How do I check hoists and shop equipment before buying an auto repair shop?

The equipment list in a sale is often a page long. What matters is what each item can still do, what it will cost to keep running, and whether it is really part of the sale. Treat the list as a starting point. Walk the bays with the seller, match every item to a record, and bring in someone who knows the equipment.

Hoists and heavy equipment

Ask for the inspection and service history of every hoist, plus the make, model and age. A lift is a safety item, so ask when it was last inspected and by whom, and whether any repairs or concerns were noted. Look at the condition of the arms, pads, floor anchors and controls. Ask a qualified lift inspector to check them if the records are thin.

Scanners, software and machines

Diagnostic scanners are only as useful as their software. Ask which subscriptions and licences they need, who holds them, and whether they transfer to you. Do the same for alignment racks, tire machines and balancers, including calibration records. A machine that works today but needs an update the maker no longer offers may be a problem next year.

What is leased, financed or the technicians’

Ask which items are leased, financed or tied to a lender, and which tools belong to the technicians. Technicians’ own tools stay with them, and leased or financed items come with the shop only if the lease is taken over or the lender is paid out. Ask your lawyer to run a search for registered claims on the equipment. Then ask the seller for a signed list of what is included, so there is no argument about the compressor after closing.

A lender may want its own view of the equipment, so see also BDC’s guidance on valuing used equipment if financing is part of the plan.