Google reviews can make or break a workshop. When someone searches "mechanic near me", the shops with more reviews and higher ratings show up first - and get the clicks. But asking for reviews feels awkward, and most happy customers never think to leave one.
This guide covers practical ways to get more reviews without annoying your customers or feeling like a salesperson.
Search Impact
93%
of people read reviews before choosing
Trust Factor
4.0+
minimum rating customers trust
Response Rate
~10%
of asked customers leave reviews
↓ In this guide
⭐ Why Google Reviews Matter for Workshops
Reviews aren't just nice to have - they directly affect whether new customers find you and choose you.
1. They Affect Your Search Ranking
Google uses reviews as a ranking factor for local search. More reviews (and higher ratings) push you higher in results for searches like:
- "Mechanic near me"
- "Car service [your suburb]"
- "WoF [your town]"
A workshop with 50 reviews will typically outrank one with 5 reviews, even if the smaller shop does better work.
2. They Build Trust Before the First Call
People are handing over their car - often their second most valuable asset - to a stranger. Reviews from real customers reduce that anxiety. When someone sees "great communication, fair pricing, fixed the issue first time" from 30 different people, they're more likely to pick up the phone.
3. They're Free Advertising That Keeps Working
Unlike paid ads that stop the moment you stop paying, reviews stick around. A review from 2023 still influences customers in 2025. Every review is a permanent asset for your business.
💡 The Numbers Game
If you service 20 cars a week and 10% of asked customers leave a review, that's 2 reviews per week or 100+ per year. Most workshops never ask, so they get maybe 10-20 reviews total. Consistent asking compounds over time.
⏰ When to Ask for Reviews
Timing matters more than the ask itself. Get it right and customers are happy to help. Get it wrong and you seem desperate.
The Best Moments to Ask
| Moment | Why It Works | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Right after pickup | Customer is relieved, car is fixed, goodwill is high | Best |
| After positive feedback | "Glad you're happy - would you mind sharing that on Google?" | Best |
| Same-day text/email | Experience is fresh, easy to action on their phone | Great |
| Follow-up call (next day) | "Just checking everything's good - by the way..." | Great |
| A week later | Too late - they've moved on mentally | Poor |
Who to Ask (and Who Not To)
Good candidates:
- Customers who say thank you or express satisfaction
- Repeat customers who keep coming back
- Anyone who compliments your work or service
- Customers where you went above and beyond
Skip these:
- Customers who seemed unhappy (even if the issue was resolved)
- Anyone who complained about price
- First-time customers on minor jobs - wait until you've built a relationship
- People who are clearly in a rush
⚠️ Don't Filter Too Much
Some workshop owners only ask their best customers. The problem? You need volume. A mix of 4 and 5-star reviews actually looks more authentic than all 5-stars. Ask broadly, accept that not every review will be perfect.
💬 How to Ask for Reviews
The key is making it easy and not making it weird. Here are methods that work:
Method 1: The In-Person Ask
When a customer picks up their car and seems happy:
"Glad we could sort that for you. If you've got a minute, we'd really appreciate a Google review - it helps other people find us. I can text you the link if that's easier?"
Key elements:
- Acknowledge the completed work - "Glad we could sort that"
- Make a direct ask - Don't hint, ask clearly
- Explain why - "helps other people find us"
- Offer to make it easy - "I can text you the link"
Method 2: The Follow-Up Text
Send within a few hours of pickup:
Hi [Name], thanks for choosing [Workshop Name] today. If you're happy with the service, we'd really appreciate a quick Google review - it only takes a minute and helps us heaps.
[Direct link to your Google review page]
Thanks, [Your name]
The direct link is crucial. Don't make them search for you - every extra step loses people.
Method 3: The Email Follow-Up
Works well for larger jobs or commercial customers:
Subject: How was your service at [Workshop Name]?
Hi [Name],
Thanks for bringing your [vehicle] in for [service type]. We hope everything's running smoothly.
If you were happy with the service, we'd really appreciate a Google review. It takes about 30 seconds and helps local customers find us.
[Leave a Review button/link]
If anything's not right, please reply to this email and we'll sort it out.
Notice the last line - it gives unhappy customers an alternative to leaving a bad review publicly.
Method 4: QR Code at the Counter
Create a QR code that links directly to your Google review page. Put it:
- On the counter where people pay
- On a small card you hand out with keys
- On the bottom of invoices
This is passive but catches some customers. Works best combined with a verbal mention: "If you scan that QR code, it takes you straight to our reviews page."
Getting Your Google Review Link
To get your direct review link:
- Search for your business on Google
- Click on your business listing
- Click "Write a review" and copy that URL
- Or use Google's Place ID tool to generate a direct link
The URL should look something like:
https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=YOUR_PLACE_ID
🚫 What NOT to Do
Don't Offer Incentives
Offering discounts, free services, or any reward for reviews violates Google's terms. If caught, Google can remove all your reviews or suspend your listing. Not worth the risk.
Don't Buy Fake Reviews
Those services offering "50 reviews for $100" are scams that will get you penalised. Google's algorithms detect fake reviews, and competitors can report you.
Don't Ask Multiple Times
One ask is fine. Following up once is okay if they said they would. Beyond that, you're annoying them. Accept that most people won't leave reviews - that's normal.
Don't Gate Reviews
"Review gating" means only directing happy customers to Google while sending unhappy ones elsewhere. Google explicitly prohibits this. You can't ask "Were you happy? Yes → Leave a Google review, No → Contact us privately."
🛡️ Handling Negative Reviews
Bad reviews happen to every business. How you respond matters more than the review itself.
The Right Way to Respond
❌ Bad Response
"This is completely false. You were rude to our staff and refused to pay for work we completed. We don't want customers like you anyway."
Defensive, argumentative, unprofessional. Makes the business look worse than the original review.
✓ Good Response
"Hi [Name], we're sorry your experience didn't meet expectations. We take feedback seriously and would like to understand what went wrong. Please contact us at [phone/email] so we can make this right."
Acknowledges the issue, offers resolution, moves conversation offline.
Response Template for Negative Reviews
Hi [Name],
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear about your experience - this isn't the standard we aim for.
We'd like to look into this and make it right. Please contact [name] on [phone] or email us at [email] so we can discuss.
[Your name], [Workshop name]
When to Respond (and When Not To)
Always respond to:
- Legitimate complaints about service
- Misunderstandings you can clarify professionally
- Reviews mentioning specific staff or issues
Consider not responding to:
- Obviously fake reviews from non-customers (report these instead)
- Abusive or defamatory content (report to Google)
- Reviews where any response will escalate the situation
Can You Get Negative Reviews Removed?
Google will only remove reviews that violate their policies:
- Fake or spam reviews
- Off-topic content
- Restricted content (illegal, adult, etc.)
- Conflict of interest (competitors, ex-employees)
A genuine bad review from a real customer - even if unfair - won't be removed. Your response is your only recourse.
⚙️ Building a Review System
The workshops with the most reviews don't have a secret - they just ask consistently. Here's how to build a system:
Option 1: Manual Process
- Train all front-desk staff on when and how to ask
- Keep review cards at the counter
- Send a follow-up text to every customer within 4 hours of pickup
- Track how many reviews you get weekly
Pros: No cost, full control
Cons: Easy to forget, relies on staff consistency
Option 2: Automated Follow-Ups
Use your workshop management software to automatically send review requests after jobs are completed. This ensures every customer gets asked without anyone having to remember.
What to look for in automation:
- Sends within hours of job completion
- Includes direct link to Google reviews
- Can be customised with your message
- Doesn't send to customers with outstanding issues
Tracking Progress
Set a baseline and track monthly:
- How many reviews did you start with?
- How many new reviews this month?
- What's your average rating?
- How many negative reviews and what were the themes?
A simple spreadsheet works. The act of tracking makes you more likely to keep asking.
🚀 Quick Wins to Start Today
Your 15-Minute Action Plan
- □ Get your direct Google review link
- □ Create a text template for follow-ups
- □ Print a QR code for the counter
- □ Ask 3 customers this week as practice
- □ Respond to any unanswered reviews
📝 The Bottom Line
Getting more Google reviews isn't complicated - it's just about asking consistently and making it easy for customers to say yes.
Start with the basics: ask happy customers, send a follow-up text with a direct link, respond professionally to negative reviews. Do this consistently for 6 months and you'll have significantly more reviews than competitors who never ask.
The best time to start was when you opened your business. The second best time is today.
Automate Your Review Requests
Hoist can automatically send review requests to customers after job completion. One less thing to remember, more reviews on autopilot.
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