How to get more Google reviews for a mechanic or car workshop in NZ

Choosing a mechanic is nervous business. Most people do not know what is wrong with the car, cannot judge the price, and worry about being sold work they do not need. So they read reviews, and they look for words like "honest", "fair price" and "explained everything".

The moment to ask a mechanic's customer

The best moment is when they collect the car. They have paid, the car drives well, and you have just explained what you did. That is the point of highest relief.

• At the counter, when they pay. A sticker with a QR code right beside the card machine.
• In the envelope with the keys. A small card or the invoice itself with the code on it.
• A text later that day for the customers who dropped off and collected out of hours.

A message you can copy

Hi [first name], thanks for bringing the [car make] in to [business name]. Hope it is running well. If you were happy with the service, a Google review helps other people find a workshop they can trust. Here is the link: [your link]. Thanks, [your name]

Customers like being told they were a good decision. Do not promise a discount on the next service in return, because that is an incentive and goes against Google's rules. See can you offer incentives for reviews.

Where to put your review link

1. At the counter, next to the card machine, as a sticker or small stand.
2. On the invoice, with a QR code the customer can scan from their phone.
3. On the service sticker that goes on the windscreen or door frame. It is the one thing that sits in front of the customer until the next service.

Create your link and QR code for free with the review link and QR code generator.

Ask every customer

Ask everyone who collects a car, not just the ones who looked happy. Mechanics get the full range of experiences: a surprise bill, a part that was delayed, a warrant of fitness that failed. Offer a private way to talk to you alongside the public link. Everyone keeps the option of a public review, and you hear about problems first.

Reply with substance

Customers who read replies learn how you handle a bill dispute or a delay. Be calm, be specific and offer a phone call. See how to respond to negative reviews.

Make it automatic

If your workshop software can export a customer list, or you can send a request from your phone, the asking can happen the next morning without anyone at the counter having to remember.