Free shop templates
Free Repair Order Template
By Mario Martell, former Nissan and Subaru technician and founder of Wrench Node. November 11, 2026.
The repair order is where most comebacks and disputes start, or get stopped. This one-page RO covers what happens at the counter: what the customer said, what shape the car was in, what they authorized, and how to reach them for approval.
What's on this repair order
- RO number, time in, promised time and service advisor.
- Customer and vehicle with VIN, plate, engine and mileage.
- Customer concerns with a "when does it happen?" column: cold, hot, at speed, turning, braking.
- Condition at drop-off: warning lights, existing damage, valuables, wheel lock key, spare key.
- Jobs table with tech, hours, parts, labor and an approved column.
- Tech findings: cause and correction.
- Authorization: diagnosis limit, call-before-repair, approved amount, road test permission and a note on unpaid repairs.
- Old parts choice and the best phone number for approval.
How the RO fits with the other forms
| Form | Who it's for | When | Prices? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repair order | Customer and advisor | At drop-off, open until pickup | Yes |
| Work order | Technician | While the car is in the bay | No |
| Estimate | Customer | Before work is approved | Yes |
| Invoice | Customer | At pickup and payment | Yes |
A drop-off routine that works
- Pull up the customer and vehicle, or write them fresh. Get the mileage off the dash.
- Ask what the car is doing and when. Write their words, then ask one follow-up question.
- Walk around the car with them. Mark lights on the dash and any damage.
- Agree on a diagnosis limit and how they want to be reached.
- Get the signature before the keys leave the counter.
Wrench Node turns this into a few taps. Customers can check themselves in on a tablet or by QR code, the concern goes straight onto the repair order, and the tech's findings come back as an estimate the customer approves by text. See the repair order workflow.
Frequently asked questions
What is a repair order?
The repair order (RO) is the record that opens when a car is dropped off. It holds the customer's concerns, the vehicle, what the customer authorized, the work done and the totals. The invoice is usually printed from it at the end.
What's the difference between a repair order and a work order?
The repair order is the customer-facing record with prices and the customer's signature. A work order is the technician's copy with the jobs and no prices. We have a free work order template too.
Why write the concern in the customer's words?
It keeps the tech focused on what the customer actually experiences, and it protects you if the customer later says you fixed the wrong thing.
Should I note damage at drop-off?
Yes. Walk around the car with the customer and mark existing dents, scratches and warning lights on the RO. It ends most 'you scratched my car' arguments.
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.
- Auto Repair Work Order Template: The technician's copy with no prices: jobs, complaint, cause, correction, parts used and QC.
This template is a general starting point, not legal advice. Authorization and lien rules vary by state.
Repair orders without the clipboard.
Check-in, concerns, approvals and invoicing in one place. 14-day free trial.