{"id":190,"date":"2026-08-21T06:22:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T06:22:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/blog\/how-can-auto-repair-shop-use-marketplace-to-get-more-customers\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T09:18:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T09:18:13","slug":"how-can-auto-repair-shop-use-marketplace-to-get-more-customers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/guide\/how-can-auto-repair-shop-use-marketplace-to-get-more-customers\/","title":{"rendered":"How can an auto repair shop use a marketplace to get more customers?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">You\u2019ve done everything from spending thousands of dollars on ads to putting up posters around town, but it\u2019s still not enough to fill your empty bays. Here\u2019s something you may have overlooked: online marketplaces.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">How does an auto repair marketplace work?\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The auto repair industry has always had a trust issue. How can someone count on a business they haven\u2019t heard of before to give them the right diagnosis for their car and confirm whether the repair is reasonably priced?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">They can go through your website, but your customers have to discover it first. Online marketplaces solve that problem. Your shop will be visible to more customers without you putting in much effort. There are also several other advantages to marketplaces:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When a customer sees a badge that says \u201cRepairPal Certified,\u201d they\u2019re more likely to trust your shop without needing additional proof because it acts much like a recommendation from a friend.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Every customer wants to know how much repairs will cost. If your estimates and quotes can be found online, your customers will not second-guess whether the prices are fair. Providing exact prices will be difficult because not every repair is the same, but you can offer a ballpark and mention that these prices may vary.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:279,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With a marketplace, customers can type in their vehicle&#8217;s issue and neighborhood to quickly receive a list of vetted options, including yours.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">What are some examples of marketplaces? <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">There are quite a few auto repair marketplaces today, but here are a few common ones that you may have already heard of:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">RepairPal <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">is one of the largest certified-shop networks available today. RepairPal has partnerships with credible brands like CarMax and USAA, so your potential customers are directed to a platform that they already trust.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Openbay <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">is another popular online marketplace. According to Openbay\u2019s website, once you apply to become a member, your shop becomes visible to nearby drivers looking for repair services. Openbay gets a flat-rate booking fee when the platform brings you a new customer.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">YourMechanic<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> was acquired by Wrench, so if you see both names online, know that they\u2019re now the same company. YourMechanic connects drivers with mechanics for on-demand and mobile services.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Google <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Business Profile, Maps, and ads are actually marketplaces, even though nobody calls them that. They\u2019re considered marketplaces because it\u2019s usually the very first place drivers look the moment their \u201ccheck engine\u201d light turns on.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">AI search platforms <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">are comparatively new. More drivers are starting their searches by asking AI tools like ChatGPT or Google\u2019s AI Overviews instead of typing queries into a search engine. Getting discovered through AI search is something you need to start paying attention to if you haven\u2019t already.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">The problem with having two systems<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">You probably already have a shop management system running in the background, and now you\u2019ve started using a marketplace to get more customers. That\u2019s a good move!\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Now comes another problem. If you have your software open in one tab and a marketplace in another, you have to copy the leads manually, which only makes your work more difficult. But what if your shop management software could get you customers in a way that creates a win-win situation? That\u2019s exactly what Way Repair Tech is for.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><strong>How does Way Repair Tech help?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Arnold Gold, EVP of the Repair and Maintenance Division at Way, noted that traditionally, shop management systems helped shop owners manage their operations but failed to generate new customer leads. Way Repair Tech connects local repair shops directly to car and fleet owners who already use Way.com for parking, fuel, car washes, insurance, refinancing, and roadside assistance. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWay already connects millions of drivers to car services every day, and now we can refer them to your Way-powered shop.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">You can\u2019t always rely on a customer already knowing your shop\u2019s name. Instead, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Way Repair Tech<\/a> puts your business in front of local drivers searching for repair or maintenance shops in their neighborhood, much like how a diner discovers a restaurant through a delivery app rather than a roadside billboard.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">It doesn\u2019t matter how many drivers see your shop if they don&#8217;t book appointments.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Since Way is the same platform running your business, a<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> driver can book directly on your calendar without multiple phone calls or you having to manually add their information into your system.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Not every shop that appears in a marketplace search gets equal visibility. Way\u2019s Marketplace Boost highlights your shop in front of the drivers who are most likely to book by placing priority listings on Way.com, so instead of hoping a driver scrolls far enough to find you, you\u2019re one of the first names they see.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Why marketplaces are becoming more useful<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you feel like your ad dollars aren\u2019t getting you more customers, you\u2019re not imagining it. Each customer you\u2019re getting through paid ads costs you more money every time, and the second you stop paying, the traffic you used to get stops too.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A marketplace that comes with your shop software works differently because you\u2019re not bidding for a driver\u2019s attention from scratch. You become part of a network of drivers who are actively looking for repair shops.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">What\u2019s the biggest takeaway?\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Wondering whether this is worth the investment? Here\u2019s a simple way to think about it. Most shop owners focus on only one thing when it comes to shop management software: \u201cDoes it save me time?\u201d You need faster estimates, fewer manual steps, less time spent organizing paperwork, and real-time reports. A system that only saves you time can still leave your bays empty on a slow day.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">What about a system that also brings you new customers and lets you actually track what those customers are worth over time? They\u2019re doing both jobs at once.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">So next time you\u2019re looking at your software, don\u2019t just ask, \u201cHow much time does this save me?\u201d Ask, \u201cHow many of my bays does this actually help fill?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>Want to see <span data-teams=\"true\">how Way Repair Tech gets you found by drivers that&#8217;s already on Way.com? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/schedule-demo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Schedule a demo!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n<h4><em>FAQs<\/em><\/h4>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\">\r\n<div id=\"faq-question-1787290750221\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How much does it typically cost to join an auto repair marketplace?\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The cost actually\u00a0depends on the platform. Some marketplaces\u00a0are completely free, while\u00a0others are free to start but ask for a recurring subscription fee once you&#8217;re\u00a0officially\u00a0part of their network. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"faq-question-1787291981027\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How long does it take to see results after I\u00a0join a marketplace?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The results vary but most shops see a difference in the number of customers they get within a few weeks.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"faq-question-1787292007896\" class=\"schema-faq-section\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How is marketplace visibility different from local SEO?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Local SEO relies on your website and Google Business Profile which takes time to take off. With a marketplace, you\u00a0become a part of a network that has earned trust already.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Struggling to fill empty bays? See how marketplaces like RepairPal and Openbay work, and how Way Repair Tech turns leads into booked jobs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":189,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-growth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=190"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":220,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190\/revisions\/220"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}