How do I check an auto repair shop’s job records before buying?

Ask for the repair orders themselves, not just a summary. Pick weeks at random, including slow ones, and trace several jobs from the written order to the invoice to the deposit. If the three do not line up, ask why.

Read the work mix. A shop that depends on a few large jobs behaves differently from one that does steady maintenance. Ask which types of work earn the most for the labour involved, and which ones the technicians avoid. Check how parts are priced and how returns are handled.

Look for repeat customers and for jobs that came back. Ask how comebacks are recorded and who pays for the fix. A shop that tracks them is usually more honest about quality. Ask what is open on closing day: vehicles in the bays, parts on order, warranty claims and customer deposits. Also ask which technicians hold the certifications the shop relies on and whether they will stay. Your accountant can help you check that the books match the job records. Notice how tidy the records are. Complete, legible orders with customer authorizations suggest a shop that runs carefully, while patchy ones raise questions about the books too. Talk with a few long-standing customers if the seller agrees, and ask the technicians what the shop does best.

Key takeaways

• Trace sample jobs from repair order to invoice to deposit.
• Ask how comebacks are recorded and who pays for them.
• List everything that is still open on closing day.