What should I check when a gas station I might buy has service bays?

Some stations have one or more repair bays beside the pumps and store. Those bays work like a small garage with its own staff, tools, customers and risks. A buyer who looks only at fuel and store sales can miss how much the bays add, or how much they depend on a single person. Give them their own review.

Who runs the bays

Ask whether the owner, an employed mechanic or a tenant operates the bays. If a tenant does, ask for the lease or licence and read what happens when it ends. If an employee does, ask about that person’s plans. Many bays rest on one qualified mechanic, and if that person leaves after closing, the bays may have to close. Ask early whether the mechanic would stay, and on what terms.

Tools and equipment

Ask for a list of hoists, compressors, diagnostic tools and specialty equipment, and who owns each item. Some belong to the station, some are leased and some may be the mechanic’s own, which means they could leave. Ask for service records, and have a qualified person look at older equipment. Then add up what it would cost to replace what is missing or worn.

Customers, repeat work and comebacks

Ask whether the bays keep a customer list, and how much of the work is repeat business. Ask how warranty comebacks and complaints are handled, and whether anything is open. Check the supplier accounts for parts and the arrangement for waste oil and other materials. Your lawyer can tell you which workplace or trade rules apply, so ask rather than assume.

Questions for the seller

• How do bay sales and costs show up in the books?
• How long has the current mechanic worked here?
• Which jobs bring the most repeat customers?
• Do the bays share staff or space with the store?