AI Receptionist for Auto Repair Shops
An AI receptionist handles incoming calls for auto repair shops 24/7, booking appointments and answering service questions while your mechanics stay focused on vehicles.
Auto repair shops lose an average of $2,400 per month from missed calls during peak hours and after closing time. When a customer's car breaks down, they call the first shop that answers. If you're under a hood or closed for the day, that job goes to your competitor down the street. An AI receptionist ensures every call gets answered in under two seconds, schedules appointments, and captures the caller's vehicle information so you can call back with an informed quote.
Which Trillet product is right for you?
Small businesses: Trillet AI Receptionist - 24/7 call answering starting at $29/month
Agencies: Trillet White-Label - Resell to clients starting at $99/month
Why Do Auto Repair Shops Miss So Many Calls?
Auto repair shops have a unique call problem: the people who answer phones are often the same people working on cars.
The typical shop scenario looks like this:
Customer calls about a check engine light
Your service advisor is writing up an estimate
Your mechanic has grease-covered hands
The phone rings six times and goes to voicemail
Customer hangs up and calls the shop with the Google ad at the top of search results
Studies show 62% of callers won't leave a voicemail when reaching a business. For auto repair, where the caller often has an urgent problem like a breakdown or warning light, that percentage is even higher. They need help now, not a callback tomorrow.
What Can an AI Receptionist Handle for Auto Shops?
AI receptionists trained for automotive service can handle the conversations your front desk typically manages:
Appointment scheduling: Books oil changes, brake inspections, and diagnostic appointments directly into your calendar
Service questions: Answers common questions about hours, accepted vehicles, whether you work on imports or diesels
Quote requests: Captures vehicle year, make, model, mileage, and the customer's description of the issue
Emergency triage: Identifies urgent breakdowns versus routine maintenance and flags priority calls
Callback scheduling: If the customer prefers to speak with your service advisor, schedules a callback at their preferred time
The AI learns your specific services from your website and review history. If you specialize in German vehicles or transmission work, it knows that and responds accordingly.
How Does Setup Work for an Auto Repair Shop?
Most AI receptionist platforms require hours of configuration. With Trillet, setup takes about five minutes:
Paste your website URL and the AI scrapes your services, hours, and location
Connect your calendar (Google Calendar, Outlook, or Calendly)
Set up call forwarding from your existing phone number
The AI starts answering calls immediately
No technical knowledge required. The system pulls information from your website, Google Business Profile, and customer reviews to understand your shop's specialties and common questions.
How Much Does an AI Receptionist Cost for Auto Repair?
Here's how AI receptionist pricing compares to traditional options:
Solution | Monthly Cost | What You Get |
Trillet AI Receptionist | $29-99/month | 24/7 answering, scheduling, SMS follow-up |
Human answering service | $200-500/month | Limited hours, per-call charges |
Additional front desk staff | $2,800-3,500/month | 40 hours/week coverage only |
Missed calls (do nothing) | $2,400+/month in lost revenue | Zero coverage |
An AI receptionist pays for itself with a single captured job that would have otherwise gone to voicemail.
Can AI Handle Technical Auto Repair Questions?
AI receptionists handle the questions your front desk would handle, not the questions your master technician would answer.
What AI handles well:
"Do you work on Hondas?"
"How much is an oil change?"
"What are your hours on Saturday?"
"Can I get my brakes checked this week?"
"Do you offer loaner cars?"
What gets routed to your team:
Complex diagnostic discussions
Warranty dispute questions
Insurance claim specifics
Angry customers requiring human de-escalation
The AI captures the caller's information and vehicle details, then schedules a callback with your service advisor for anything requiring technical expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an AI receptionist schedule appointments directly into my shop management software?
Yes, through calendar integrations. Trillet connects with Google Calendar, Outlook, and Calendly. For shop management software like Shop-Ware or Mitchell 1, you can use the calendar sync or Zapier integration to push appointments automatically.
What happens if the AI can't answer a question?
The AI acknowledges it doesn't have that specific information, captures the caller's contact details and question, then offers to schedule a callback with someone who can help. Your team gets an instant notification with the call summary.
Which Trillet product should I choose?
If you're an auto repair shop owner looking for AI call answering, start with Trillet AI Receptionist at $29/month. If you're an agency wanting to resell voice AI to automotive clients, explore Trillet White-Label—Studio at $99/month (up to 3 sub-accounts) or Agency at $299/month (unlimited sub-accounts).
Does the AI sound robotic to callers?
Modern voice AI uses natural language processing that sounds conversational, not like the robotic IVR systems from a decade ago. Most callers don't realize they're speaking with AI. See our breakdown on why AI voices sound more human now.
Can the AI handle Spanish-speaking customers?
Yes, Trillet supports bilingual conversations. The AI detects the caller's language and responds in kind. See AI receptionist bilingual support for details.
Conclusion
Auto repair shops can't afford to miss calls when customers have urgent vehicle problems. An AI receptionist answers every call instantly, books appointments, and captures vehicle details so your team can focus on turning wrenches instead of answering phones. At $29/month, the cost is less than a single missed oil change appointment.
Get started with Trillet AI Receptionist and stop losing jobs to voicemail.
Related Resources:
