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/install afrexai-auto-repair
Description
Provides benchmarks, compliance, technician pay, parts markup, KPIs, startup costs, and growth guidance for independent auto repair shop operations.
README (SKILL.md)
Auto Repair Shop Operations
Complete operational reference for independent auto repair shops. Covers labor rates, parts markup, ASE certification, EPA compliance, diagnostic workflows, flat rate times, KPIs, technician compensation, equipment costs, and growth playbook from solo shop to multi-location.
When to Use
- Setting labor rates by region and service type
- Calculating parts markup strategy
- Planning ASE certification for technicians
- Ensuring EPA/OSHA compliance
- Tracking shop KPIs (productivity, efficiency, ARO, bay utilization)
- Hiring and compensating technicians
- Planning shop startup or expansion
Labor Rate Benchmarks by Region (2026)
| Region | General Repair | Diagnostic | Specialty | Dealer Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast US | $125-165/hr | $150-185/hr | $165-210/hr | $175-250/hr |
| Southeast US | $95-135/hr | $120-155/hr | $140-180/hr | $150-220/hr |
| Midwest US | $100-140/hr | $125-160/hr | $145-185/hr | $155-225/hr |
| West Coast US | $135-180/hr | $155-200/hr | $175-230/hr | $190-275/hr |
| Mountain/Plains | $90-130/hr | $115-150/hr | $135-175/hr | $145-215/hr |
Parts Markup Matrix
| Part Cost | Standard | Competitive | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0-$10 | 100-200% | 80-150% | 200-300% |
| $10-$50 | 75-125% | 60-100% | 125-175% |
| $50-$200 | 50-80% | 40-65% | 80-120% |
| $200-$500 | 35-55% | 30-45% | 55-80% |
| $500+ | 25-40% | 20-35% | 40-60% |
Target blended parts margin: 45-55% gross.
ASE Certification Matrix
| Cert | Area | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Engine Repair | 5 years |
| A2 | Automatic Transmission | 5 years |
| A3 | Manual Drive Train | 5 years |
| A4 | Suspension/Steering | 5 years |
| A5 | Brakes | 5 years |
| A6 | Electrical/Electronic | 5 years |
| A7 | Heating/AC | 5 years |
| A8 | Engine Performance | 5 years |
| Master | All 8 A-series | 5 years |
| L1 | Advanced Engine Performance | 5 years |
Pay premium: $2-5/hr per cert, $8-12/hr for Master.
EPA Compliance
| Regulation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Clean Air Act 609 (refrigerant) | $44,539/day |
| RCRA Hazardous Waste (oil, solvents) | $70,117/day |
| Clean Water Act (discharge) | $56,460/day |
| OSHA General Duty (lifts, chemicals) | $16,131/violation |
| SPCC Plan (oil storage >1,320 gal) | $25,000/day |
Non-negotiable: EPA 608/609 for AC techs, used oil hauler contract, antifreeze recycling docs, parts washer solvent tracking, tire disposal records.
Flat Rate Time Reference
| Service | Book Time | Revenue at $140/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Check engine diag | 1.0 hr | $140 |
| Oil change (synthetic) | 0.5 hr | $70 + $35 parts |
| Brake pads (axle) | 1.0-1.5 hr | $140-210 + parts |
| Timing belt | 3.0-6.0 hr | $420-840 + parts |
| Transmission service | 1.0 hr | $140 + $80 fluid |
| AC recharge (R-1234yf) | 1.0 hr | $140 + $60-120 |
| 4-wheel alignment | 1.0 hr | $140 |
| Strut pair | 2.0-3.0 hr | $280-420 + parts |
Shop KPIs
| Metric | Target | Warning |
|---|---|---|
| Effective labor rate | >$130/hr | \x3C$110/hr |
| Tech productivity | >85% | \x3C75% |
| Tech efficiency | >100% | \x3C90% |
| Parts-to-labor ratio | 0.8-1.2 | \x3C0.6 or >1.5 |
| Average repair order | >$350 | \x3C$250 |
| Car count/bay/day | 2.0-2.5 | \x3C1.5 |
| Gross profit margin | >55% | \x3C45% |
| Customer return rate | \x3C2% | >4% |
| Bay utilization | >80% | \x3C65% |
Technician Compensation (2026)
| Role | Rate | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Lube tech | $15-20/hr | $31K-42K |
| B-tech (2-3 ASE) | $22-30/hr | $46K-62K |
| A-tech (5+ ASE) | $30-42/hr | $62K-87K |
| Master tech | $38-55/hr | $79K-114K |
| Service advisor | Base + 3-8% GP | $55K-95K |
Equipment Costs
| Item | Cost | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| 2-post lift (10K lb) | $4,500-8,000 | 15-20 yr |
| Alignment lift + machine | $30K-70K | 10-15 yr |
| Pro scan tool | $3K-12K | 5-8 yr |
| Tire changer + balancer | $6.5K-15K | 10-15 yr |
| AC machine (R-1234yf) | $4K-8K | 8-12 yr |
| 4-bay total startup | $150K-350K | — |
| 8-bay total startup | $300K-650K | — |
Growth Stages
- Solo ($0-$300K): Brakes/suspension/maintenance, Google Business Profile, 8-12 cars/day
- Small team ($300K-$750K): Hire B-tech, add specialty (diesel/Euro/EV), Google Ads
- Established ($750K-$1.5M): 3-5 techs, fleet accounts, digital vehicle inspections (+20% ARO)
- Multi-location ($1.5M+): Systems-dependent, SOPs, shop management software (+15% revenue)
Usage Guidance
This skill appears coherent and purely informational. Before installing or relying on it: (1) verify the publisher/website (provenance is unclear), (2) do not provide any credentials to the skill (none are required), (3) treat the external README links as third-party resources and review them separately (they may lead to paid products), and (4) verify regulatory figures (EPA/OSHA penalties, certification requirements) against official local sources before acting on them.
Capability Analysis
Type: OpenClaw Skill
Name: afrexai-auto-repair
Version: 1.0.0
The skill bundle contains only informational text and data related to auto repair shop operations across `_meta.json`, `SKILL.md`, and `README.md`. There is no executable code, no instructions for the AI agent to perform any actions beyond presenting the information, and no evidence of prompt injection attempts. The external links in `README.md` are promotional and intended for the user, not as commands for the agent, and do not indicate malicious intent or risky capabilities for the agent itself.
Capability Assessment
Purpose & Capability
Name/description (auto repair shop operations) match the provided SKILL.md and README content. The skill is purely advisory (benchmarks, KPIs, compliance, costs) and does not request credentials, binaries, or config access. Note: the skill's provenance is unclear (source/homepage not provided and owner ID is opaque), which affects trust but not functional coherence.
Instruction Scope
SKILL.md contains static operational guidance, tables, and checklists. It does not instruct the agent to read local files, access environment variables, call external endpoints, or exfiltrate data. README contains links to external resources (afrexai-cto.github.io) but SKILL.md itself stays within the stated scope.
Install Mechanism
No install spec and no code files — instruction-only, so nothing is written to disk or downloaded. This is the lowest-risk install profile and is proportionate to the skill's advisory purpose.
Credentials
The skill declares no required environment variables, credentials, or config paths. That aligns with an informational/consulting skill and is proportionate.
Persistence & Privilege
always is false, user-invocable is true, and the skill does not request persistent system privileges. There is no indication it modifies other skills or system settings.
How to Use
- Make sure OpenClaw is installed (local or Docker)
- Run the install command in chat:
/install afrexai-auto-repair - After installation, invoke the skill by name or use
/afrexai-auto-repair - Provide required inputs per the skill's parameter spec and get structured output
Version History
v1.0.0
Initial release: comprehensive operational guide for independent auto repair shops.
- Includes regional labor rate benchmarks and detailed parts markup matrices.
- Provides ASE certification paths, pay premiums, and renewal timelines.
- Outlines essential EPA/OSHA compliance requirements and penalties.
- Offers flat rate labor times and service pricing examples.
- Summarizes key shop KPIs and warning thresholds.
- Details technician compensation bands and roles.
- Lists equipment cost estimates and startup budgets.
- Presents growth playbook from solo operation to multi-location expansion.
Metadata
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Auto Repair Shop Operations?
Provides benchmarks, compliance, technician pay, parts markup, KPIs, startup costs, and growth guidance for independent auto repair shop operations. It is an AI Agent Skill for Claude Code / OpenClaw, with 373 downloads so far.
How do I install Auto Repair Shop Operations?
Run "/install afrexai-auto-repair" in the OpenClaw or Claude Code chat to install it in one step — no extra setup required.
Is Auto Repair Shop Operations free?
Yes, Auto Repair Shop Operations is completely free (open-source). You can download, install and use it at no cost.
Which platforms does Auto Repair Shop Operations support?
Auto Repair Shop Operations is cross-platform and runs anywhere OpenClaw / Claude Code is available (cross-platform).
Who created Auto Repair Shop Operations?
It is built and maintained by 1kalin (@1kalin); the current version is v1.0.0.
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