Car Repair Service list

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.


What is the secret to success?
Looking at the examples I’ve provided above, there are a handful of features

and benefits that have made this business model successful:

Affordable/transparent pricing
A network of high-quality mechanics
Relationships with auto parts vendors/wholesalers
Operations and logistics teams to manage bookings, parts ordering , etc.
Greater availability, including evenings and weekends
As mentioned earlier, there are many challenges and limitations with

mobile auto repair, especially for lone rangers and small businesses.

These key features and benefits that have brought success to

My Mobile Automotive and QC Mobile Repairs just aren’t possible to replicate

without a large enough team. Independent mechanics might look into working

for one of these companies as an alternative. The small percentage of revenue

these companies take is worth it to avoid some of the logistical headaches that

 have turned off so many mechanics.

Should we expect to see more of these businesses in the near future? In a rapidly

changing industry, it’s definitely not out of the question. For the longest time,

buying a vehicle completely online wasn’t even an option and now it’s the industry buzz.

So, it’s possible that we see more mobile/house-call auto repair businesses over the next couple years

By Chris Bouchard