Body shop AI receptionist FAQ
How does an AI receptionist work for a body shop?
You forward your missed, busy and after-hours calls to GoodRinger and keep your number. It answers 24/7, gets the caller’s name, vehicle and damage, books the estimate, and texts and emails you a summary.
Is it a real person?
No. It’s an AI receptionist built for body shops, and if a caller asks, it says so plainly. It’s there for the calls your team can’t get to, not to replace your front desk.
Will my customers hate talking to a robot?
It only gets the calls you forward, the ones that would otherwise ring out or go to voicemail. It keeps replies short, asks one question at a time, and gets callers what they called for: an estimate time, a tow request passed to your shop, or a message. Hear it for yourself: call our demo shop, GoodRinger BodyWerks (fictional), at (815) 913-2653, and play a customer.
Does it handle insurance claims and DRP work?
It asks for the insurance company, the claim number if the caller has one, and whether an adjuster has seen the car, and puts it all in your lead summary. During setup you tell us which insurers you work with. It never gives coverage, fault or legal advice; that stays with you.
What about “Is my car ready?” calls?
It takes the customer’s name, vehicle and best number, tells them the shop will check on the repair and call back, and sends you the message. It never guesses at a status, date or price.
What about adjusters, parts vendors and other calls?
It takes a message: the caller’s name, number, best time to call and what it’s about, reads the number back, and sends it to you. It can’t take payments or card numbers; your shop handles that.
What happens with accident and tow calls?
It first asks if everyone is safe and tells the caller to call 911 if anyone is hurt or in danger. Then it gets where the vehicle is, whether it’s drivable, the insurance company and a callback number, and passes it straight to your shop. It never dispatches a tow or promises an arrival time.
Can it answer my customers in Spanish or Polish?
Our own lines answer in English, Spanish or Polish, so you can hear the demo in any of them. Your shop's callers are answered in English. Need Spanish or Polish? Ask us.
Is there a contract? What if I go over my minutes?
Month-to-month. No long-term contract. Cancel anytime, effective at the end of your paid month, with no partial refunds. $0.25/min over 300 minutes. We warn you at 75%, 85%, and 95%. Overage is billed in arrears, with no cap and no pause for usage. The setup fee is refunded in full only before setup work starts. Service pauses only for non-payment, 10 days after a failed charge. Unused minutes don't roll over.
What if it gets something wrong?
You get a text and email summary after every call, so you see what callers were told. Setup includes up to 2 rounds of script revisions in the first 30 days, and Josh tunes the script to how your shop talks. Later changes are billed at a flat $148/hr or quoted.
Do I have to change my shop’s phone number?
No. You keep your number and forward the calls you can’t pick up to GoodRinger.
Does it answer after hours and on weekends?
Yes. GoodRinger answers 24/7, including nights and weekends.
How much does GoodRinger cost?
Your $179/month subscription doesn't start until we go live. Today you pay only the $198 setup fee.
What do I get after each call?
A text and an email with the caller’s name, vehicle, damage and the booked appointment.
Who are Gina and Nick?
Gina is GoodRinger’s AI sales receptionist at (815) 918-4600: she answers questions about GoodRinger and can book your demo with Josh. Nick is the AI receptionist at our demo shop, GoodRinger BodyWerks (fictional), at (815) 913-2653: call and play a customer to hear what your callers would hear.
Which areas do you serve?
Independent body shops in McHenry, Lake & Kane counties, Illinois, and we’re expanding.