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If you've been running your shop on paper repair orders, a whiteboard, or a mix of disconnected tools, you've probably wondered about shop management software. You’ve also likely questioned what it does and whether it's worth the cost and the disruption of switching to a digital system. 

This blog post answers both questions directly with a clear explanation of what auto repair shop management software is, how it works in a real shop, and the signs it might be time to look at one.

What Is Auto Repair Shop Management Software?

Auto repair shop management software is a platform that connects the core workflows of your shop — from writing estimates to completing repairs to collecting payment — in one place. Instead of tracking jobs on paper, managing parts in spreadsheets, and texting customers from your personal phone, everything lives in a single system your whole team can access.

At its core, it's a connected digital workflow for every repair, from the moment a car pulls in to the moment it pulls out.

📋 Quick Definition
Shop Management Software (SMS): Also called a shop management system, is a digital platform that handles the operational and customer-facing workflows of an auto repair shop: repair orders, estimates, digital vehicle inspections, parts ordering, customer communication, invoicing, and reporting. Cloud-based platforms like Tekmetric can be accessed from any device without on-site servers.

A Step-by-Step Guide of What It Does

The easiest way to understand shop management software is to follow a repair from start to finish and see what the platform touches at each step.

1. Customer Arrives: Write-up and Scheduling

When a vehicle comes in, the service adviser opens a new repair order (RO) directly in the software. Customer info, vehicle history, and previous service notes are already there. There’s no need to search through masses of paper, and no digging through filing cabinets.

2. Technician Inspection: Digital vehicle inspection (DVI)

The tech completes a DVI on a tablet or mobile device, adding photos and videos of anything that needs attention. The results are automatically attached to the repair order and can be sent directly to the customer by text before the service adviser even picks up the phone.

This is one of the biggest workflow shifts shop owners find most beneficial. Customers can review inspection results, see pictures of the issue, and approve or decline work from their phone with no callbacks.

💬 From a Tekmetric customer
"The text feature is a huge hit — customers can review inspection results, check estimates, and approve repairs with just a click. The system is really streamlined and everything is integrated, making our workflow way smoother than before."
- Verified Tekmetric Customer, G2 

3. Estimate Building and Approval

Once the DVI is complete, the service adviser builds an estimate inside the same system. Parts prices, labor rates, and canned jobs are already set up so advisers aren't manually pricing every line. The estimate flows directly into the repair order once the customer approves.

4. Parts Ordering

Parts ordering happens inside the platform, too. Service advisers can submit orders to their suppliers directly from the repair order, track delivery status, and receive parts against open jobs without leaving the system.

5. Work is Performed and Technicians Stay on Track

The tech board gives service advisers and managers a real-time view of every job in the shop: what's waiting, what's in progress, and what's ready. Techs can update job status from their own device, which keeps the whole team on the same page without walking back and forth to the front desk.

6. Invoice and Payment

When the job is complete, the repair order becomes an invoice. Payment can be collected at the counter, sent by text, or processed through a payment link — depending on how the shop is set up.

7. Customer History

Every completed repair, every declined service, every inspection — it's all stored in the customer's profile. Next time they come in, the service adviser already knows what was done, what was deferred, and what's coming up. That's how you build trust and bring customers back.

What Does It Replace?

Most shops that switch to a management platform are replacing one or more of the following:

• Paper repair orders and handwritten estimates
• Printed or whiteboard job boards
• Phone calls and personal texts for customer communication
• Spreadsheets for parts inventory and pricing
• Separate software tools for inspections, scheduling, and invoicing that don't talk to each other

💬 From a Tekmetric customer
"We were originally running our shop with two systems; one was for digital inspection and the other was our shop management system. ... I was spending $1,000 a month between the software companies and the IT support. And if the internet connection blipped for a split second, my digital inspection went down for about an hour. Now I'm paying a fraction of what I was before. … We saved a bunch of money, and the estimate writing process is much faster because the labor guide is built into the system."
- Stephane Grabina, Excluservice, Tekmetric Customer  

Signs Your Shop Needs a Digital Shop Management System 

You don't need to be a high-volume shop to benefit from management software. Here are the signals that tell you it's worth a closer look:

• You're writing the same information down in multiple places such as a paper RO, whiteboard, or a text to the customer
• Technicians are walking to the front desk to ask questions that should already be in the job
• You can't tell at a glance how many cars are in progress or where each one stands
• Customers call asking for updates that your team has to scramble to find
• You're leaving declined work in your head instead of a system and losing follow-up opportunities
• Your end-of-day reporting comes from memory or a calculator

None of these are signs of a poorly run shop. They're signs of a shop that has outgrown what paper and disconnected tools can do.

Do You Actually Need It?

If your shop is processing more than a handful of cars a day, the answer is yes. 

The goal of shop management software isn't to add another system to manage. It's to replace the friction in your current process — the paper, the callbacks, the manual pricing, the jobs that fall through the cracks — with one workflow your whole team can use.

"It integrates every aspect of running our shop — from scheduling appointments and messaging customers to integrating payments and sending invoices." - Gigi Collier, G2 Review, Tekmetric Customer 

📌 Bottom Line
Auto repair shop management software connects your repair orders, inspections, parts, customer communication, and reporting in one place. It replaces the paper and disconnected tools most shops are running on today and gives you the visibility to run your business with more confidence and less noise.

What to Look For in a Shop Management Platform

Not all platforms are built the same. The best ones don't just digitize each task — they connect them, so information moves from one step to the next without anyone rekeying it.

Repair order and estimate workflow
The platform should make it fast to write up a job, build an estimate, and convert it to a repair order without re-entering anything. Look for built-in labor guides and canned jobs so your team isn't pricing from scratch every time. On Tekmetric, estimates flow straight into the repair order, and labor and parts matrices keep pricing accurate and margins protected.

Digital vehicle inspections (DVI)
DVIs are one of the highest-impact features in any shop management platform. When technicians attach photos and videos and customers approve work from their phones, authorization rates climb and comebacks drop. The lift is measurable: shops on Tekmetric average $612 per repair order, rising to $741 once digital vehicle inspections are in use. Customers approve more work when they can see exactly what their vehicle needs.

Parts ordering and inventory
Look for parts ordering built into the repair order, so your team submits orders without leaving the job or logging into a separate portal. Tekmetric connects to more than 70 integrations, including the parts suppliers most shops already use, and inventory tracking helps prevent shortages while protecting your parts margin.

Customer communication
Two-way texting, digital estimates, and automated follow-ups should be built in, not bolted on through a third-party tool. Every extra place your team has to go to reach a customer is another place things fall through the cracks. Tekmetric keeps it in one platform: text a customer, send an estimate, and follow up on a declined service from the same screen.

Reporting and visibility
A strong platform gives you a live view of what's happening in your shop right now — car count, technician productivity, average repair order — without pulling a report or doing the math. Tekmetric's real-time reporting puts those numbers in front of you as the day unfolds, so you can coach your team and clear bottlenecks while it still matters, instead of finding out next week.

Cloud-based access
Cloud-based platforms don't need an on-site server to maintain or replace, they back up your data automatically, and they let you log in from anywhere — the shop, home, or the road. Shop owners on Tekmetric point to exactly this: no server to buy and swap out every few years, and the freedom to work from any terminal at any location. It matters more than most owners realize until the day they need it.

See How Tekmetric Works

Tekmetric is the shop management platform built for independent auto repair shops. Repair orders, digital inspections, parts ordering, payments, and real-time reporting all run in one system, on any device. There are no servers and no syncing between tools that don't talk to each other and one login for the whole team.

It was built by someone who lived through the problem. Founder and CEO Sunil Patel ran his own shop and built Tekmetric to clear the friction he hit every day. More than 15,000 shops now run on it, connected to more than 70 integrations for the parts suppliers, labor guides, and accounting tools they already use.

What Changes When the Workflow Connects

When inspections go digital, customers see exactly what their vehicle needs — photos, videos, and clear findings in a single message. When they understand the work, they approve more of it. The results track it: Tekmetric shops average $612 per repair order. With digital vehicle inspections in use, that average rises to $741. Add MotoVisuals educational videos, and it reaches around $800. It’s the same honest work, but more of it is approved because customers understand what they're paying for.

That's the pattern across the platform. Faster turnaround from check-in to checkout. More cars through the bays. A customer experience that earns repeat visits. The friction falls away, and shops run on results instead of guesswork.

💬 From a Tekmetric customer
"The amount of information that is available to the front desk, the service adviser, and the technician at a glance is very impressive, and the functionality of it together is great."
— Moises M., Guest Service Representative, G2 Reviews, Tekmetric Customer

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Every job in your auto repair shop starts with the same thing: a work order. It's the document that captures the vehicle, the customer, the concern, the recommended work, and the price. If you get it right, the whole day runs smoother. If you get it wrong, you're chasing information you should already have.

Free automotive repair work order template

Download our free automotive repair work order template. Print it, and put it to work.

A mechanic repair order is a great first step in improving shop operations, but the shops that make the most money leveled up by implementing connected digital workflows. Below, we'll cover how to use a repair work order form, the best practices behind a clean workflow, and what actually changes when your work order lives in software instead of on a page.

What is an automotive repair work order?

An automotive repair work order is the record of a single customer visit to your shop. A standard auto repair work order template usually captures the vehicle details, the customer's contact information and concerns, inspection findings, recommended jobs with parts and labor, and an estimate for the work. It's both a working document for your team and the estimate your customer approves.

Whether you call it a mechanic work order, a car work order, or a repair order (RO), it does the same job: it turns the repair work into a clear, priced, trackable plan.

How to use an auto repair work order form

A mechanics work order template only helps if your team fills it out the same way every time. Here's the basic flow, whether you're working from a printed form or a screen.

1. Capture the vehicle and customer. Record the year, make, model, VIN, and license plate, plus the customer's name and contact info. Log the odometer reading at drop-off — it matters for warranty tracking, mileage-based service reminders, and the customer's own records.
2. Write down the concern. Note exactly what the customer reported in plain language. This is what your technician works from, so avoid shorthand only you understand.
3. Inspect and document findings. The technician inspects the vehicle and records what they find. Detailing the problems makes the repair work order more credible to the customer.
4. Build the estimate. Turn the findings into jobs. List parts and labor for each, and price them consistently so nothing gets left off the ticket.
5. Get authorization. The customer reviews the recommended work and approves what they want done. Nothing starts until you have that approval documented.
6. Check out and collect payment. Finalize the invoice, collect payment, and close the order.

Why shops move from paper forms to Tekmetric

Here's what changes when your auto repair shop stops relying on a piece of paper and becomes a connected workflow inside one platform.

Digital Vehicle Inspections turn findings into approvals

Instead of a checkmark on a clipboard, your technician performs the inspection on a tablet or phone and attaches photos and videos right to the work order. A worn brake pad photographed next to a new one tells the customer more than any line item ever could.

That transparency does two things: it builds trust, and it drives approvals. When customers can see the problem for themselves, they approve more of the work they genuinely need.

Digital authorization keeps work moving

With a paper form, authorization means the customer has to be standing at your counter. With digital authorization, the estimate goes straight to their phone. They review the recommended jobs, approve the ones they want with a digital signature, and your team gets a real-time notification the moment they do, whether the customer is in your waiting room or across town at work.

There is no phone tag. No vehicle sitting in the bay waiting on a callback. Authorized work moves forward faster, which means shorter turnaround times and fuller bays.

Integrated payment processing closes the loop

The last step of the work order is getting paid and it's where paper-based shops lose the most time and money. Because the digital invoice is generated automatically from the repair order, there's no re-keying and no double entry. With Tekmetric Payments, you can send a secure Text-to-Pay link so customers pay from their phone, keep a card on file for repeat visits, and offer Buy Now, Pay Later so more customers say yes to bigger repairs.

One connected workflow instead of a stack of forms

This is the real difference. On paper, the inspection, the estimate, the authorization, and the invoice are four separate documents. In Tekmetric, they're one connected repair order. The whole team can work from the same RO at the same time. Estimates flow directly into the work order. Parts ordering and inventory are built in. And everything — from check-in to payment — happens in one platform, so nothing slips between systems.

Best practices for repair order workflows

The form is only half of it. How your team runs the entire workflow is what separates a shop that's busy from a shop that's profitable.

• Standardize the process. Every work order should follow the same steps in the same order. Consistency is what makes the ticket readable to the next person who picks it up  and what makes your numbers trustworthy at the end of the month.
• Write for the customer. Technicians aren't mind readers, and neither are customers. Legible, jargon-free notes prevent the back-and-forth that eats your day.
• Inspect every vehicle the same way. A repeatable inspection process means nothing gets missed and every customer gets the same level of care.
• Make approvals easy. The faster and clearer the approval step, the less time a vehicle sits waiting and the more of the needed work gets a "yes."
• Keep everyone on the same record. When the service advisor, technician, and front desk are all working from one version of the work order, you stop losing information in the handoffs.

Start with the template. Grow into the workflow.

A great automotive repair work order form will make your mechanic shop more consistent starting today. Download ours, put it to work, and standardize how your team writes up every vehicle.

When you're ready to see what that same workflow looks like connected end to end — inspections, approvals, and payments in one platform — book a demo and we'll walk through it with your shop in mind.

Creating a great culture at an auto repair shop is the key to keeping and growing technicians 

Cars are lasting longer than ever, but the technicians who fix them are becoming harder to find. The average vehicle on U.S. roads is about 13 years old, and there are not enough skilled technicians to go around.

The auto repair sector needs about 71,000 new technicians a year, and the training pipeline delivers only about 50,000. That is more than 20,000 unfilled positions every year, and the shortfall continues to grow.

That gap is stark.

For auto repair shops, the shortage is not a statistic. It is a daily question: who is going to fix the cars?

Sunil Patel, Tekmetric founder and CEO, said this crisis can be solved with auto repair shop improvements. Those solutions, however, often are not the ones most shop owners typically expect.

Before he founded Tekmetric, Patel owned Motorwerks, an independent repair shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned about the technician shortage from inside the bay. After years of seeing the problem as a shop owner and now as an automotive repair technology leader, Patel says the shortage will not be solved with better software alone. 

It starts with creating a great culture and valuing people. Patel speaks from firsthand experience, and his conviction on where to start is clear.

"I would spend a lot more time on the culture side of it," he said. "I would make sure I'm building an amazing culture that attracts amazing technicians."

The First Hire

Patel started Motorwerks as a one-man operation. He turned wrenches at night and took vehicles in during the day. There was no hiring strategy because there was no one to hire but himself.

Then the work outgrew him.

"Eventually I started getting busier and busier, and I needed a technician," Patel said.

He reached out to a contact at a local dealership and asked if he knew anyone looking for work. The technician that was recommended had just been let go from the dealership. He had made a mistake, but he was genuinely skilled. Patel took the chance and hired him.

It paid off.

"He would crank out hours, and he was really good at his job," Patel recalled.

The technician struggled with diagnostics, but that happened to be the part Patel enjoyed most. The two skillsets fit together. The shop kept moving.

That early hire taught Patel something he tells shop owners to this day: a great technician is rarely great at everything, and the shops that win are the ones that build a team around complementary strengths and skills.

Why Hiring Became Harder

The work itself is part of the challenge. Repairing cars has always been demanding, but it keeps getting harder, and nowhere more than at an auto repair shop.

Consider the difference between a dealership and a shop. A dealership technician works on a narrow set of vehicles from a single manufacturer, where the engineering stays largely consistent from one model to the next.

"If I take the most compact car versus the most expensive car, the underlying technology is going to be very similar at a dealership," Patel explained.

A technician who has never touched a particular model can usually still work on it because the platform underneath is familiar.

An independent auto repair shop has no such predictability. It can take all makes and all models.

"You don't know what's going to come through that door," Patel said.

Shops can see a Honda one morning, a Toyota that afternoon, and a European luxury car the next day. Every job can push a technician past what they know best. And the steepest part of that climb is no longer mechanical — it is electronic.

"The hard part of this is not the mechanical side," Patel said. "It's the electronic side where technicians usually get stuck."

Modern vehicles run on layered software, networked sensors, and advanced driver-assistance systems. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that technicians increasingly work on these complex electronic and computerized systems, and diagnosing them well is a specialized skill. Those specialized skills are exactly what the labor market is short on.

No shop can send its team to factory training for every brand. There are more than 50 vehicle manufacturers on the market. The best shops specialize the way Patel did at Motorwerks: for instance, one technician strong on European vehicles, another on Japanese, another on domestic. That mix lets a shop triage almost anything that rolls in, and it turns a hiring problem into a team-building one.

The Myths Keeping Young People Out

Ask most people to picture a technician, and the image is dated. Greasy hands. A hot bay. Hard, dirty work.

Patel said that picture is a mischaracterization of how technicians work today.

"A lot of that is changing," he said.

Some independent shops today are fully air-conditioned. Part of the work is no longer mechanical — it is electronic, diagnostic, coding, and programming.

"You've got to be able to use a laptop," Patel said.

The old image does real damage. It steers young people away from a career that has quietly modernized. Correcting it, in Patel's view, is one of the industry's most important recruiting jobs.

Culture Is the Real Reason Technicians Leave

Patel said one pattern separates the businesses that attract and keep great technicians from the ones that cannot. It is culture. And many shops have room for improvement.

"When a technician leaves a repair shop, it's not because of the money," Patel said. "It's mainly because of the culture and environment, or lack thereof, that causes them to leave to another shop."

There is a structural reason culture gets neglected. Many independent shops are founded by technicians.

"They're not trained in the fundamentals of running a business, attracting top talent, and building an amazing culture," Patel said.

Most learn it through trial and error.

His prescription is uncomfortable for a lot of owners. Ask your technicians how they actually feel about working for you. What do they like? What do they not like?

"These are things shop owners sometimes don't even want to ask because it's out of their comfort zone," Patel said.

But the question itself sends a message.

"I want to make sure I'm doing everything in my power to build an amazing environment for you to thrive in, to grow," Patel said. "This is an emotional thing.”

The cost of getting it wrong is measurable. Collision shops alone see 30 to 40 percent annual technician turnover, according to a 2024 industry study from I-CAR and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists. Replacing skilled workers runs an estimated one-half to two times their annual pay when recruiting, lost production, and training are totaled, per Gallup.

In a trade this short on talent, a culture that keeps people is not a soft benefit. It is a bottom-line advantage.

The Small Things Add Up

Building culture does not require a consultant or a budget line. At Motorwerks, it was lunch.

Every Friday, Patel bought the team lunch and let the technicians pick the food. Eventually, he started barbecuing in the back of the shop, then rotated the grilling duty across the crew. He  also experimented with better health care and benefits.

None of it was flashy. All of it pointed the same direction.

"Making them feel like we care is what it boils down to," Patel said.

Real Pay and a Real Career Ladder

Technician compensation is misunderstood. Many people assume a shop career is a financial dead end. It is not.

"Some of the best technicians can earn a solid six figures," Patel said.

The range is wide, and that is the part young people rarely hear. The median automotive technician earns about $49,670 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the ceiling is far higher. Top flat-rate and master technicians routinely clear $100,000, and the fastest specialists earn as much as $160,000. The career rewards skill and speed, and its best earners are paid like it.

But money alone does not keep a technician on the job because the work is physically taxing. Technicians spend hours in awkward positions, lifting heavy parts, and holding components in place. Cuts, bruises, and back strain add up. Long days take their toll.

That is why Patel believes shops need a ladder, not just a wage. Owners should create a pathway for young technicians to grow into team leads, roles where their experience lifts the next generation rather than only their own billable hours. A career with a visible next step keeps good people in the industry.

Where Technology Fits

Patel is candid about the role Tekmetric plays in all of this. Technology did not create the shortage, but fragmented software makes technicians' jobs harder than they need to be.

For years, the shop technology stack was disconnected: one system for the front counter and a separate one for the technicians in the bay.

"Nobody's ever created an end-to-end solution from the time a vehicle is taken into a repair shop to the time it's fixed," Patel said.

Building that single, unified platform is the problem he set out to solve.

Tekmetric built tools specifically for technicians. The Tekmetric mobile app lets technicians move faster and target the exact friction that makes technicians skip digital vehicle inspections (DVIs).

Ask a technician why they do not run a DVI on every vehicle, and the answer is speed. It takes too long to photograph the issue, edit the images, and write it up. Tekmetric collapses that into something as simple as taking a video.

The payoff shows up in the numbers shops care about. The average repair order across Tekmetric shops is $612. With DVIs active, it climbs to $741. Add MotoVisuals video, and it reaches roughly $800. Faster, easier inspections do not just help the technician. They help the customer make an informed decision, and they help the shop grow.

The technicians are now the ones pushing owners to modernize.

Patel has watched technicians go to new shops and refuse to work on anything else other than Tekmetric. The platform's ease of use is what keeps them hooked.

"They tell the new shop, 'I'm not using whatever you have. You have to switch to Tekmetric,'" he said.

Building the Next Generation

Closing the shortage means reaching young people before they ever pick a trade. Patel is betting on the classroom.

Tekmetric is leading the effort by working directly with trade schools to understand what it can do to help, and what it found was a gap. Many training programs still run on pen and paper, or carry a cost for software and repair guides that creates a financial barrier to invest in other places.

"A young person comes in who's stuck on their iPhone, and they think, 'This is how this industry operates,'" Patel said.

The disconnect between the technology in a student's pocket and the technology in the classroom is its own recruiting problem.

To combat this, Tekmetric gives its platform to these schools for free. The goal is to let the next generation see, from day one, that a modern shop runs on modern tools.

Patel's pitch to any high school guidance counselor is straightforward. A student can leave high school, work as a technician for five to 10 years, and open a shop of their own.

"That is something exciting, and it's meaningful income," he said. “It is a path to ownership, not just a job.”

Why It Matters to Him

Patel has been in this industry long enough to feel its history personally, back to the muscle cars of the 1980s.

"It's part of the fabric of America, and it's what makes this country great," he said.

He knows the pains that shop owners, service advisors, and technicians carry, because he has carried them himself.

He is hopeful the shortage reverses, and clear-eyed about what will and will not get it there. Better tools help. Better training helps. Better culture helps most.

The shortage, in the end, is a people problem. Patel's whole argument is that shops should start treating it like one.

"AI is not going to solve fixing cars," Patel said. "That's something a human being is going to have to do for a while."

Find out what shops in your state are charging, and how to set a labor rate that keeps your shop profitable

In the automotive repair industry, your labor rate is more than just a number on an invoice — it is one of the key metrics that drives your business's profitability and overall growth. For shop owners, staying competitive while maintaining healthy margins requires a clear understanding of how labor costs fluctuate across the country. But knowing the national average is only half the picture. The more important question is: how does your shop compare?

Whether you are running a small independent shop or a high-volume operation, knowing where you stand relative to the average labor rate in your state — and against top-performing shops in your market — is essential.

This guide covers the current landscape of automotive repair labor rates across all 50 states, the factors that drive those numbers, and a step-by-step roadmap for setting a rate that supports your shop's long-term success.

Methodology and Key Terms

Tekmetric built this auto repair shop index as a community resource, backed by data from more than 10,000 shops across North America. Shops can use this tool to benchmark themselves and see how they compare state by state.

Key Terms to Know

Labor rate: The retail price per hour charged to the customer for repair services.

Flat-rate: A pricing model where a job is billed based on a predetermined number of hours from a labor guide, regardless of how long the actual repair takes.

Effective labor rate (ELR): The actual amount of labor revenue earned per billed hour after accounting for discounts, menu pricing, and unbilled time.

Understanding these terms will help you interpret the data below and apply it to your specific situation.

Mechanic Labor Rates by State

The average labor rate across the United States is $132 per hour, with the lowest state at $85 per hour and the highest at $197 per hour. Labor rates vary significantly by state, primarily driven by local cost of living and competition.

📊 See How Your Shop Compares — Free

The data below tells you what shops in your state are charging. But the labor rate is only one piece of the picture. The Tekmetric Shop Index lets you benchmark your shop across the four metrics that actually drive profitability — ARO, car count, parts margin, and effective labor rate — against thousands of real shops nationwide.

It's free, takes less than two minutes, and requires no Tekmetric account.

➡ Benchmark Your Shop Now →

Labor Rates by State

• Alabama: $123 per hour
• Alaska: $151 per hour
• Arizona: $147 per hour
• Arkansas: $144 per hour
• California: $163 per hour
• Colorado: $150 per hour
• Connecticut: $174 per hour
• Delaware: $142 per hour
• Florida: $154 per hour
• Georgia: $135 per hour
• Hawaii: $139 per hour
• Idaho: $133 per hour
• Illinois: $132 per hour
• Indiana: $121 per hour
• Iowa: $123 per hour
• Kansas: $117 per hour
• Kentucky: $121 per hour
• Louisiana: $136 per hour
• Maine: $113 per hour
• Maryland: $138 per hour
• Massachusetts: $130 per hour
• Michigan: $125 per hour
• Minnesota: $133 per hour
• Mississippi: $113 per hour
• Missouri: $117 per hour
• Montana: $136 per hour
• Nebraska: $125 per hour
• Nevada: $144 per hour
• New Hampshire: $125 per hour
• New Jersey: $141 per hour
• New Mexico: $140 per hour
• New York: $121 per hour
• North Carolina: $118 per hour
• North Dakota: $129 per hour
• Ohio: $125 per hour
• Oklahoma: $129 per hour
• Oregon: $147 per hour
• Pennsylvania: $114 per hour
• Rhode Island: $133 per hour
• South Carolina: $126 per hour
• South Dakota: $118 per hour
• Tennessee: $125 per hour
• Texas: $197 per hour — most expensive state
• Utah: $137 per hour
• Vermont: $102 per hour
• Virginia: $133 per hour
• Washington: $148 per hour
• West Virginia: $85 per hour — lowest in the nation
• Wisconsin: $121 per hour
• Wyoming: $134 per hour

Factors That Impact Automotive Labor Rates

Why do auto repair labor rates vary so widely from state to state? A few key factors drive the differences.

Cost of Living

In states with a higher cost of living, shop owners face higher wages to attract technicians, more expensive rent, and elevated utility and supply costs. Those overhead realities push labor rates up — not because shops are padding their margins, but because the math demands it.

Shop Type and Specialization

Dealerships typically carry the highest labor rates because of their overhead, factory-trained technicians, and reliance on OEM parts. Independent shops often have more pricing flexibility, particularly for routine services like oil changes. Specialty shops — focused on European vehicles, diesel, or performance — tend to command higher rates as well.

➡ Benchmark Your Shop Now →

Technician Expertise and Certifications

A diagnostic job requires a different skill set than a brake job. Shops that employ ASE-certified technicians or master technicians can and should charge accordingly. The rate reflects the expertise required to do the work correctly.

How to Set Your Labor Rate (Step by Step)

Setting your rate shouldn't be based on what the shop down the street is charging. It should be a data-driven decision grounded in your actual costs and performance targets.

Step 1: Calculate Your "Loaded" Labor Cost

Start with what it actually costs you to have a technician on the floor. This includes:

• Wages and overtime
• Payroll taxes
• Benefits (health insurance, 401k)
• Workers' comp and liability insurance
• Training and certifications

Divide that total annual cost by the number of billable hours that technician produces in a year. That's your loaded cost — and it doesn't include any profit margin yet.

Step 2: Account for Overhead

Your labor revenue also needs to cover the cost of running the business:

• Rent
• Utilities and shop supplies
• Marketing and software
• Taxes

Step 3: Determine Your Target Profit Margin

Tekmetric shops average 65% labor profit margins. If your loaded cost for a technician is $45 per hour and you want a 65% margin, your base labor rate should be at least $128 per hour.

Step 4: Benchmark Against Your Market

Your internal numbers come first, but you can't ignore the local market. If your rate is $128 and every comparable independent in your area is at $100, you need to either clearly justify your value — through better inspections, faster turnaround, stronger communication — or find ways to reduce overhead. Benchmark against shops of similar size, service mix, and geography.

Step 5: Implement a Labor Matrix

Not every repair order is equal. Shops that implement a labor matrix can automatically adjust rates based on job complexity — billing more appropriately for diagnostic work or specialty repairs without manually recalculating every estimate.

➡ Benchmark Your Shop Now →

How Tekmetric Helps Your Shop Stay Profitable

Managing labor rates manually is a recipe for inconsistency and missed revenue. Here's how Tekmetric gives you the tools and data to stay ahead.

Know Where You Stand with the Tekmetric Shop Index

Before you can optimize your labor rate, you need to know how your performance compares to other shops. The Tekmetric Shop Index gives you free, instant benchmarking across four metrics: ARO, car count, parts margin, and effective labor rate. Enter your shop's numbers and see exactly where you rank against thousands of shops nationwide — no account required, no sales call, no commitment.

You can't improve what you don't measure. This is where that work starts.

➡ Benchmark Your Shop Now →

Real-Time Profitability Tracking

Tekmetric's reporting features give you live visibility into ARO, car count, revenue, and technician productivity — so you always know how your shop is performing, not just at the end of the month.

Custom Labor and Parts Matrices

Tekmetric lets you build a labor matrix that automatically adjusts rates by job type. A custom parts matrix works the same way on the parts side, protecting your margins consistently across every repair order.

Digital Inspections That Justify Your Rate

Tekmetric's digital vehicle inspections let your team send photos and videos of needed repairs directly to a customer's phone. When a customer can see the worn brake pad or the leaking gasket for themselves, they're far more likely to approve the work — and far more comfortable with the rate attached to it.

Accurate Labor Guide Integration

Tekmetric integrates with industry-standard labor guides so your estimates are based on real, accurate times — not guesswork or memory. That means technicians get credited fairly under a flat-rate system, and your service advisers spend less time on paperwork and more time with customers.

Benchmark Your Insights Now

Knowing the average labor rate in your state gives you a useful reference point. But the shops that stay profitable long-term don't stop at state averages — they benchmark continuously, track the right metrics, and make adjustments based on data instead of instinct.

Your labor rate should reflect your actual overhead, your team's capabilities, and the quality of service your customers experience. Use the state data above as a starting point, then go deeper with the Tekmetric Shop Index to see how your shop compares across every metric that drives profitability.

Ready to see where you stand? Benchmark your shop free with the Tekmetric Shop Index →

Compare your shop's performance against real data from thousands of auto repair shops by state.

Benchmarking data is only useful when it changes what you do next.

If you've run your shop's numbers through the Tekmetric Shop Index and seen where you rank on ARO, car count, parts margin, and effective labor rate — good. You have a diagnosis. Now you need a plan.

This post walks through what each gap in your TSI results is actually signaling, which operational levers move the needle on each one, and how to build a focused 90-day improvement target that gives your team something concrete to work toward.

Start With the Biggest Gap

Your TSI results will show you four rankings. Resist the temptation to try to improve all four at once. The shops that make the most progress pick the metric with the largest gap and stay focused on it for a full quarter before adding another priority.

Trying to improve ARO, car count, parts margin, and effective labor rate simultaneously often means improving none of them because the operational changes required for each are different and can compete for your team's attention.

So step one is simple: look at your four rankings, find the biggest gap from the industry benchmark, and start there.

Gap: ARO Below Benchmark

If your average repair order is lagging, the most common root cause is inspection performance. Either digital vehicle inspections (DVIs) aren't being completed consistently, or they're being completed but not converted into approved work.

A few questions to answer before you act:

• What percentage of repair orders have a completed DVI attached?
• Of the DVIs sent to customers, what percentage include photos or video?
• What's your close ratio on recommended work?

If DVI completion is below 90%, that's almost always the first lever. Tekmetric's Inspection Report shows completion rates by technician, making it straightforward to identify who needs coaching and who's already performing well.

"Now I can look at everybody at a glance. I can be in a different state, different city and know exactly what's going on in each location all the time."  — Leroy Ingram, Ooroo Auto Care, Tekmetric Customer

If DVI completion is strong but close ratio is low, the issue is likely in how inspections are being communicated to customers — photo and video quality, the language in findings, how quickly the estimate follows the inspection.

Shops on Tekmetric also have access to the Parts and Labor Matrix, which protects against underpricing. It can be a quiet ARO killer that doesn't show up until you look at margin data.

➡ See how your ARO compares →

Gap: Car Count Below Benchmark

A car count gap can mean two different things depending on how it breaks down: you're not bringing in enough new customers, or your existing customers aren't returning at the rate they should. Both problems need attention, but they need different solutions.

For new customers, the questions are acquisition-focused. Tekmetric's online booking gives customers a way to find you and schedule an appointment 24/7 — filling bays without your team picking up the phone. The more friction you remove from the booking process, the more new customers follow through.

For returning customers, the questions shift to communication. Are declined jobs being followed up? Are customers receiving service reminders? Tekmetric Marketing automates follow-ups on declined work and scheduled maintenance intervals — so your team stays in contact with your car count without adding manual effort.

"Seven hundred and two dollars in ad spend has generated 11 net-new customers and $12,802 in new customer revenue — an 18.3x return on ad spend before factoring in the lifetime value of those customers returning for future visits."  — Tanner Markham, Phase 2 Automotive, Tekmetric Customer

➡ See how your car count compares →

Gap: Parts Margin Below Benchmark

A parts margin gap is almost always a pricing problem — either your markup isn't keeping up with cost increases, you're applying flat markup where a tiered matrix would protect margin better, or your team is manually overriding prices inconsistently.

The fix starts with reviewing your Parts Matrix in Tekmetric. A well-structured matrix automatically applies the right markup based on part cost ranges, removing the inconsistency that comes from individual pricing decisions at the job level.

After updating the matrix, run your Parts Purchased Report to verify that retail pricing is reflecting the changes accurately. This is also a good time to cross-reference against recent vendor invoices — if costs have moved significantly in the last 6 months, your matrix thresholds may need updating.

➡ See how your parts margin compares →

Gap: Effective Labor Rate Below Benchmark

If your effective labor rate is trailing your posted rate, the most common culprits are inconsistent discounting, flat-rate job structures that cap labor recovery, or package pricing that doesn't account for actual labor time.

Start by pulling your Discount Detail Report to see where and how often discounts are being applied. If they're being applied inconsistently across your team, that's a coaching conversation — and Tekmetric's real-time reporting makes it easy to see which service writers are discounting most frequently.

The Labor Matrix is the structural fix. Similar to the parts matrix, a tiered labor matrix adjusts the billed hours or dollar amount based on configured ranges, protecting margin without changing what customers see on the invoice.

➡ See how your effective labor rate compares →

Building a 90-Day Improvement Target

Once you've identified your primary gap and the lever that addresses it, the last step is turning it into a measurable target for the next 90 days.

A good 90-day target is specific, tied to a leading indicator, and gives your team something to track week over week. For example:

• ARO gap: "Increase DVI completion rate from 72% to 90% over 90 days, tracked weekly via Inspection Report"
• Car count gap: "Launch declined-job follow-up automation within 30 days; track returning car count monthly for 90 days"
• Parts margin gap: "Update Parts Matrix for all parts under $150 within two weeks; track parts margin weekly via Parts Purchased Report"
• Labor rate gap: "Reduce average discount percentage by 15% over 90 days, tracked via Discount Detail Report"

These aren't arbitrary numbers — they're examples of the leading-indicator approach that lets you see progress before the outcome metric moves. Set yours based on where you're actually starting, not where you want to end.

Check Your Rankings Quarterly

Your TSI results are a snapshot. Set a reminder to re-run the benchmarking every quarter so you can see whether your numbers are moving relative to the industry — not just relative to your own history.

The shops that use benchmarking most effectively are the ones that treat it as a recurring discipline, not a one-time exercise.

"Thanks to Tekmetric, we've really enhanced our business and are looking to expand. We're the #1 shop, 6 years in a row in Upstate New York."  — Chris Chevalier, AAA Auto Repair, Tekmetric Customer

➡ Benchmark your shop now →

Takeaways

• Start with your biggest gap — don't try to move all four metrics at once.
• ARO gaps usually trace back to DVI completion rates or close ratios.
• Car count gaps split into acquisition and retention problems — each needs a different fix.
• Parts margin gaps are almost always a pricing matrix issue.
• Effective labor rate gaps often come down to discounting habits and job structure.
• A 90-day leading-indicator target turns benchmarking data into team direction.

➡ Benchmark your shop now →

See how your shop stacks up against thousands of auto repair shops nationwide

You track your ARO. Maybe you watch your car count week over week. You know when a month is good and when it's below par.

But here's a question most shop owners can't answer quickly: Compared to shops like yours, are your numbers strong, average, or quietly underperforming?

There's a real difference between a number that's improving and a number that's competitive. A shop can grow ARO year over year and still be well below what high-performing shops are seeing in their market. Without an external reference point, you don't know which situation you're in.

That's the problem benchmarking solves, and it's the reason the data matters more than the direction.

Internal Tracking Tells You the Trend. Benchmarking Tells You the Truth.

Internal performance tracking is essential. If you don't know your ARO, car count, parts margin, and effective labor rate, you're managing without the most basic tools. But internal tracking has a structural limitation: it can only tell you how you're doing relative to your own history.

That's useful for spotting momentum — a rising ARO, a growing car count, tighter parts margin. What it can't tell you is whether your baseline is strong or weak relative to the market.

A shop with a $580 ARO that has grown from $520 over two years has made real progress. But if top-performing shops in their region are averaging significantly higher, that progress hasn't closed the competitive gap. It's just moved in the right direction.

The fix isn't to stop internal tracking. It's to add an external benchmark so you know what the target actually looks like.

➡ See how your ARO compares →

The Problem With Benchmarking From Anecdotes

Many shop owners get their benchmarks the informal way: conversations with peers at trade shows, numbers shared in coaching groups, or revenue figures posted in forums. These have real value, but they're also limited.

Self-reported numbers skew high (people share their wins). Peer groups are small samples. Industry averages from trade associations are often lagged and lack the granularity you need to compare fairly — a six-bay shop in a suburban market shouldn't be benchmarking against national averages that include dealership-adjacent shops in metro areas.

The more useful comparison is data drawn from shops operating in similar conditions, at similar scale, tracked in a consistent and anonymized way.

What Good Benchmarking Actually Looks Like

Effective benchmarking for an auto repair shop compares you on the four metrics that most directly drive profitability:

• ARO: Are you getting full value from each car that comes through your door?
• Car count: Is your volume where it needs to be to support your revenue goals?
• Parts margin: Are you protecting margin as supplier costs fluctuate?
• Effective labor rate: Is your real revenue per labor hour aligned with your posted rate?

Each of these metrics has a different lever. If your ARO is lagging, the fix usually involves inspection completion rates or customer communication. If your car count is stagnant, the issue is typically acquisition or retention. If your parts margin is eroding, your pricing matrix needs a look. If your effective labor rate is low, it's often a discounting or packaging problem.

Benchmarking tells you which problem to solve first. That's valuable when you have limited time and you're trying to prioritize.

How the Tekmetric Shop Index Works

The Tekmetric Shop Index is a free benchmarking tool built from data collected across more than 12,000 auto repair shops. Enter your shop's metrics and get an instant comparison showing where you stand on each of the four key measures. No Tekmetric account is required. Anyone can use it.

The output isn't a vague grade — it shows you where each metric ranks and gives you a clear picture of where the gap is largest. That's the signal that tells you where to focus first.

➡ Benchmark your shop now →

What to Do After You See Your Rankings

The benchmarking data is the starting point, not the finish line. Once you know which metric is your biggest gap, you can start asking the right questions:

• If ARO is lagging: How consistently are your technicians completing and sending digital vehicle inspections (DVIs)? Are customers seeing and approving the recommended work?
• If car count is flat: Are you actively pursuing new customers? Are return visit intervals optimized? Are declined jobs being followed up?
• If parts margin is soft: When did you last review your parts pricing matrix? Is it adjusting for recent cost increases from your vendors?
• If the effective labor rate is low: Are service writers building jobs accurately? Are discounts being applied consistently or inconsistently?

Each of these questions points toward a workflow, and Tekmetric's reporting is built to surface the answers at the job, technician, and service writer level. But even before you get to that step, knowing which question to ask is most of the work.

➡ Benchmark your shop now →

The Shops Getting This Right

High-performing shops don't treat benchmarking as a one-time exercise. They check their rankings periodically, track how their numbers shift against the industry baseline, and use the comparison to coach their teams with context.

"You're at 85% DVI completion" is a data point. "You're at 85% completion, and top shops are at 95%" is a coaching conversation with direction.

"Seeing them take the shift to Tekmetric and then grow profitability in the same four walls has been phenomenal. Some of them are just exponential."  — Matt Schwab, Clutch Automotive, Tekmetric Customer

Takeaways

• Internal tracking shows you direction; benchmarking shows you position.
• The four metrics — ARO, car count, parts margin, effective labor rate — are the right comparison points.
• Good benchmarking data is consistent, anonymized, and drawn from shops with similar operating profiles.
• The TSI tool is free, built from more than 12,000 shops, and gives you an instant read on where your gaps are largest.
• Your benchmark result tells you which lever to pull first — and that's where the work starts.

Once you know your gaps, the next step is building a system to close them.

➡ Benchmark your shop now →

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The Tekmetric Shop Index allows auto repair shops to benchmark themselves against thousands of Tekmetric shops nationwide

Most shop owners have a feel for how their business is doing. They know the slow weeks, the strong months, and whether the bays stayed full. What they often don't have is a good way to compare those numbers against anyone else.

That gap is where opportunity hides — and it's exactly what the Tekmetric Shop Index is built to close.

The Tekmetric Shop Index is a free benchmarking tool that lets you enter your shop's key metrics and instantly see how you stack up against more than 10,000 auto repair shops nationwide. No Tekmetric account is required. No commitments either. It's just an honest look at where your shop stands on the four numbers that matter most.

Top-performing shops track these metrics religiously — and they know exactly where they stand relative to the industry. Here's what each one means, why it matters, and how your numbers compare.

➡ Try the Tekmetric Shop Index →

1. Average Repair Order (ARO)

ARO is the average dollar amount of each repair order — total revenue divided by the number of cars you serviced. It's one of the most direct measures of how well your shop is selling and completing work.

A low ARO isn't always a bad sign on its own. But if your car count is healthy and your ARO is lagging, you could be leaving approved work on the table, underquoting, or missing opportunities to present needed repairs. A high ARO, on the other hand, means customers are approving more of the work their vehicles need.

ARO is also the metric most directly tied to your digital vehicle inspection process. Shops that complete digital vehicle inspections (DVIs) consistently — and share them with customers — tend to see higher approval rates and stronger AROs.

"I like the ease and the ability to be more transparent with my customers with detailed inspections and photos."  — Verified Tekmetric User, G2

➡ See how your ARO compares →

2. Car Count

Car count measures how many vehicles you service in a given period. It's the volume side of the revenue equation. ARO tells you how much you make per car; car count tells you how many cars you're making it on.

Both numbers matter. You can have a strong ARO and still struggle to grow revenue if car count is stagnant. And you can have a strong car count but a weak ARO if jobs aren't being sold thoroughly. Top shops keep an eye on both.

Car count breaks down further into new customers and returning customers — a distinction that matters when you're trying to understand whether your growth is coming from acquisition or retention.

"Customers can review inspection results, check estimates, and approve repairs with just a click. Everything is integrated, making our workflow way smoother than before."  — Verified Tekmetric User, G2

➡ See how your car count compares →

3. Parts Margin

Parts margin is the percentage of profit you're earning on the parts you sell. It's calculated as (retail price minus cost) divided by retail price.

This one is easy to overlook, especially if your shop has been using the same parts pricing for years. But small differences in parts margin have a compounding effect across hundreds of repair orders. If your parts pricing isn't keeping up with cost increases from your suppliers, your margin erodes quietly.

Top shops use tiered parts matrices that automatically adjust markup based on part cost ranges, protecting margin without requiring manual pricing decisions on every job.

"We were stuck at a certain level. … Once we made the switch, it just opened doors — payments, parts ordering, inventory — it all became more streamlined."  — Tim Lanier, Lanier Auto Group, Tekmetric Customer

➡ See how your parts margin compares →

4. Effective Labor Rate

Effective labor rate is the actual dollar amount your shop earns per labor hour — not your posted rate, but what you actually collect after discounts, flat-rate work, and packaged pricing.

A shop might post a $140/hour labor rate but collect significantly less per hour because of how jobs are built, discounted, or packaged. Tracking effective labor rate surfaces that gap and gives you something concrete to address.

This metric also helps you evaluate how well your labor matrix is working or whether you need one.

"I value its cloud-based agility and the way its real-time shop management board eliminates the bottleneck at the service desk … handling parts tracking and labor margins seamlessly."  — Verified Tekmetric User, G2

➡ See how your effective labor rate compares →

So Where Does Your Shop Stand?

These four metrics are the foundation of shop performance analysis. But knowing what they are is only half of it. The other half is knowing how your numbers compare — not to a theoretical ideal, but to real shops in the real industry.

That's what the Tekmetric Shop Index is built to show you. It's a free benchmarking tool that lets you enter your shop's numbers and instantly see how you compare to shops across the country on ARO, car count, parts margin, and effective labor rate. No Tekmetric account is required.

"With the implementation of Tekmetric we have seen a dramatic increase in business and positive feedback from customers."  — Verified Shop Owner using Tekmetric, G2

You can't improve what you don't measure. And you can't prioritize improvements without knowing where the gaps actually are.

Takeaways

• ARO measures revenue per vehicle. Strong shops track it and act on it.
• Car count captures volume. Both new and returning customers matter.
• Parts margin erodes quietly if you're not tracking it against your costs.
• Effective labor rate reveals the gap between your posted rate and what you actually collect.
• Benchmarking against real industry data turns these numbers into a roadmap.

See how your shop compares. The Tekmetric Shop Index is free, takes less than two minutes, and doesn't require a Tekmetric account.

,➡ Benchmark Your Shop Now →

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One multi-shop operator switched to Tekmetric and doubled monthly revenue in two years. He shared how in a recent Tekmetric and PartsTech webinar.

Auto repair shops are under more pressure than ever. Tighter margins. A technician shortage that isn't going away. Customers who expect speed, transparency, and a frictionless experience every time they walk through your door.

Yet many shops are still running on disconnected systems, manual workarounds, and processes that haven't changed in a decade. The result? Bottlenecks that bleed time, stall revenue, and cap growth — often without the shop owner even realizing it.

This is the problem a recent ShopOwner webinar, sponsored by Tekmetric, tackled head-on. The conversation centered on one deceptively simple idea: the connected shop.

In this article, you'll learn what a connected shop workflow looks like in practice, how one multi-shop operator doubled monthly revenue after switching to Tekmetric, where the most common operational bottlenecks are hiding in your estimating process, and how features like SmartJobs, parts and labor matrices, and good/better/best estimates can raise your average repair order (ARO) — the average dollar amount collected per repair order — without adding headcount.

What a Connected Shop Actually Means

A connected shop isn't just about having software. It's about having the right systems talking to each other — and having your team actually use them.

John Phelps, director of channel partnerships at Tekmetric, put it plainly: "Just because you have an oven, that doesn't make you a chef. You can have the technology, but if you're not leveraging it properly, what good is it doing?"

That distinction matters. Technology for its own sake is another bill. Technology deployed with intention — one that connects estimates, parts ordering, inspections, payments, and customer communication into a single workflow — is a growth engine.

Tekmetric is built to be exactly that. With 70-plus integrations, built-in digital vehicle inspections (DVIs — digital inspection forms that capture photos, videos, and findings shared directly with customers), real-time reporting, and a native mobile app for technicians and service advisors, it's designed so every step of the repair order (RO) flows into the next without friction, duplication, or lost data.

One Shop Owner Doubled Monthly Revenue After Switching to Tekmetric

Tim Lanier knows what a revenue ceiling feels like. As president and CEO of Lanier Auto Group — which today operates four rooftops in the northern Atlanta suburbs — he spent years running a single shop that simply could not break through a certain monthly revenue level.

"We were stuck," Lanier said during the webinar. "We had our ways of doing things. A lot of copy-paste out of catalogs into the shop management system."

In March 2020, he made the switch to Tekmetric.

"As soon as we made that change, it opened the door to a lot of new possibilities — some of which we just didn't anticipate." He added: "We probably doubled our sales in about two years once we made the switch."

At the time of switching, Lanier's single rooftop was generating roughly $200,000 per month. Two years later, that number had climbed to approximately $400,000 — a structural shift in what the business was capable of, not just an incremental gain.

What unlocked it? A connected workflow that brought parts ordering, DVIs, payments, accounting, marketing, and inventory into one platform. The glass ceiling, as Phelps framed it, became a paper ceiling. And Lanier's team broke right through it.

The Estimating Bottleneck Is Costing Your Shop More Than You Think

When Phelps asked Lanier to name the single biggest operational bottleneck he's had to overcome, the answer was immediate: the estimating process.

"If you don't come up with systems to streamline things, that person becomes the bottleneck in the shop," Lanier said. "Some tickets can take 30 minutes to an hour to find all the parts and pieces you need for big jobs."

His solution? Get technicians directly involved — and give them the tools to act on that involvement.

"We've empowered the technicians by giving them a computer at their bay and a dual monitor setup so they can go straight into Tekmetric, pull up PartsTech, use diagrams and photos to quickly identify the exact part they need, and put the part on the ticket," he explained.

The result: estimates arrive at the service advisor roughly 90% complete. Advisors clean up grammar, add photos, and present. That's it. No back-and-forth. No shouting across the shop floor.

This is the connected shop in practice. Tekmetric's integration with PartsTech means technicians can search multiple suppliers in one lookup, confirm part specifications, and add items to ROs without leaving the platform. What once took an hour can be compressed into minutes — with fewer errors and fewer return trips.

Pricing Consistency Drives ARO Growth

One of the most overlooked drivers of ARO growth isn't sales technique — it's consistency.

Phelps highlighted this during the webinar: if a customer calls back a week later asking for a brake quote and gets a number $50 different from what they were told before, trust breaks down. Inconsistency in how estimates are built — varying labor rates, different parts markups, or service advisors quoting from memory — costs shops money and customers.

Tekmetric addresses this directly. Parts matrices and labor matrices create a consistent pricing foundation so every estimate reflects the shop's actual margins, regardless of which advisor builds the ticket or when. SmartJobs — Tekmetric's proprietary canned job system that automatically pre-populates parts, labor, and job notes for common services — takes this further by ensuring the right components populate every time, on every RO.

"If you're not using SmartJobs, powered by PartsTech, in Tekmetric, reach out to support, get your SmartJobs set up, and you'll be taking a massive step forward,” Jake Benson, director of strategic accounts at PartsTech, said during the webinar.

How to Present Good, Better, Best Estimates Without Starting From Scratch

Economic uncertainty means customers are making tighter decisions. Giving them options isn't just good customer service — it's good business.

In Tekmetric, shops can build a good/better/best estimate structure without starting from scratch three times. Build the base estimate, duplicate it, add parts or labor for each tier, and text all three options to the customer. A built-in checkbox at the job level keeps declined or unchecked options out of close ratio reporting, so advisors aren't penalized for presenting choices.

The same system works for tires, fluid services, brake packages, or any job where tiered pricing makes sense. Shops that present options consistently report higher approval rates and stronger customer relationships — because customers feel informed rather than pressured.

Tekmetric Is Built to Scale With Your Shop

Lanier's growth from one rooftop to four over the last four years didn't happen by accident. He credits systems and processes — and the ability to replicate them — as the core of that expansion.

"Once you figure out your systems and processes, things begin to click," he said. "It all becomes a lot easier."

Tekmetric is built to scale with that ambition. Whether you're running a single shop or managing multiple rooftops, the platform gives ownership real-time visibility into performance across every location — ARO, technician efficiency, close ratio, and more — without requiring an extra step to pull the data.

The connected shop isn't a future state. For shops like Lanier Auto Group, it's already the standard. The question is whether yours is built the same way.

Watch the full on-demand webinar from Tekmetric and PartsTech — How to Simplify Shop Operations and Increase Your Average Repair Order — and hear directly from shop owners and industry experts on the strategies and tools driving real results in 2026. 

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Tekmetric just revealed two new tools to help shops win more customers and run a more efficient front desk. Get the full story. Watch the on-demand webinar now.

Generating new business in auto repair is hard. The industry is projected to grow just 2% over inflation annually over the next five years. The average American has 15 auto repair shops within 10 miles of their home, according to Tekmetric's internal data, meaning competition for every new customer is fierce. And across multiple industry surveys, roughly two-thirds of drivers say they don't fully trust their local repair shop — making it that much harder to win them over. The result: only one in 10 shops both grows and hits profit margins of 20% or higher. 

"We know the competition to win new customers is fierce,” said Lauren Langston, president and COO, Tekmetric. “That means we need the right strategies and the right tools in order to do it."

Tekmetric's data shows that winning shops consistently focus on four outcomes: car count, average repair order (ARO), driver experience, and cycle time. Two new Tekmetric products — Tekmetric Digital Ads and Tekmetric Phones — are built to move the needle on all four.

Tekmetric Digital Ads

Winning new customers starts with being found. Tekmetric Digital Ads is an AI-powered add on that helps your shop show up where high-intent drivers are already searching for auto repair on Google Maps and Apple Maps. Because it connects directly to Tekmetric, you can see exactly how your ad spend translates into real revenue, not just clicks.

"It's really hard to see what's working. One of the superpowers of this product is that it's connected directly with Tekmetric," said Jared Haleck, chief product officer, Tekmetric.

Tekmetric Digital Ads is in early access now and rolling out to selected customers.

Tekmetric Phones

Every missed moment at the front desk has a cost. Tekmetric Phones gives your service advisors the customer context they need — instantly, the moment the phone rings — so they can spend less time looking things up and more time taking care of customers.

"Service advisors especially are loving it,” Haleck said. “It just saves them so much time. It creates so much convenience for them.”

Tekmetric Phones is in beta, available for customers on RingCentral.

Watch the On-Demand Webinar

Langston and Haleck walked through all of it — the industry data, live product demos, and what's coming next — in their webinar, "Building for the Results-Driven Repair Shop."

The recording is available now. If you want to see exactly how these tools work and what they can do for your shop, this is the place to start.

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Every vehicle that rolls into your shop is an opportunity to protect a customer's family, uncover real problems before they become roadside emergencies, and build the kind of trust that earns repeat business—but only if your team catches what matters every time.

A consistent inspection process is how shops do that. And when you pair it with the right tools, it pays off: Tekmetric shops using Digital Vehicle Inspections (DVIs) average $741 per repair order, compared to $612 without them.

Below, you'll find a downloadable 100-point vehicle inspection checklist, a breakdown of what every technician should check, and an overview of how digital vehicle inspections can sharpen your workflow.

Printable vehicle inspection checklist (PDF)

100-Point vehicle inspection checklist

A full inspection covers every system that affects safety, drivability, and reliability. The comprehensive 100-point checklist below gives your technicians a strong baseline they can follow on every repair order.

Vehicle intake

1. Log the VIN and license plate to confirm the vehicle's identity and match past service records.
2. Record odometer reading in and out.
3. Note customer-reported concerns and the reason for the visit.
4. Document the fuel level at drop-off.
5. Check for open safety recalls tied to the VIN.
6. Gather customer contact information.

Exterior condition

7. Check the body for dents, scratches, and any signs of damage.
8. Inspect the bumpers front and rear for cracks, loose mounts, or impact marks.
9. Confirm the license plate is secure, legible, and properly mounted.
10. Note any rust, paint issues, or trim damage.
11. Inspect fenders, rocker panels, and body panel alignment.
12. Inspect glass, windshield, and mirrors for chips, cracks, or pitting.
13. Check door handles, hinges, and weather stripping.
14. Inspect child safety locks.
15. Inspect the trailer hitch.

Lights and electrical

16. Headlights on low and high beam.
17. Taillights and brake lights.
18. Turn signals front and rear.
19. Hazard flashers.
20. License plate lights and dashboard illumination.
21. Reverse lights, fog lights, and daytime running lights.
22. Interior dome, map, and courtesy lights.
23. Any warning light that's illuminated on the dashboard. A check engine light, ABS warning, or airbag indicator tells you where to focus diagnostic time.
24. Battery voltage, terminals, and charge/discharge load test.
25. Alternator output and starter draw.
26. Ignition switch and accelerator pedal function.
27. Horn operation.

Tires and wheels

28. Check tire pressure on all four tires plus the spare.
29. Measure tire tread depth.
30. Check for uneven wear patterns that can point to alignment or suspension issues.
31. Inspect sidewalls for cracks, bulges, or embedded objects.
32. Check valve stems and caps for leaks or damage.
33. Review the tire DOT date code for age.
34. Verify wheel condition, lug nut torque, and hub cap security.
35. Check the spare tire, jack, lug wrench, and locking wheel lock key.
36. Confirm the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is functioning.

Brake system

37. Check brake pads for thickness and wear patterns.
38. Inspect rotors for scoring, warping, or excessive wear.
39. Examine brake drums and shoes, if equipped.
40. Check brake calipers for sticking, leaks, or damaged boots.
41. Check brake fluid level and condition at the master cylinder.
42. Examine brake lines and hoses for cracks or leaks.
43. Test parking brake function and adjustment.
44. Evaluate overall brake pedal feel, travel, and pulsation.
45. Verify ABS sensors, wiring, and warning light operation.

Steering and suspension

46. Inspect the steering wheel for play and responsiveness.
47. Check steering column and intermediate shaft for looseness.
48. Check power steering fluid level and condition.
49. Examine tie rods and ball joints for wear.
50. Check struts for leaks or damage.
51. Inspect shock absorbers for proper dampening and leaks.
52. Check CV boots and axle shafts.
53. Inspect wheel bearings for noise or excessive play.
54. Inspect sway bar links, bushings, and control arms.
55. Look for uneven ride height or sagging that can indicate a failing spring.

Under the hood

56. Check the battery capacity.

57. Check engine oil level and condition.
58. Check the oil filter for leaks and proper seating.
59. Inspect transmission fluid.
60. Check coolant level, condition, and the cooling system for leaks.
61. Inspect brake fluid, power steering fluid, and washer fluid reservoirs.
62. Inspect the battery, cables, and hold-down hardware.
63. Examine the serpentine belt and any drive belts for cracks, glazing, or fraying.
64. Check all hoses for soft spots, swelling, bulges, or leaks.
65. Inspect the engine air filter and cabin air filter.
66. Check the fuel filter, if serviceable.
67. Inspect the PCV valve and evaporative emissions components.
68. Check the radiator and condenser fins for debris or damage.
69. Check engine and transmission mounts.
70. Look for oil leaks at the valve cover, oil pan, and gaskets.
71. Test the spark plugs and ignition components.
72. Inspect air intake.
73. Inspect fuses.

Under the car

74. Check the exhaust system for leaks, rust, and damaged hangers.
75. Inspect the muffler, resonator, and heat shields.
76. Inspect fuel system components, lines, and the fuel tank for leaks or corrosion.
77. Look at the transmission and differential housings for leaks.
78. Check the oil pan and drain plug for seepage or stripped threads.
79. Examine the frame, subframe, and undercarriage for rust or impact damage.
80. Check emissions-related components like the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors.
81. Inspect the driveshaft, U-joints, and center support bearings.
82. Verify skid plates and underbody shielding are secure.
83. Scan the ground under the vehicle for any fluid drips or leaks.

Interior and safety equipment

84. Test seat belts for retraction, fraying, and buckle function.
85. Confirm airbag and supplemental restraint indicators clear properly.
86. Inspect windshield wipers and wiper blades for streaking or splitting.
87. Test washer fluid spray on the windshield and rear glass, if equipped.
88. Inspect interior warning lights.
89. Check AC, heat, and all fan speeds.
90. Test front and rear defrosters.
91. Inspect infotainment displays and systems.
92. Test door locks, power windows, and the key fob.
93. Inspect driver-assist systems, backup camera, and parking sensors.
94. Inspect lane departure systems.

Road test

95. Confirm smooth engine start and stable idle.
96. Evaluate transmission shift quality and clutch engagement, if manual.
97. Test braking response, pedal feel, and stopping distance.
98. Listen and feel for suspension noise, vibration, or harshness.
99. Check cruise control and driver-assist system operation.
100. Note any dashboard warning indicator, abnormal smoke from the exhaust, or unusual vibration that appears during the drive.

What are digital vehicle inspections (DVIs)?

Paper inspection checklists worked for decades, but they come with real costs: illegible handwriting, lost sheets, no documentation, and frustrating back-and-forth among the technician, service advisor, and customer.

Digital Vehicle Inspections change that. With Tekmetric, your technicians perform the inspection on a tablet or phone, attach photos and videos of anything that needs attention, and send a vehicle health report straight to the customer's phone.

Here's what that looks like in practice: A technician notices worn brake pads on a 2019 Toyota Highlander. Instead of writing a note the customer may not understand, the technician snaps a photo of the worn pad next to a new one, records a short video, and marks the task red for immediate attention. The service advisor builds the estimate and texts it to the customer. Whether they're an in-store customer in the waiting room or at work across town, the customer approves the job with a digital signature.

Why car inspections matter

Every car owner is counting on your team to catch what they can't see. A consistent inspection process gives your technicians a repeatable way to do exactly that on every repair order, every time.

Inspections also drive revenue. When you document a vehicle's condition clearly with photos and notes, customers understand exactly what their car needs and why. They approve more of the work they genuinely need when they can see the evidence.

Build customer trust with digital vehicle inspections

A great inspection process isn't about checking boxes. It's about giving every vehicle owner a clear, honest picture of their car's condition so they can make informed decisions about their safety and their budget. When your shop pairs a thorough inspection process with a digital tool like Tekmetric's DVI, you give your team the speed and consistency they need and your customers the transparency they want.

Almost 1,000 shop owners, service advisors, and technicians gathered in Houston for Tektonic 2026, Tekmetric's first industry conference. Over two days at the Marriott Marquis, attendees packed breakout rooms, traded hard-earned lessons, and heard from operators, coaches, and industry leaders who have built and scaled shops of their own.

The Question That Started It All

Tekmetric CEO and Founder Sunil Patel opened Tektonic 2026 with a question he has been asking since he was writing service tickets and mopping floors at his former Houston shop, Motorwerks of Houston: "Why does it have to be so hard? Why does it have to feel like we're fighting a war on 12 fronts?"

That question, he told the room, is the reason Tekmetric exists.

Standing in front of shop owners, service advisors, and technicians who understand that question on a cellular level, Patel walked through how much harder running a repair shop has become. Vehicles are packed with software, sensors, and calibration systems that require entirely new toolsets. Customer expectations have been shaped by on-demand everything. Technician shortages continue to press on shops across the country. And OEM data restrictions are making it harder for independent shops to do the work they were built to do.

But Patel didn't stop at the challenge. He laid out four pillars he believes the industry needs to move forward: stop celebrating burnout as a badge of honor, build genuine trust with customers and teams, invest in an ecosystem of great partners and vendors, and embrace technology that serves shops rather than extracts from them.

He closed with a simple ask for everyone in the room: be curious, be open, be generous with what you know, and be present. 

"I want you to take something away from here," he said. "Something that will get you to be 1% better than you were."

That set the tone for everything that followed.

Top Takeaways

Process Consistency Wins on the Hard Days

Busy days don't create problems. They expose them. The best shops build their standard operating process before the chaos starts.

• Call the day before. A preappointment call to review service history and flag overdue maintenance turns intake from reactive to planned and primes customers to say yes before they walk in the door.
• Speed is your biggest sales tool. Every hour between drop-off and delivering an estimate costs roughly 10% in approval rates. Get findings to customers fast.
• Set the next promise, not the finish line. Never promise a completion time you can't guarantee. Promise the next specific update and deliver it on time, every time.
• The in-store customer is the highest-priority repair order in the building. Every other car can wait. The person sitting in your lobby cannot.
• Improve one thing at a time. Pick one process to fix, measure it, and build accountability before moving to the next. Trying to fix everything at once fixes nothing.

Speed Closes More Jobs Than Salesmanship

Closing rates drop sharply with every hour that passes between drop-off and the customer call. A customer who has been waiting since 8 a.m. has had time to read every one-star review and talk themselves out of approving the work.

• Get inspection results to customers within 30 minutes of dispatch. That's the speed zone. Everything else in the shop is secondary until that call is made.
• In-store customers get findings in 15 minutes or less. The customer is sitting right there. Use it.
• Relative priority is your daily compass. At any moment, the most important thing is moving the car that's furthest behind in the process. Not the loudest customer. Not the most expensive ticket. The earliest step.
• Two daily goals. Full stop. Every technician runs at least eight billable hours. The shop hits its gross profit target. Nail both and everything else follows.

You Don't Have a Technician Shortage. You Have a Culture Problem.

The technician pipeline isn't as broken as it seems. What's broken is how many shops make it hard to stay.

• Rethink flat rate. Hybrid pay models that combine a solid base with performance incentives align your team's goals with the shop's goals and they're far more attractive to the next generation coming into the trade.
• Answer two questions before you do anything else. Why would a technician work here? Why would a customer come back? If you hesitate on either, start there.
• Recognition is the highest-ROI leadership move you have. Research cited at the conference found that team members become disengaged because they don't feel seen. Fix that before you invest in anything else.
• AI won't replace hospitality. Technology can handle administrative weight, but the trust a service advisor builds with a customer at the counter is irreplaceable. Invest in that skill set.
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Growing to Multiple Locations Takes More Than Money

Every multishop operator on the stage agreed: you're never fully ready, and that's fine. What matters is being profitable, having the right people, and expecting the unexpected.

• Profitable and cash-positive before you move. When you make a mistake at location two—and you will—you need a healthy location to cover it.
• You're ready when your shop doesn't need you. Build your bench before you open the next door. The manager for location two should already be in your building today.
• Start your exit plan on day one. Almost no one in the room at one of Tektonic’s breakout sessions had a clear exit strategy. Don't leave money on the table because you never thought through how the story ends—whether that means selling, transitioning, or building for long-term cash flow.

Leadership Is the Ceiling on Everything Else

Your shop will never outperform your leadership. What you tolerate becomes your standard. How you show up on Monday morning sets the emotional temperature for everyone around you.

• Know your triggers before they know you. Name what sets you off. Once you can spot it, you can stop it before it damages a relationship.
• Pause for three seconds. Before you respond to anything that's gotten under your skin, stop. Three seconds is the difference between a reaction and a response.
• Hear less. Listen more. After someone finishes speaking, let the silence sit. People almost always have more to say and the second thing is usually the real thing.
• Walk into hard conversations knowing how you want them to end. Start with the outcome in mind, not the grievance.
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Product Announcements at Tektonic 2026

The closing session belonged to the Tekmetric product team. Drawing on data from more than 15,000 shops on the platform, Tekmetric President and COO Lauren Langston and Chief Product Officer Jared Haleck built the roadmap around key areas where winning shops consistently outperform the rest: car count, average repair order (ARO), driver experience, and cycle time.

Here's a look at what’s coming:

Tekmetric Digital Ads: AI-powered advertising on Google Maps and Search, built for the moment a driver has a problem and is ready to act. It connects directly to Tekmetric so you can see the gross profit behind every dollar of ad spend, not just clicks.

Smart DVI: Technicians walk the vehicle, narrate what they see, and Smart DVI builds the customer-ready inspection report automatically—findings organized, images annotated, and jobs pre-suggested for the estimate. Less time typing. More time turning wrenches.

Tekmetric Phones: Customer details, open repair orders, and communication history surface the moment an inbound call rings. No more looking it up while someone's waiting. A future capability in development will transcribe calls in real time and auto-populate appointment notes.

See You in 2027

Tektonic 2026 was Tekmetric's first industry conference, and it delivered on the promise Sunil Patel made from the stage: a room full of shop owners, service advisors, and technicians who showed up to get better.

The through-line across every session was the same. The shops that win are the ones that build systems, invest in their people, and keep getting 1% better. Not all at once. One thing at a time.

Registration for Tektonic 2027 is already open. We hope to see you there.

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At Tektonic 2026, one of the most memorable moments of the conference came when Tekmetric turned the spotlight on the shops doing the best work.

The inaugural Shop Excellence Awards, powered by performance insights from the Tekmetric platform, celebrated repair shops that are not only delivering standout business results, but also redefining what exceptional customer service, shop culture, and operational excellence look like across the automotive repair industry.

"Tonight is probably going to be my favorite part of all of Tektonic," Tekmetric CEO and Founder Sunil Patel said during the ceremony. "None of this is about us. It's about the shops in this room, the people actually doing the work. Running shops, leading teams, taking care of customers every single day."

Using 12 months of platform performance data from Tektonic event registrants, Tekmetric recognized shops that rose to the top across key measures of customer trust, service consistency, team culture, transparency, and operational growth.

"The shops that win today aren't just fixing cars … they're building businesses, leading teams, and delivering experiences customers remember," Tekmetric President & COO Lauren Langston said.

Top Car Count Award: Dick's Point S Tire & Auto Repair

The Top Car Count Award recognizes a shop that has earned extraordinary trust from its community at scale.

This year's winner, Dick's Point S Tire & Auto Repair in Battle Ground, Wash., served more than 25,000 vehicles during the last 12 months.

That level of throughput only happens when customers return again and again, and when shop teams consistently deliver an experience drivers trust.

"Serving nearly 26,500 vehicles in a single year means thousands of drivers who found a shop they could count on, returned when they needed help, and left satisfied," Langston said.

Sustained Growth Award: Branch Automotive and AutoPro Maryville

Growth is one thing. Sustaining it is something else entirely.

The Sustained Growth Award recognizes shops that have continuously raised the bar for what they deliver to every customer who walks through the door. Growth in average repair order reflects shops that are doing better inspections, making clearer recommendations, and earning customer confidence in the work their vehicles actually need. These two shops demonstrated the most consistent upward trajectory throughout 2025.

This year's winners were Branch Automotive in Highlands Ranch, Colo., and AutoPro Maryville in Maryville, Tenn.

Branch Automotive posted nine straight month-over-month increases in ARO. AutoPro Maryville also delivered nine month-over-month increases, growing by an impressive 51%.

Together, the two shops exemplify what sustainable growth looks like: stronger inspections, clearer recommendations, and the kind of customer trust that leads to consistently higher-value work.

DVI Powerhouse Award: Craftsman Auto Care – Fairfax

Transparency remains one of the most powerful drivers of trust in modern auto repair, and no shop demonstrated that better than Craftsman Auto Care – Fairfax.

“Winning means everything. It means my team winning–being able to pay the best in the business, being able to offer the best benefits, having amazing employees and amazing customers who just fall in love with us,” said Matt Curry, president and CEO of Craftsman Auto Care.

With almost 10,000 five-star reviews, with an average rating of 4.9 stars, Curry said that's a huge trust signal with all of their customers. Craftsman Auto Care uploaded hundreds of thousands of digital inspection images during a year, the highest total Tekmetric’s dataset.

"That's 300,000 moments where a customer could clearly see what their vehicle needed," Langston said. "Removing guesswork, building confidence, and helping drivers make informed decisions about their car."

The result is a service experience rooted in clarity, education, and trust.

Booked Solid Award: A Master Mechanic and Demore's Automotive

The Booked Solid Award honors shops that have built reliable, predictable demand through reputation and service, the kind customers actively seek out, return to, and refer others to.

This year's first winner, A Master Mechanic in Sparks, Nev., recorded the largest booked appointments in the Tekmetric network dataset.

This year's second winner, Demore's Automotive in Palmer, Mass., earned its recognition by proving that smart marketing and exceptional service are a powerful combination. As a Tekmetric Digital Ads beta participant, the shop turned digital visibility into real volume, reaching the right drivers at the right moment and converting first visits into long-term customer relationships. The result is full bays, steady demand, and a shop that delivers every time someone walks through the door.

Together, these two shops show that full schedules don't happen by accident. They're the result of consistent service, earned trust, and, increasingly, the strategic use of digital tools to reach customers before the competition does.

Financing Excellence Award: The Garagisti Katy

For many drivers, the biggest obstacle to safe, reliable transportation is not understanding the repair, it is figuring out how to pay for it.

The Financing Excellence Award recognizes the shop that best removed that barrier.

This year's winner, The Garagisti Katy in Katy, Texas, was the leading user of Buy Now, Pay Later financing across the Tekmetric network.

“I feel great, not only for myself, but for the team and everything that they do: the customer interactions, the sales, helping close the sale. It means a lot,” said Eddie Marlow, manager of The Garagisti Katy. “I have a great team, a great owner, and this award means a lot to all of us.”

By making financing a seamless part of the customer journey, the shop helped more drivers move forward with necessary repairs without added financial stress.

"This shop has made that moment easier," Patel said, referencing the often difficult conversations shops have when customers need repairs but hesitate because of cost.

Best Shop to Work For: The Kar Shop and Ice Cold Air

The final award of the evening focused on the people behind every customer experience.

The Best Shop to Work For Award recognized two shops this year, each demonstrating, in their own way, that the customer experience will never exceed the employee experience.

The first winner, The Kar Shop in Rogers, Ark., was recognized for building a culture where technicians and staff feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow. During the ceremony, Tekmetric leaders shared one story that stood out: the shop changed its operating hours so employees could spend more time with their families while continuing to invest in training and long-term career development.

“It's really kind of impressive that our guys think so much of us. In your day to day, you don't really think about things like that,” said Keith Kingston, one of The Kar Shop’s owners. “You're there to make sure the customers get taken care of, that everything flows well, that you have all your parts; there are so many small details you have to worry about. You don't always stop to think about how everybody feels. So to know that they said good things about us, it's really kind of humbling.”

The second winner, Ice Cold Air, earned its recognition through intentional hiring, steady processes, and genuine leadership, building a workplace where people feel supported, valued, and proud to belong. 

“And what just happened right there with my team and my wife? That energy is going to go back home with us,” Ashley Butler, owner and franchisor of Ice Cold Air, said immediately after winning the award. “It's going to go throughout the entire organization. And next year, we're coming back with a minimum of two people from each shop, that means 28 people. We're going to bring techs, we're going to bring managers, we're going to bring franchisees, so they can come build that energy and experience Tekmetric firsthand.”

With more than 100 employees, Ice Cold Air’s impact reaches far beyond the shop floor. The Tampa, Fla., team believes in doing things the right way: investing in their people, giving back to their community, and building something that lasts.

"It shows up in their culture, their retention, and in every customer interaction," Langston said.

Raising the Standard for the Industry

The Shop Excellence Awards were ultimately about more than recognition. They highlighted the operational habits, customer-first decisions, and team investments that move the entire industry forward.

At Tekmetric, that is exactly what Tektonic is built to celebrate: the shops leading by example and showing what great looks like.

"To all of our winners, and honestly, to every shop in this room, we know what it takes to do this well," Patel said in closing. "The standard you're setting is what moves this entire industry forward."

Join us at next year's Tektonic to hear their stories, see the strategies behind the numbers, and connect with the shop leaders shaping the future of auto repair.

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