Choosing the wrong garage software is a 12-month mistake — every workflow gets shaped around it, and migrating later is painful. Run this 5-question check on any platform before you commit.
1. Does it work in my country and currency?
If you're outside the US, this is the single most-overlooked question. A lot of well-known SaaS is USD-only with US date formats and no GST/VAT support. Test: can you set your local currency and tax rate in the trial without a sales call? If not, walk away.
2. Can my mechanics actually use it on a phone?
If the platform is desktop-only, your mechanics will keep using paper, and the “digital workshop” story is fiction. Test: open the trial on your phone. Can you write an estimate, log time, and upload an inspection photo? If it's clunky, it won't get used.
3. What happens to my data if I leave?
Vendor lock-in is real. Test: can you export all your customers, vehicles, parts and invoices to CSV in one click? If the answer is “contact support,” that's a red flag. Your data is your data.
4. Is there a free or genuine trial — without a credit card?
If they need your card to start a trial, they're betting on you forgetting to cancel. Free starter plans (like Autodots Auto Basic) tell you the vendor is confident their product earns the upgrade. Trial-only with card often means it doesn't.
5. The one nobody asks — does it bring me customers?
Most garage software runs your shop. Almost none of it brings you new customers. Autodots is the only platform with a built-in marketplace — your shop is listed on autodots.io and 1,500+ city/service SEO pages, and bookings drop into your appointments tab. If a platform doesn't do this, marketing is still on you.