Opening a car repair garage

If you work in the automotive sector, a garage is a natural path: every car needs servicing and repairs, and a good, trusted mechanic always has customers. But it has more rules and more investment than a barbershop.

Investment

• Large premises (a unit or ground floor with car access), with proper flooring, ventilation and space to work.
• Lifts, compressor, diagnostic machine, tools, and tyre changer and balancer if you do tyres: many thousands of euros. You can start with second-hand machines.
• A small example could be around €40,000, but it depends hugely on the premises and what you want to do.

Rules you must follow

• Register the garage in the register of industrial establishments and have the town hall activity permit (usually with a technician, because of the type of activity).
• Display the official garage sign plate at the entrance.
• Give a written quote if the customer asks for one, before repairing.
• Repairs have a minimum guarantee of 3 months or 2,000 km.
• Waste: oil, filters, batteries and fluids go to an authorised waste manager, with paperwork. Dumping them means a big fine.
• Complaint forms and hourly rates on display.

How to stand out

• Trust: explain what is wrong with the car, show the old part and don’t replace what doesn’t need replacing.
• Specialise: diagnostics, hybrids and electric cars, a particular brand, air conditioning…
• Photos and videos of your work on social media and Google reviews: an honest mechanic gets recommended.