Vehicle Inspection Forms

[CAautogroup]

Hello all,

 

How many auto repair shops / quick lubes / etc follow up there repairs by filling out a Multi-Point Vehicle Inspection Form? I would like to introduce this concept to our facility in hopes of obtaining future jobs and to tell customers about any present or future problems.

 

If you currently use a form, did you design it yourself or purchase a generic form? Do you give a copy to the customer or just keep it for your records (carbon copy)?

 

I am not too sure about other shops, but I also feel it is somewhat of a liability if an item is overlooked or not properly examed and checked or marked off in acceptable condition. Do you ask the customer to sign off on the inspection form so they are in reciept of it?

 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

 

[mmotley]

I actually just download some additional software today from Mitchell 1 that has the ability to print out MP inspection sheets. I think it's a great extra reminder to look the car over. I can't tell you how many cars I've checked over, and when they leave, I realize I forgot to check the wipers... Or some other little small thing that I should have remember to do.

 

I doubt I'll do carbon copies, I'll probably just give the inspection sheet to the customer with their invoice. We already provide tire and brake measurements, battery test results, and state inspection due date on the invoice, and all of that is saved in the computer on the RO. Anything else we find gets a revision or estimate made for the repair and is saved to that vehicle. So keeping a copy of the inspection sheet for me doesn't seem necessary.

 

The form that comes with the software is completely customize-able. It can have all the customer and vehicle info pre-printed on the sheet, along with vehicle brand logo, green, yellow, red, black, wipers, tires, brakes, body, etc

 

I also see that it works with a few other shop management programs too. Here is a link to their site:

http://www.boltontechnology.com/report_pro.html

 

As far as liability, no way. Nobody can predict the future, that inspection sheet simply says that at the time the vehicle was in your shop, it was good to go (or not if you mark it accordingly).

[ATSAutomotive]

We have a vehicle inspection form we fill out with every car. The form is built in to our invoicing program (TABS Autobiz) we print a color copy for the customer and go through it with them when they pick up their vehicle. Everything is saved and I can pull it up later. I have found that its great for us. You will always have people who just don't care. They can't wait till you are done talking so they can rush out the door. What makes up for it is the customers who ask questions and follow up with you. They look forward to seeing all the checkmarks being GREEN!