Free shop templates
Free Auto Repair Work Order Template
By Mario Martell, former Nissan and Subaru technician and founder of Wrench Node. November 11, 2026.
I spent years on the other side of the counter as a tech. The work orders that worked were short, had no prices, and had room to write what I actually found. This is the one I'd want clipped to the fender.
What's on it
- Work order and RO numbers, date and promised time, plus bay or lift.
- Vehicle with engine, VIN and the tag or key number.
- Jobs assigned with the tech, book hours, and start and finish times for tracking efficiency.
- Complaint, cause, correction with room to write.
- Parts used, with part numbers and whether they came from stock or a vendor.
- Also found: extra findings with a measurement and a priority, for the advisor to quote.
- Before the car goes back: torque, fluids, leaks, codes, road test, interior, old parts bagged.
- Tech and QC signatures.
Write a cause and correction that gets paid
A vague story gets questioned by customers and rejected by warranty companies. Compare:
Weak: "Checked car. Replaced coil."
Strong: "Verified misfire on cylinder 3, code P0303. Swapped coils 3 and 2, misfire moved to cylinder 2. Coil 3 failed. Replaced ignition coil 3, cleared codes, road tested 10 miles, no misfire."
The strong version shows the test, the result and the proof it's fixed. It takes thirty seconds longer to write and saves a lot of arguments.
Why the "also found" box matters
Most shops lose money between the bay and the counter. The tech sees a leaking valve cover gasket, mentions it on the way to lunch, and it never gets quoted. Writing it down with a measurement and a priority turns it into an estimate line. Our declined work guide covers what to do when the customer says not today.
In Wrench Node, techs don't have to write at all. With Talk Your DVI the tech says what they see at the lift, and each inspection item gets marked good, attention or urgent with the measurement and a comment, then lands in front of the advisor ready to quote. The job clock tracks time on every job.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't the work order have prices?
It's the tech's copy. It travels with the car into the bay, so it only needs what the tech needs: the jobs, book time, the 3 Cs, parts and findings. Prices stay on the repair order.
What are the 3 Cs?
Complaint, cause and correction. What the customer reported, what you tested and found, and what you did to fix it. Warranty companies and good service writers expect all three.
What goes in 'also found'?
Anything the tech sees that wasn't on the order: a leaking water pump, a torn boot, pads at 3 mm. With a measurement and a priority, so the advisor can quote it.
Is the template free?
Yes. Download and print it. No email needed.
More free shop templates
- Auto Repair Invoice Template: Parts and labor lines, shop fees, tax, warranty, declined work and a signature line.
- Mechanic Invoice Template: A simpler invoice for mobile and solo mechanics: labor, parts, trip fee and payment.
- Auto Repair Estimate Template: A written estimate with priorities, line-by-line approval and the authorization limit.
- Repair Order Template: The drop-off form: concerns in the customer's words, vehicle condition, jobs and authorization.
Techs talk, the work order writes itself.
Talk Your DVI, job clocks and findings that go straight to the advisor. 14-day free trial.