How Many Google Reviews Does Your Auto Shop Actually Need?

Here's a question I hear all the time from auto shop owners:

"How many reviews do I actually need?"

It's a fair question. You're busy running a shop, not obsessing over Google. You want a number—a target to hit so you can move on.

The answer depends on a few things. But I'll give you the benchmarks that actually matter.

The Trust Threshold

Auto repair is different from other local businesses.

When someone needs a haircut, the stakes are low. Bad haircut? It grows back.

When someone needs a mechanic? The stakes are high:

• Expensive repairs — A transmission job can cost thousands
• Safety implications — Their family is riding in that car
• Fear of being ripped off — The industry has a reputation problem

That means customers research MORE before choosing a mechanic than almost any other local business.

So how many reviews do you need to clear that trust threshold?

The Benchmarks

Here's the breakdown based on what I've seen researching this space:

• Under 10 reviews: You look new or sketchy. Red flag for customers.
• 10-30 reviews: You're credible. People will consider you.
• 30-50 reviews: You're competitive with most local shops.
• 50+ reviews: You stand out. You look established.
• 100+ reviews: Diminishing returns. More doesn't help much.

But here's the thing—the number alone doesn't tell the whole story.

Quality Beats Quantity

For auto repair specifically, quality matters more than raw numbers.

Why? Because the stakes are high. People read more carefully.

Which shop would you trust with your car?

Most people pick Shop B. The higher rating and consistency outweigh the raw number.

For high-trust services like auto repair:

• 4.5+ stars is the target
• Recent reviews (last 3-6 months) matter more than old ones
• Detailed reviews build more trust than generic "great service"

The Real Target: Beat Your Competition

Here's the most practical advice:

You don't need the most reviews in your city. You need more than the shop down the street.

Pull up Google Maps. Search "auto repair" in your area. Look at your direct competitors—the shops within a few miles.

How many reviews do they have? What's their rating?

That's your benchmark.

• If they have 30, you need 40.
• If they have 80, you need 90.
• If they have a 4.3, you need a 4.5.

Reviews are relative. You're not competing against every shop in the state—just the ones your customers are comparing you to.

Why Auto Shops Struggle With Reviews

Most auto repair shops I've talked to have the same problem:

They do great work. Customers are happy. But they only have 15-20 reviews while the competitor has 80+.

Why?

They don't ask consistently.

Auto shops are busy. Cars come in, cars go out. By the time you remember to ask for a review, the customer is already home and has moved on with their life.

The shops with more reviews aren't doing better work. They just have a system for asking.

The Math

Let's say you service 40 cars a month.

If you ask every customer for a review:

• 15-20% will actually leave one
• That's 6-8 new reviews per month
• 72-96 per year

In 6 months, you go from 15 reviews to 50+.

In a year, you're at 100+.

The math works. You just have to ask.

The Revenue Impact

Does this actually matter for your bottom line?

For an auto shop doing $500K/year, a 1-star improvement could mean $25K-45K in additional revenue.

Even going from 4.2 to 4.5 stars makes a measurable difference in how many people call you vs. the shop next door.

The Bottom Line

How many reviews do you need?

Minimum: 30+ to look credible

Target: More than your local competitors

Rating: 4.5+ stars

Recency: New reviews in the last 90 days

After 100 reviews, focus less on quantity and more on maintaining your rating and keeping reviews fresh.

The shops winning on Google aren't necessarily the best mechanics. They're the ones who made getting reviews part of their process.

That's the difference between being the shop people find and the shop people drive past.

Frequently Asked Questions