HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL MOBILE AUTO REPAIR BUSINESS

Have you ever thought about starting a mobile auto repair business? Or as a vehicle owner, have you thought about how convenient it would be for mechanics to perform vehicle services right at your home?
This isn’t a foreign concept. As a matter of fact, there are many auto repair professionals who do just that for a living. However, franchise and independent service shops still outnumber mobile repair businesses by a wide margin. 
Mobile auto repair is a very attractive service to many consumers, given the inconvenience of dropping off their vehicle and arranging rides while carless. So why isn’t mobile auto repair a more widely available service?
In this article, I’d like to first address some of the challenges this business model presents, and then explain how it can be successful despite the major obstacles.


Mobile Auto Repair is Not That Simple

In a world of technology and convenience, it’s logical that a mechanic would come right to your home to service or repair your vehicle. However, house-call repairs are easier said than done.
I posed a broad question in a few auto repair LinkedIn groups, such as the one below, and received a lot of valuable input –largely the challenges involved in mobile auto repair–  from current auto repair professionals in all different job roles.
Here were some of the common themes across respondents:
Inadequate Infrastructure
  • Tools & Equipment - Not able to carry all necessary tools or heavy equipment, such as a lift. Having tools and equipment easily accessible at the shop is ideal.
  • Location - The client may not have the best set up, such as a garage or even driveway. Some office parks and gated communities might not even allow vehicle maintenance and repair on their property at all.
  • Parts - Obtaining parts can be challenging and time-consuming. Some jobs end up needing additional parts for repairs that were not originally diagnosed.
  • Weather - Poor weather conditions make outdoor jobs miserable and sometimes impossible
Insurance/Safety Issues
  • Insurance for a mobile repair business is costly
  • Working alone is not always the safest – some jobs more than others
  • Poor weather conditions can also be a safety issue
  • Leaks or spills of containment can be hazardous if not properly cleaned up
Cost Tolerance
  • Customers aren’t willing to pay extra for the convenience of house-call services
  • Many customers believe that rates should be significantly cheaper since the mechanics don’t have shop overhead. However, mobile repair jobs often take longer and there are many other expenses involved.
The overwhelming majority of respondents came to the conclusion that mobile auto repair can work well for diagnostics, basic maintenance, and smaller repair jobs. For jobs that require a lift or specialty tools that are not easily portable, customers should come to the shop.
This makes perfect sense for a one-man operation and smaller businesses, as it’s very difficult to charge a fair rate and still be profitable on larger jobs that require heavy-duty equipment and many labor hours. However, larger businesses with greater resources can offer most, if not all, maintenance and repair services on the road.


Industry disruptors finding success in the mobile auto repair business model

There are a couple tech-savvy mobile auto repair disruptors out there who are finding great success performing house-calls for all job sizes with fair and transparent pricing.

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