Dealers & Garages
Garage Booking Software UK: Free Vs Paid, And What To Look For
5 min read
|
CarVerified Team
Choosing booking software for a small garage? Here is what to look for, what free plans usually cover, and when it makes sense to pay.
Booking software for garages ranges from free tools to full workshop management systems that cost real money every month. The right choice depends on how many jobs you take and how much you want to automate.
What most small garages actually need
If you are an independent garage with a handful of staff, the essentials are usually:
1.
A public page customers can find, with your services and opening hours
2.
Online booking that puts appointments straight in your diary
3.
Customer records so you know who someone is and what you did last time
4.
Invoicing, so you are not building paperwork by hand
5.
Reviews, because customers choose a garage partly on what others say
Everything else is nice to have.
What free plans usually cover
Free plans normally limit volume rather than features, so you can try the software with real customers. On CarVerified the Free garage plan includes a public garage page, online booking up to 5 appointments a month, basic customer management and reviews, and up to 5 invoices a month, with no card needed.
FOR GARAGES - FREE TO JOIN
Garage owner with no website?
Get a free garage page with online booking built in - live in minutes, no card needed.
Free public garage page - services, hours and contact details
Online booking - customers book into your dashboard
Customer records in one place - no diary or spreadsheet
No card needed. Paid plans only if you need more.
When paying makes sense
Pay when you outgrow the limits or want to save more time. Paid CarVerified garage plans add:
•
A higher monthly booking limit: Professional up to 200 bookings a month, Premium up to 500
•
Automated service reminders, so customers come back when their service or MOT is due
•
Multiple staff accounts
•
An analytics dashboard
See the garage plans for current details.
Questions to ask before you choose
•
Is there a contract? Be wary of long tie-ins for software you have not tried.
•
Can customers book from a phone? Most will.
•
Does it handle reminders? Repeat work is how a small garage grows.
•
What happens to your data if you leave? You should be able to get your customer list out.
•
Does the price rise as you grow? Check how much more you will pay for more bookings.
Start free, upgrade if you need to
The sensible approach is to start on a free plan, take some real bookings and see whether the software fits the way you work. If you hit the limit, that is a good sign, and you can move up.
See what garages get free, or register your garage.
FOR GARAGES - FREE TO JOIN
Still using a spreadsheet or diary for your records?
Stop using spreadsheets: keep customers, bookings and invoices in one free place.
Customer records in one place - no diary or spreadsheet
Online booking - customers book into your dashboard
Free public garage page - services, hours and contact details
Customer reviews on your page
Invoices included (up to 5 a month free)
No card needed. Paid plans only if you need more.
Related Guides
Table of Contents
1.
What most small garages actually need
2.
What free plans usually cover
3.
When paying makes sense
4.
Questions to ask before you choose
5.
Start free, upgrade if you need to
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