of your books all year and help you track where you are making progress or need to make adjustments in your course.

Eric Joern (CPA and CM&AA) is a Partner at Kaizen CPAs + Advisors. He specializes in helping business owners in the auto repair industry file their taxes so they can stay in compliance with the law. Joern comes from a family of small business owners and is passionate about helping small businesses grow their profits.

For tax questions, email him at ejoern@kaizencpas.com.

FAQ

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Mechanic interviews are challenging for both the employer and candidate because the right candidate has to be a fit in personality and technical ability. Plus, the numerous certification types, manufacturer nuances, and shop needs make it even more challenging.

This guide can be used to help repair shops/dealerships ask the right questions and also help technicians be prepared for questions they will likely encounter. Below you will find the most common car mechanic interview questions broken down by mechanic and service advisor level plus tips to ace your next interview.

Top mechanic job interview questions

While every auto repair shop differs in how they run their job interview process, these are some of the most common questions you can expect. Ranging from technical questions to customer service, be prepared to answer these common questions before your next interview.

An image highlighting the top job interview questions for mechanics.

General interview questions for car mechanics

These common questions cover basic automotive repair experience and relevant work history.

  • 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?

Technical interview questions for mechanics

These technical interview questions cover more specific hand-on experience and tools/equipment.

  • Which repairs are you best at?
  • How much would you estimate your tool inventory to be worth?
  • What steps do you take when diagnosing a check engine light?
  • What tools and diagnostic equipment are you most familiar with?
  • Have you worked with hybrid or electric vehicles?
  • Do you believe in factory recommended vehicle maintenance intervals?
  • How comfortable are you with OEM scan/diagnostic tools?

Experience & situational questions for mechanics

These questions help employers understand how you would handle various shop situations and also helps them understand your communication skills.

  • Can you describe a time when you had to work under a tight deadline?
  • How do you deal with angry customers?
  • How do you prioritize tasks when you have multiple vehicles to work on?
  • What would you do if you made a mistake on a repair? How do you handle accountability?
  • What do you do if you encounter a vehicle with an issue you've never seen before?

Additional questions to expect

  • Are you comfortable serving those in need once a month?
  • Are you comfortable doing a DVI on the majority of vehicles you touch?
  • How do you handle a high-pressure environment when the shop is busy?
  • How do you handle a situation where you're unsure about how to fix a problem?
  • Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer?

Top interview questions for service advisors

While the interview questions for service advisors will be similar to mechanics, there will be small differences. Typically, service advisors will be more customer facing and shops will tailor their questions to focus more on customer service and communication style.

General interview questions for service advisors

  • Are you comfortable selling repair services?
  • Are you comfortable working on a commission based salary structure?
  • Who do you believe has the best after market products?
  • Which shop management software is your favorite?
  • How do you deal with a customer saying that you are more expensive than their last shop?
  • How do you win back angry customers?
  • How do you handle over the phone quotes?

Technical interview questions for service advisors

  • What are your greatest strengths as a service advisor?
  • Who do you trust for moving electrical parts?
  • How do you handle working in a fast-paced environment?
  • Are you comfortable meeting sales goals and upselling services?
  • How do you stay up to date with new automotive technology and service trends?
  • How do you handle stress during busy hours?

Experience & situational questions for service advisors

  • How do you explain complex vehicle repairs to a customer who doesn’t understand cars?
  • What steps do you take to build trust with customers?
  • Have you ever had to deal with a miscommunication between a technician and a customer? How did you resolve it?
  • Can you describe a time when you turned a dissatisfied customer into a repeat customer?
  • How do you handle multiple customers needing assistance at the same time?

Additional questions to expect

  • How do you explain the importance of routine maintenance to a customer?
  • What experience do you have with automotive service software or point-of-sale systems?
  • How do you prioritize repair orders and schedule work efficiently?
  • How do you explain repair estimates to customers?
  • How would you respond to 1-star reviews?

Job interview tips for mechanics

  • Research: Not all shops are created equal so make sure to research before applying to make sure they are a good fit. You can also look at online reviews to see what their customers are saying.
  • Preparation: Use the commonly used questions above to help you prepare for the interview. Practice how you would answer each question and ways you can present yourself well.
  • Attire: You have 7 seconds to make your first impression and attire is a big part of that. Dress to showcase your professionalism and experience.
  • Highlight your experience/certifications: Showcasing your certifications and experience can go a long way to in making sure you land the job.
  • Ask thoughtful questions: Some interviewers will allow you to ask questions during the conversation. Make sure you have a few questions to ask that help you learn more about the shop.
  • Follow up: if you haven’t heard back from the shop and you are still interested, give them a call and remind them of your interest in the position.

Final thoughts

Interviews are challenging in any industry but mechanic interviews can be even more challenging with the shortage of talent available. This guide will help you either prepare for your next interview or provide you with common questions to ask your next hire. Lastly, always hire for culture fit and talent second. Culture problems are a lot harder to correct than technical car knowledge.

Top Interview Questions for Automotive Mechanics

March 25, 2025

Read time: 3 min

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If you're running an auto repair shop, investing in a car lift is essential. A high-quality vehicle lift makes it easier to work on cars, increases efficiency, and ensures safety. But how much does it actually cost to install a car lift? That depends on the type of lift, installation costs, and other factors such as weight capacity and safety features. Let’s break it all down so you can pick the best automotive lift for your needs.

Do you need a car lift?

Car lifts are essential in auto repair shops because they provide mechanics with better access to a vehicle’s undercarriage, making inspections, repairs, and maintenance tasks safer, more efficient, and more comfortable. Unlike floor jacks, lifts offer a stable and elevated workspace, reducing the risk of injuries and improving workflow.

With a car lift, technicians can quickly perform tasks such as oil changes, brake repairs, exhaust system work, and suspension adjustments without having to crawl under the vehicle. This efficiency leads to faster turnaround times and higher shop productivity.

Additionally, lifts help maximize shop space by allowing vertical storage for vehicles, which is especially useful in high-volume repair shops. Overall, car hoists are a fundamental investment for any auto repair shop looking to enhance efficiency, safety, and the quality of service provided to customers.

Types of car lifts and their costs

Each type of lift has its pros and cons. Some lifts are better for oil change shops and some are better for tire or repair shops. In general, car lifts can cost between $1,000 and $20,000 depending on brand, lift capacity, lift height, and features. Here’s a comprehensive look at the most common lift options for your shop.

An image comparing the cost of car lift types.

Two-Post car lifts

A two-post car lift is one of the most popular choices for auto repair shops. They are popular because they take up less space and can be affordable depending on features. Make sure to plan out your shop layout as these lifts are permanent and cannot be easily moved. These hoists come in asymmetric and symmetric configurations, allowing flexibility based on vehicle type.

  • Price: $3,000 - $10,000
  • Best For: General repair shops working on SUVs and smaller cars.
  • Lift capacity: 5,000 - 10,000 lbs.
  • Popular brands: BendPak, Rotary, Tuxedo.
  • Advantages: High lifting capacity while saving space for smaller shops.

Four-Post lifts

A four-post lift provides greater stability and weight capacity, making it ideal for heavier vehicles. If your shop works on a lot of trucks or heavy-duty vehicles, the four-post lift might be the best lift for you. Tire and brake shops should avoid these lifts as the tires sit on the lift making it difficult to work on these areas.

  • Price: $5,000 - $25,000
  • Best For: Dealerships and professional shops.
  • Lift capacity: 7,000 - 14,000 lbs.
  • Popular brands: BendPak, Titan, Tuxedo, Rotary.
  • Advantages: Heavier lifting capacity for larger vehicles.

Scissor lifts

If saving space is your top priority, the scissor lift may be your best option. They are almost invisible when not in use and lie flat on the ground to optimize garage space. Double check the lift capacity and height to make sure it can accommodate the types of vehicles you work on.

  • Price: $1,500 - $10,000
  • Best For: Quick repair shops where space is limited.
  • Lift capacity: 5,000 - 15,000 lbs.
  • Brands: QuickJack, BendPak, MaxJax
  • Advantages: Compact and cheaper.

In-Ground lifts

In-ground car lifts are a great choice for shops that work on heavier vehicles and want to save space. These lifts are the perfect balance of the space saving capabilities of a scissor lift while also providing optimal strength for large vehicles.

  • Price: $10,000 - $25,000
  • Best For: Repair shops and dealerships.
  • Lift capacity: 5,000 - 20,000 lbs.
  • Brands: BendPak, Rotary, Atlas
  • Advantages: Compact while also offering enough muscle.

Portable car lifts

If your shop layout frequently changes or you are a mobile mechanic, a portable lift may be the best option. These lifts can be easily moved around a garage or taken to a job site and are often the cheapest option. However, they can be less reliable and don’t provide the same level of strength as a stationary lift.

  • Price: $500 - $5,000
  • Best For: Home garages, mobile mechanics, DIY enthusiasts.
  • Lift capacity: 5,000 - 10,000 lbs.
  • Brands: QuickJack, MaxJax
  • Advantages: Affordable, compact, mobile.

Installation prices for car lifts

Installing a vehicle lift is not just about purchasing the unit. You also need to consider the installation costs, which can vary depending on the type of lift and garage setup. Here are the main factors affecting installation costs:

1. Concrete requirements

Most lifts, especially two-post car lifts and four-post lifts, require a thick concrete base. If your floor isn’t thick enough, you may need reinforcement, which adds to the cost.

2. Electrical setup

Lifts need power, and if your garage isn’t wired for it, you’ll need an electrician.

3. Air compressors & accessories

Some lifts require compressors and additional balancer tools for operation.

4. Professional installation

Hiring a pro ensures the lift is ALI-certified and meets safety regulations.

Choosing the right car lift for your auto repair shop

Each type of lift comes with its own advantages, making it important to choose the right one based on your needs. Here are some things to consider when making your decision:

  • How big is your shop?
  • Which repair services do you offer?
  • What is your budget?
  • Does the lift offer a warranty?
  • Will you garage layout change over time?
  • How important is a car lift warranty to you?
  • How heavy will the vehicles you work on be?
  • What is the average review rating of the lift?
  • How easy or hard is the lift to install?
  • How much will the maintenance cost?

Final thoughts

Installing a vehicle lift in your auto repair shop is a smart investment. Whether you choose a two-post car lift, scissor lifts, or portable lift, knowing the lift cost and installation costs upfront can help you budget wisely. Whatever you choose, ensure it’s ALI-certified for safety and performance. Lastly, don’t forget about regular maintenance and safety inspections to ensure your lift continues to run for many years.

How Much Does a Car Lift Cost + Installation Prices

March 21, 2025

Read time: 3 min

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Ever wonder how you could make your auto repair shop website rank in Google for “Mechanic near me” or “Best auto repair shop”? Look no further, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about search engine optimization for automotive repair shops.

Search engines play a large role in today’s buyer journey and the auto repair shop industry is no different. Shop owners are recognizing this and starting to emphasize SEO (search engine optimization) as part of their overall digital marketing strategy.

Auto Repair SEO 101

SEO for automotive repair shops is a marketing tactic designed to influence how your website ranks in Google and other search engines. When done correctly, SEO efforts can create more website traffic and ultimately, generate more customers for your auto repair shop.

However, search traffic is becoming more competitive and other shops are likely aiming for the same keywords as you are. Utilize this guide to see how you can improve your website traffic and search engine rankings for your auto shop.

Tek-Tip: Curious how you rank for important keywords? Simply open an incognito tab and search for keywords you want to rank for. Incognito tabs remove location and search history bias from your search.

Image showing 5 steps to better SEO for auto repair shops.

Why is SEO important for Auto Repair Shops?

More traffic equals more customers

Search traffic is high-intent traffic which means that people who are searching for “mechanic near me” and similar queries are indicating that they are ready to make a decision. Social media and other traffic forms may bring in traffic but rarely are they ready to make a decision that day. Capturing more search traffic almost always leads to more conversions. Think about it, when you start looking for a service where do you start your search?

Brand awareness

Even if the customer is not ready to make a decision that day, being visible for relevant keywords is important (and free) brand awareness. Ranking well will help your shop stay top of mind for future automotive repair needs and build your online presence. Just like we remember a billboard or business logo weeks later, being visible in search engine results leads to better brand awareness and online visibility.

Cost effective

Unlike paid advertising, SEO efforts are free if you do them in-house. All you need to get started is this guide + a few YouTube videos and you can make a big difference in your website traffic and online conversions.

Local search

Search engines can use mobile device locations to help match customers with a shop that is nearby. Part of this guide will walk you through how you can indicate to Google where your auto repair shop is located and capitalize on local search traffic.

5 Steps to Improve your Rankings and Website Traffic

1. Quality content

Helpful content: Google loves fresh content and companies who regularly publish helpful content. Strategize what type of content will resonate with your audience and don’t be afraid to test new ideas. Consider removing or updating out-of-date content that is no longer relevant for your audience.

Content calendar: Creating a content calendar for your shop can help you strategize which topics you want to cover each month and who will be responsible for the project timeline.

2. On-page SEO

URLs: Did you know that Google uses the words in your url to help understand what your content is about? Avoid generic URLs like www.Yourshopname.com/blog/23trk and start using keyword-rich URLs like www.Yourshopname.com/blog/houston-tire-store. A simple optimization that can lead to better rankings.

Keyword research: Organic search is no longer about stuffing your content with every keyword you can find but keywords still play a part in how Google ranks content. Keywords are the terms searchers type into Google like “Tire shop near me” or “Brake service shop in Houston”. Other common auto repair keywords include “auto repair shop near me”, “best mechanic in (insert city)”, or "(insert service type) near me”.

You can use a free tool like Google Search Console (more info on tools later on) to explore which keywords you are ranking for and strategize how you can include those terms in your content/website. You will also want to research keywords that you do not currently rank for but want to in the future. Don’t forget to look at competitors and see what they are ranking for to help you locate your target keywords and form your overall strategy.

Internal linking: If you think of the internet as a spider web, each piece of content has internal and external links that help connect related content. These internal links help search engines crawl your website and find all the other content your website has to offer. Aim for at least one internal link in each article you write.

Meta Descriptions: As the name suggests, meta descriptions inform readers on what they can expect your content to cover. This is a great place to highlight keywords you think searchers might use to find your content.

Avoid click-bait strategies but try to make your meta description attractive and keyword dense. This will lead to better click-through-rates and better rankings. Aim to use 150 characters or less in your meta description so Google doesn’t cut it off.

Meta Titles: Think of a meta title as the headline or title tag for your content. This is a great place to showcase what your content offers and what it covers. You also want to feature your top priority keyword in the title to make sure Google (and users) know that it matches what they are searching for.

A picture showing how title and meta description tags appear in Google search.

3. Technical SEO

Tek-Tip: Warning: this section is more technical and may require the assistance of a website professional. We recommend Shopgenie to help with all of your website/SEO needs.

Page speed: Search engines have started to prioritize websites that provide a better user experience and part of that is having fast page speed. You can test your website speed using this free tool. Some quick ways to improve your page speed would be to minimize image file sizes and reduce the number of third-party scripts you have on your website. You may need to contact a website developer if you want to make bigger adjustments to your website.

Link building: Search engines use backlinks as a way to identify which websites are trustworthy and authoritative. For example, if your website has a link from Forbes pointing to your blog article, it indicates that your blog has value. The more links you can gather (especially from high-quality websites) the more reasons search engines have to believe your website has value.

SEO and PR agencies can help you build your link profile. You can also contact other websites directly and do manual outreach. The best practice is to create content that people want to link to and the links will accumulate naturally. Content that typically performs well for link-building in the automotive industry includes how-to videos, guides, and tutorials.

Mobile friendly/UX: Have you ever been frustrated by a website on your phone that you can’t use because the buttons are too close together or it loads slowly? With the majority of your target audience using their phones to search for services, your SEO strategy needs to include a user and mobile-friendly website design.

Sitemaps: A sitemap is a file that you can add to your website to help guide search engine crawlers to your content. Think of it as a crawler roadmap for your website. This file can be useful if you don’t want certain parts of your website crawled or if you recently added new content and want it to be crawled quickly.

4. Local SEO

Google My Business: Google My Business (GMB) is a free Google business profile that showcases your company, services, contact info, logo, and more. An easy way to improve your local SEO is to keep this platform up-to-date with your contact information, website, and hours of operation. If a potential customer searches “auto repair shop near me” your GMB listing indicates to Google if you service that area and helps you rank for their search.

Bonus tip: Make it easy for customers to leave reviews on your GMB profile as extra proof that you run a quality automotive repair shop. Some auto shops add a QR code on the front desk or on receipts directing customers on how to leave reviews. Make sure to respond to negative and positive reviews with professionalism. First impressions matter; potential clients often research reviews before selecting a shop.

Directories: Directories are popular aggregation review platforms like Yelp, Consumer Reports, BBB, and Yellow Pages. Claiming your business profiles and updating them with your relevant information can help some potential clients find your auto repair business. Make sure your phone number, address and website are all up to date within each directory.

Location pages: Adding your address and directions to your website can help search engines understand where you are located and aid in pairing you with appropriate local queries. Another tactic is to make sure your website content mentions your city to further boost this effort.

5. SEO tools

Paid tools: There is no shortage of SEO software/tools to help you upgrade your auto repair SEO strategy. These tools typically have a free version but they are limited in functionality and you will need to upgrade if you have larger websites. Some of the top options include Ahrefs, Semrush, and seoClarity.

Free tools: If you have a smaller website you may be able to get by with these free tools. Some of the top free SEO tools include Google Search Console, PageSpeed Insights, and free versions of Ahrefs and Semrush.

Tracking/monitoring: After making updates to your website and overall SEO strategy it is important to track your progress and KPIs like clicks, traffic, impressions, CTR and others that may be relevant to your auto repair business. You can build free tracking dashboards in Google Analytics or Google Looker Studio.

Bonus tip: Google and other search engines regularly update their algorithms so keep an eye out for volatility during these updates.

How long does it take for search engine optimization to work?

While some SEO tactics will start working immediately, larger and more consistent progress will be seen within 3-6 months if implemented correctly. Typically, this progress is seen as part of a “snowball” effect where multiple small optimizations will snowball into larger results over time.

Ranking on the first page of Google can take time but it often depends on how many competitors are in your area. All worthwhile marketing strategies take time and SEO is no different.

Final thoughts

Search engine optimization is an important tactic to drive more traffic and customers for your auto repair business. Keep in mind that SEO is one of many marketing tactics and should be part of a larger marketing strategy. To be successful in automotive shop marketing you will also need to explore other channels like social media, email, paid advertising, and traditional marketing.

Auto Repair SEO: The Complete Guide for 2025

March 18, 2025

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