What Is a Customer Portal for Auto Repair Shops?

A customer portal is a secure web page where a shop's customers can review their estimate, see inspection results, approve or decline recommended work, and pay their invoice, all from their own phone. There is no app to download. The customer just taps a link the shop sends.

What customers can do in a portal

A good customer portal lets the customer:

• Review the estimate with line items, labor, and parts.
• See the inspection, including photos of any flagged items.
• Approve or decline recommended work, often line by line.
• Pay the invoice online with a card.

All of this happens on the customer's schedule, without a phone call.

Why it matters

The portal removes friction from the two moments that slow a shop down: getting approvals and getting paid. A customer who can see photos of worn brakes and tap approve will say yes faster than one hearing it described over voicemail. A customer who can pay from a link settles up before pickup.

It also builds trust. Transparency, showing customers exactly what you see, is one of the most effective ways to earn repeat business.

How GreaseGoose handles it

GreaseGoose includes a customer portal on every plan. You send the customer a link by text or email, and they review the estimate and inspection, approve work, and pay online, no download required. Approved work flows back into the job, and payments are tied to the invoice. It is included starting at $39.99/mo.

FAQ

What is a customer portal for an auto repair shop?

A customer portal is a secure web page where customers review their estimate, see inspection results and photos, approve or decline work, and pay their invoice online from their phone. No app download is required; the customer taps a link from the shop.

Do customers need to download an app to use the portal?

No. A customer portal is web-based. The customer simply opens a link the shop texts or emails them, and everything works in their phone's browser. GreaseGoose works this way.

Can customers pay through the customer portal?

Yes. With online payments connected, customers can pay their invoice directly from the portal with a card. In GreaseGoose, payments use Stripe Connect and funds go to the shop's bank account.

Does GreaseGoose include a customer portal?

Yes. The customer portal is included on every GreaseGoose plan, starting at $39.99/mo. Customers can review estimates, see inspections with photos, approve work, and pay online.