Podcasting for auto body and repair shops
After an accident, people call the shop someone recommended.
A podcast for an auto shop is not a car review channel. It is a recorded conversation every two weeks with the insurance agents, tow operators and dealers who are with drivers on the worst day of their week. They recommend shops they trust.
The golden rule
Interview the people who meet your client just before you do, or just after.
They know your future clients. They see them first, often months before anyone calls you.
Your listener needs them. That is what makes the episode worth hearing.
Both, ideally. The best guests are useful on the mic and generous off it.
Who you interview
Walk your client's journey, and there's a guest at every step.
Not your customers. The professionals and neighbors who surround them.
Right after the accident
They are first on the scene.
- Insurance agents
- Tow operators
- Roadside assistance providers
- Personal injury attorneys
- Rental car managers
During the repair
They work the same claim.
- Insurance adjusters
- Parts suppliers
- Glass and detailing shops
- Mechanics with a different specialty
- Paint and materials reps
The car's life
They see the driver next.
- Dealers and used car lots
- Tire and inspection shops
- Driving schools
- Fleet managers
- Rideshare driver groups
The community
They are where local drivers gather.
- Car clubs
- Traffic safety officers
- Local business owners with fleets
- Chamber of commerce
- Youth and new driver programs
What about clients? "The minivan we brought back to factory spec." "What happened when we found frame damage the first estimate missed." Story episodes with customers who gave written permission show the care you put into every repair.
Where clients come from
How the show turns into clients
The guest is one way in, and often not the main one. Here is what does the work in your field.
- 1
Drivers see the care you take
Repair clips and before-and-after shots show quality better than any review.
- 2
Episodes answer the post-accident questions
Send the episode on what to do after a fender bender. Drivers remember who helped when it counted.
- 3
Local businesses with fleets get to know you
Owners with vans and trucks on the road need a shop they trust. Interview them.
Can the guest be a client? Yes. Customers who give written permission make great story episodes.
Pick a format
Three ways to run the show
Interview show
Best for relationships
Everything above: one guest every two weeks, each one bringing what they know and sharing the episode with their own audience.
Solo show
Best for your brand
Just you, 10 to 20 minutes, answering the questions clients ask every week. No scheduling, and your voice and point of view become the brand. It also fits between interview weeks.
Short series
Best for new clients
Five to ten episodes on one problem, titled with the words people search for. Short enough to finish in a weekend, and built to lead to one next step with you.
“A limited series podcast is meant for movement.”
Cliff Ravenscraft, the Podcast Answer Man, made the case for short series at PodFest. A show titled after a problem gets found in podcast search, binged in a few days, and recommended by name.
His six-episode series on mastermind groups launched with almost no promotion. Within 45 days, four listeners who had never heard of him joined his $15,000-a-year mastermind. More than 7,000 people have listened to all six episodes, and three of the six came from his archive with a new intro and call to action. A 38-episode show he stopped making 15 years ago still brings in about $75,000 a year in coaching.
A short series for auto body and repair shops
After the Accident
5 episodes
What to do at the scene, with the insurer, with the tow, and when choosing a shop.
Every episode ends with one next step: a free after-the-accident checklist. No ads, just yours.
The road
Seven steps, in this order.
- 1
Name it after the town
"Fixed in Dulles" shows up in local search and gives guests something they are proud to share.
- 2
List 20 local pros you want to know better
Open your phone. That list is your first 20 episodes.
- 3
Start with your warmest relationship
Episode one should be a yes before you finish asking.
- 4
Record a 30-minute video call
No studio needed to start. A good conversation beats good gear.
- 5
Hand the guest a promo kit
Clips, quote cards and a link, so their audience sees you introduced by someone they trust.
- 6
Follow up over lunch
You just spent an hour learning from each other. Good working relationships start there.
- 7
Repeat every two weeks
Consistency matters more than polish. Most shows that fail simply stopped.
One host, one year
What every other week adds up to
Measure conversations and referrals, not downloads. A few hundred listeners in your market can matter more than thousands anywhere.
58% of Americans 12 and older listened to or watched a podcast in the last month. Edison Research, The Infinite Dial 2026
For teams
One shop show, rotating techs
The shop owns the show and the production. Owners, estimators and techs take turns hosting the partners they work with. Nobody carries a show alone, and drivers meet the people who will fix their car.
Keep it compliant
Get customers' written OK before you name them or show their car, and keep plates and personal details out of video. Stay general about fault and about any one claim. You can say drivers generally get to choose their repair shop, but let your insurance guest speak to coverage. In Maryland, everyone on a recording must agree to it.
General guidance, not legal advice. Rules vary by state; check with your compliance team or a lawyer.
Every show, every field
Before you hit record
- Tell every guest you are recording and get their OK at the start. Maryland requires every person on the call to agree.
- Get a signed release that covers the episode, the clips, and any use of their name, voice or face in ads.
- Say on air when a guest is a referral partner, client, employee, relative or sponsor.
- Use only music licensed for podcasts. Radio-style licenses like ASCAP and BMI do not cover it.
- Post a transcript or captions so every listener can follow along.
How PodGlue fits
Built for shows where the guest sharing the episode is the whole point.
PodGlue handles the busywork around every conversation, so the show keeps going after the first month.
Start your 14-day free trial- A booking page guests use to pick a time and fill in their details
- A guest page for every episode with clips, quote cards and social copy
- Automatic follow-up emails after the episode goes live
- Show notes and social posts drafted from each conversation
Questions
What people ask first
Can a podcast help an auto body shop get customers?
Yes, through the people drivers talk to after an accident: insurance agents, tow operators, dealers and rental managers. An episode makes your shop the one they recommend.
Who should an auto shop interview?
Insurance agents and adjusters, tow operators, dealers, parts suppliers, driving schools, fleet managers and local car clubs.
Is video worth it for an auto shop podcast?
Yes. Before-and-after shots and short repair clips are some of the best social content a shop can post, and they come straight from each episode.