Phones ring hardest when service advisors are busiest: at drop-off, at pickup and when a tech needs a parts call. An AI receptionist picks up those calls, takes the vehicle details and gets the customer on the schedule.
The six options below are built for or sold to repair shops. Prices were read from each vendor's own page on October 27, 2026. Shop management software matters as much as price, so each entry says how bookings reach your system.
Key Takeaways
- Lowest entry price: AutoLeap AIR at $1 per call pay-as-you-go, or $99 for 200 calls on its Starter plan.
- Cheapest for a small shop (about 60 calls a month): AutoLeap AIR or Asisto's pay-per-booking plan, both under about $120.
- Busy shops (about 150 calls a month): Gearboxly's receptionist at about $187 and Asisto Unlimited at $279 stay predictable.
- Watch setup fees: AgentZap adds a $499 one-time setup to its monthly plan.
- "Booked" is not always booked: some tools place appointment requests for an advisor to confirm. Ask which one you are buying.
What does an AI receptionist do for an auto repair shop?
Short answer: it answers calls you would otherwise miss, collects year, make, model, mileage and symptoms, answers routine questions such as hours and pricing ranges, and books or requests an appointment.
The better tools also text the customer a confirmation, send the shop a summary and transfer urgent or complex calls to a person. Call recordings and transcripts help advisors follow up.
How We Evaluated
We set these criteria before reviewing vendors, and used only their published pages. We did not run the products in a shop.
- Price and setup fees at two volumes: about 60 and about 150 calls a month.
- Shop software connection: which management systems the vendor names.
- Booking type: confirmed appointment or request for staff to approve.
- Auto-specific intake: vehicle details, symptoms, warning lights.
- Commitment terms: trials, guarantees and contracts.
Quick Comparison
| Option | Starting price | Setup fee | Shop software it names | Booking type (per vendor) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gearboxly AI receptionist | $149/mo receptionist-only (200 min), or $99/mo add-on | Not listed | Gearboxly shop system | Books appointments in Gearboxly |
| AutoLeap AIR | $1/call, or $99/mo for 200 calls | Not listed | AutoLeap | Places appointment requests on the AutoLeap calendar |
| AgentZap | $109/mo for 150 min | $499 one-time | Tekmetric, Mitchell 1, Shop-Ware | Books into shop software |
| Shopmonkey Concierge | $349/mo CRM Essentials add-on (or $314 annual), plus a Shopmonkey plan | Not listed | Shopmonkey | Books appointments |
| Asisto | $7.99 per booked appointment, or $279/mo unlimited | None | Calendar booking | Books to your calendar |
| Shop-Ware AI Receptionist | Not published | Not published | Shop-Ware | Scheduling and appointment requests |
What will an AI receptionist cost your shop?
Short answer: for about 60 calls a month, expect roughly $60 to $150 with most stand-alone tools. For about 150 calls, expect roughly $100 to $300, plus any setup fee and your shop software subscription.
Assumptions: calls average three minutes, and about one in four calls becomes a booking. Your mix will differ, so swap in your numbers.
| Option | Small shop: 60 calls, 180 min, 15 bookings | Busy shop: 150 calls, 450 min, 40 bookings | One-time cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gearboxly receptionist-only | $149 | $186.50 ($149 + 250 min at $0.15) | Not listed |
| AutoLeap AIR | $60 (pay-as-you-go) | $99 (Starter, 200 calls) | Not listed |
| AgentZap | $134.50 (Starter + 30 min at $0.85) | $295 (Professional, 450 min) | $499 |
| Shopmonkey Concierge | $349 add-on + Shopmonkey plan | $349 add-on + Shopmonkey plan | Not listed |
| Asisto | $119.85 (15 x $7.99) | $279 (Unlimited beats $319.60 per-booking) | None |
| Shop-Ware | Quote | Quote | Quote |
Shopmonkey's figure looks high, but the CRM Essentials add-on also includes its customer communication tools. Compare it against what you already pay for reviews, reminders and texting.
The 6 Options in Detail
1. Gearboxly AI Receptionist
Gearboxly sells shop management software with an AI receptionist that answers busy, missed and after-hours calls and books appointments.
The receptionist is $99 a month per location on its Core ($99) or AI ($249) plans, included with 100 minutes on Growth ($399), or $149 on its own.
The standalone plan includes 200 minutes, with extra minutes at $0.15. Gearboxly lists a 14-day trial on its main plans; the receptionist-only plan has no free trial.
➤ Who it's best for: independent shops willing to move onto Gearboxly's system, or that want a low-cost standalone receptionist.
2. AutoLeap AIR
AutoLeap's AI receptionist answers after-hours, weekend and holiday calls, collects names, numbers and vehicle details and places appointment requests on the AutoLeap calendar during the call. Customers who need a person can be forwarded.
Pricing is $1 per call pay-as-you-go, $99 a month for 200 calls ($0.75 overage) or $199 for 500 calls. The page advertises 30 days free with no commitment. Sample calls on the page include Spanish and French.
➤ Who it's best for: shops already on AutoLeap that want the lowest-cost way to stop losing calls.
3. AgentZap
AgentZap's auto repair page says its AI captures year, make, model, mileage and symptoms, detects breakdown emergencies and books appointments into shop software including Tekmetric, Mitchell 1 and Shop-Ware.
Plans are Starter at $109 for 150 minutes ($0.85 overage), Professional at $295 for 450 minutes and Business at $899 for 1,500 minutes, plus a $499 one-time setup. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
➤ Who it's best for: Tekmetric or Mitchell 1 shops that want bookings written into their existing system.
4. Shopmonkey Concierge
Concierge is Shopmonkey's AI phone assistant. Its page says it answers when your team cannot, books appointments, answers routine questions, captures customer and vehicle details and transfers calls when needed.
It is part of the CRM Essentials add-on at $349 monthly or $314 billed annually, on top of a Shopmonkey plan that starts at $239 monthly or $215 annually. Shopmonkey's help center describes a monthly call allowance; confirm current limits before you buy.
➤ Who it's best for: Shopmonkey shops that also want built-in reviews, campaigns and online scheduling.
5. Asisto
Asisto's auto repair page says it answers in under two seconds, books and reschedules into your calendar, answers from your FAQ and passes complex calls to staff. It lists 58 languages.
There are two plans with no contracts: $7.99 per appointment the AI books, with no monthly or setup fee, or $279 a month unlimited. A 14-day money-back guarantee applies.
➤ Who it's best for: shops that want to pay only for results, or busy shops that want a flat bill.
6. Shop-Ware AI Receptionist
Shop-Ware's AI Receptionist answers calls, responds to common questions, handles after-hours inquiries, logs conversations and escalates when a person is needed. Because it is connected to Shop-Ware, it can work with appointments and shop workflows.
Shop-Ware describes "scheduling and appointment requests." Pricing was not published on the page we read.
➤ Who it's best for: existing Shop-Ware customers who want the receptionist inside the same platform.
Which shop software does each AI receptionist work with?
Short answer: native tools work only inside their own platform; AgentZap names Tekmetric, Mitchell 1 and Shop-Ware; Asisto books into a calendar instead of a shop system.
| Your shop software | Native option | Third-party option named by vendor |
|---|---|---|
| Shopmonkey | Shopmonkey Concierge | Ask AgentZap and Asisto |
| Tekmetric | None listed | AgentZap |
| Mitchell 1 | None listed | AgentZap |
| Shop-Ware | Shop-Ware AI Receptionist | AgentZap |
| AutoLeap | AutoLeap AIR | Ask others |
| Gearboxly | Gearboxly receptionist | Not applicable |
| None or paper | Not applicable | Asisto, Gearboxly receptionist-only |
Confirmed booking or appointment request: why it matters
Short answer: a confirmed booking puts the car on your schedule without a person; a request waits for an advisor to approve. Requests are safer for complex jobs but leave customers waiting.
Ask each vendor to show exactly what appears in your system after a call. Then decide which job types the AI may book outright, such as oil changes and tire rotations, and which it should only request, such as diagnostics or major repairs.
Trial Call Script for Any Shop
Before you commit, place these calls yourself during a trial or demo:
➤ "My check engine light is on and the car is shaking. Can you see me today?"
➤ "How much is a synthetic oil change for a 2019 Honda CR-V?"
➤ "I dropped my truck off yesterday. Is it ready?"
➤ "Can I come in Saturday at 9 for brakes?"
➤ A caller who switches to Spanish halfway through.
➤ A caller stranded on the highway who needs a tow.
Check the summary your team receives, what appears in your shop software and whether the urgent call reached a person.
Do you need a shop-specific AI receptionist?
Short answer: not always. Shop-specific tools know vehicle intake and connect to shop software. General AI receptionists can be cheaper and handle calls well, but bookings may land in a calendar instead of your shop system.
Low-cost general options include Rosie and Dialzara; see our Ruby alternatives price comparison for their plans, or our roundup of AI phone answering services in the USA (https://www.lumay.ai/blogs/best-ai-phone-answering-services-for-businesses-in-the-usa). Dealerships with service departments can also compare our AI receptionists for car dealerships guide (https://www.lumay.ai/blogs/best-ai-receptionists-car-dealerships).
Our own product: LuMay Voxentis Inbound Voice Agent
Disclosure: LuMay publishes this blog. Voxentis is our product and is not part of the comparison.
Voxentis is a general AI voice agent, not a shop management add-on. Its inbound page covers call routing with context and multilingual answering.
Published pricing shows a 14-day free trial and a Basic plan at $249 a month for 500 minutes, with a calendar connector at $0.10 per active minute.
Sources: https://www.lumay.ai/ai-products/voice-agent/inbound and https://www.lumay.ai/ai-products/voice-agent/pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much does an AI receptionist for an auto repair shop cost?
A: From $1 per call with AutoLeap AIR, to $279 a month unlimited with Asisto, to $349 a month for Shopmonkey's CRM Essentials add-on, per prices on October 27, 2026.
Q2: Which AI receptionist works with Tekmetric?
A: AgentZap says it books appointments into Tekmetric, along with Mitchell 1 and Shop-Ware. Confirm your version during a demo.
Q3: Does Shopmonkey have an AI receptionist?
A: Yes. Shopmonkey Concierge answers calls, books appointments and transfers calls, as part of the CRM Essentials add-on.
Q4: Does AutoLeap AIR book appointments?
A: AutoLeap says AIR places appointment requests on the AutoLeap calendar during the call, which your team can then confirm.
Q5: Are there setup fees?
A: AgentZap lists a $499 one-time setup. Asisto states no setup fee. Others did not list one on the pages we read.
Q6: Can an AI receptionist handle Spanish-speaking customers?
A: Several can. Asisto lists 58 languages, and AutoLeap's sample calls include Spanish. Check the exact languages on your plan.
Q7: What happens with emergency calls?
A: Better tools detect urgency and transfer to a person. AgentZap says it detects breakdown emergencies. Test this in your trial.
Q8: How many calls does a typical repair shop miss?
A: It varies widely. Check your phone system's missed-call report for a month before choosing a plan size.
Q9: Is pay-per-booking cheaper than a flat plan?
A: At low volume, yes. With Asisto, 35 bookings or more a month cost more than its $279 Unlimited plan.
Q10: Can I try these before paying?
A: AutoLeap advertises 30 days free, Gearboxly a 14-day trial on main plans, and AgentZap and Asisto money-back guarantees.
Q11: Did you run these tools in a real shop?
A: No. We compared published prices and features on October 27, 2026. Use the trial call script above before you commit.
Q12: Why isn't LuMay Voxentis in the comparison?
A: It is our own product. Comparing it against rivals on our own site would not be neutral, so it sits in a separate, labeled section.
Sources
- https://gearboxly.com/ai-receptionist
- https://gearboxly.com/pricing
- https://autoleap.com/air/
- https://autoleap.com/pricing/
- https://agentzap.ai/industries/auto-repair
- https://agentzap.ai/pricing
- https://www.shopmonkey.io/product/automotive-marketing/concierge
- https://www.shopmonkey.io/pricing
- https://www.asisto.one/industries/auto-repair
- https://www.asisto.one/pricing
- https://shop-ware.com/features/ai-receptionist/
- https://www.lumay.ai/ai-products/voice-agent/pricing
