The rules of a good workshop text
One segment is 160 characters. Rego, ask, name, opt-out — in that order of importance.
- Use the rego, never 'your vehicle'.
- One ask per message: book, pick up, approve, pay.
- Sign it with the workshop name if the sender is a number.
- End with 'Reply STOP to opt out' on anything automated.
Service due
Hi {first name}, {rego} is due for its {service} around {date}. Reply BOOK or call {phone} to lock in a time. {Workshop}. Reply STOP to opt out.
Ready for pickup
Hi {first name}, {rego} is ready for pickup. We're open till {time} today. Invoice: {link}. {Workshop}.
Quote follow-up
Hi {first name}, just checking you got the quote for {rego}: {link}. Happy to talk through any of it. {Workshop}.
Unpaid invoice
Hi {first name}, a reminder that invoice {number} for {rego} ({amount}) is due. Pay online here: {link}. Thanks, {Workshop}.
Booking confirmed and no-show
Hi {first name}, {rego} is booked in {day} at {time} at {Workshop}, {address}. Drop the keys in the box if we're not open. Reply CHANGE if that doesn't suit.
Hi {first name}, we had {rego} booked in today but haven't seen it. No dramas — reply with a day that suits and we'll rebook. {Workshop}.
Inspection report ready
Hi {first name}, the inspection report for {rego} is ready: {link}. It opens on your phone and prints to PDF. Call {phone} if you'd like to talk it through. {Workshop}.
When to send
Reminders: seven days before the due date, mid-morning on a weekday, when people are at a desk and can book. Ready-for-pickup: the moment the invoice is saved, so it arrives before they ring. Follow-ups: two working days after the quote, never on a weekend. Unpaid: the day after the due date, then weekly.
Never send anything automated after 8 pm or before 8 am. A text at 10:40 pm from your mechanic is a complaint, not a reminder — and it is the kind of thing that makes a customer reply STOP to messages they actually wanted.
A note on sender names
An alphanumeric sender name looks professional but customers cannot reply to it. If you want 'Reply BOOK' to work, send from a number. Most workshops leave the sender name blank and let the message carry the name.