Detect Auto report links digital inspections to higher repair orders, shop growth

A new report from Detect Auto says auto repair shops that perform thorough digital vehicle inspections complete them faster and generate higher average repair orders, helping improve customer trust and business growth.

The inaugural State of Inspection Intelligence, Volume 1, 2026 combines data from 50,000 vehicle inspections completed on the Detect Auto platform with research from the Auto Care Association, Cox Automotive, J.D. Power and other industry sources.

The report found that while nine in 10 shop owners plan to grow their businesses this year, only one in 10 are expected to do so, with the quality of the vehicle inspection identified as a key differentiator.

Detect Auto said the median inspection on its platform took 21 minutes, about 30 per cent faster than the industry’s 30-minute best-practice benchmark. For a shop conducting 12 inspections a day, that equates to about 27 hours of technician time saved each week.

The report also found that data from AutoVitals, Tekmetric and Detect Auto showed strong digital inspection practices were associated with a 27 to 28 per cent increase in average repair order values. Inspections that included 20 or more photos generated repair orders roughly 30 per cent higher than those with five or fewer.

The report also cited industry research showing that two-thirds of U.S. drivers do not trust their local repair shop, with one 2026 study placing the figure at 78 per cent.

“Those results reflect a simple truth: a strong inspection is the foundation of customer trust and sound repair recommendations,” said Josh Oberlander, co-founder of Detect Auto. “We built Detect Auto to make that process faster and more consistent, helping shops turn accurate findings into approved work.”