For mechanics and auto workshops
An AI receptionist for workshops, so you can stay under the car
Hello answers your workshop phone, website chat and email while you're on the tools. It books WoFs and services, explains when a car needs its next WoF, takes the rego and the fault in the customer's own words, and emails you a summary of every call. It never promises a fixed price for a repair; it books the car in and leaves the quote to you.
8,358
automotive repair and maintenance businesses in New Zealand, February 2025
4.5 million
WoF inspections carried out in 2024
Source: Ministry of Transport, light vehicle inspection review (proactive release, April 2026)
$50 to $90
typical cost of a basic WoF, before any repairs
43.3%
of NZ light vehicles were at least 15 years old in 2024
Facts checked 20 October 2026.
What customers ring about, and how Hello handles it
WoF bookings
Hello takes the rego, make and model, books the WoF into your calendar and sends a confirmation. From 1 November 2026 it explains the new WoF timing in plain words and books the car in either way.
Services and repairs
Hello takes the rego and what the car is doing, in the customer's own words, and books it in. The job notes arrive in your inbox before the car does.
"How much will it cost?"
Hello quotes your fixed prices, like your WoF fee or a standard service, if you approve them. For repairs it explains that the workshop will give an estimate or a quote once the car is checked.
"Is my car ready?"
Hello takes the caller's name and rego and texts or emails the workshop, or puts the call through to the front counter. It doesn't guess.
Breakdowns
Hello takes the location, the car and what happened, and texts it to whoever is on call. If someone is in danger it tells them to ring 111 first.
Courtesy cars and drop-off times
Hello explains your drop-off times, courtesy car rules and key drop-box, as you've written them.
What Hello does for workshops
- Answers every call while you're under a car, and says it's an AI assistant
- Books WoFs and services into your Google or Outlook calendar
- Explains the WoF changes from 1 November 2026 using the official schedule
- Takes the rego and fault description in the customer's own words
- Texts urgent breakdowns to the person on call
- Emails a summary of every call and shows you each month what customers asked
What Hello won't do
- Diagnose a fault or say whether a car is safe to drive
- Promise a repair price or approve extra work
- Book into workshop software on Solo or Team plans (it uses your calendar, or emails the request for you to confirm)
- Tell a customer their car is ready unless your team has said so
How it plays out
Example: a winter Monday
It's cold and batteries are flat all over town. By 9am Hello has answered fifteen calls, booked eight cars in, texted two breakdowns to your on-call mechanic and taken four "is my car ready" questions for the front counter. You haven't put a spanner down.
Example: the November WoF questions
From 1 November 2026, customers start asking whether they still need a WoF this year. Hello explains the new timing, asks when the car was first registered and books the WoF if it's due, or offers a service instead if it isn't.
The rules that shape how Hello answers
WoF timing changes from 1 November 2026
NZTA has announced that new light vehicles will need their second WoF at four years, most vehicles aged 4 to 14 move to a WoF every two years (phased in by registration date in November 2026 and November 2027), and vehicles registered before 2000 move from six-monthly to annual. Hello explains this in plain words and leaves the exact due date to your team. The changes are subject to final government approval, so check NZTA for the latest before relying on them.
Source: NZTA, Changes to light vehicle inspections from 1 November 2026
Quotes and estimates mean different things
Consumer Protection says a quote is generally the maximum price, while an estimate is a best guess. A mechanic must check with the customer before doing extra work. Hello uses the right word and never agrees to extra work on your behalf.
Source: Consumer Protection, Your consumer rights: car repairs
Repairs must be done at a reasonable price and time
Under the Consumer Guarantees Act, services must be carried out with reasonable care and skill, in a reasonable time and at a reasonable price if none was agreed. Hello tells customers what to expect using your policies.
What a missed WoF call is worth
A basic WoF costs $50 to $90 before any repairs, according to govt.nz, and the customer who books one often books their service with you too. Hello Solo is NZ$149 + GST a month, about NZ$4.90 + GST a day, so two or three extra WoFs a month cover it.
Source: govt.nz, Get a warrant of fitness
| Calls a day | Plan | Price | About per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to about 5 | Hello Solo | NZ$149 + GST a month | NZ$4.90 |
| 5 to 30 | Hello Team | NZ$299 + GST a month | NZ$9.83 |
| 30+ | Hello Scale | Quoted | n/a |
Getting set up
- 01Add your WoF fee and standard service prices. Leave repair prices out and Hello will say you'll quote.
- 02Write your drop-off time, courtesy car rules and key drop-box details.
- 03Add your on-call mechanic to the phone tree for breakdowns.
- 04Put your Hello QR code on invoices so customers can book their next service any time.
Questions from workshops
Does Hello book into workshop software?
On Solo and Team plans Hello books into a Google or Outlook calendar, or takes the booking request and emails it to you. Connecting workshop software is a custom job on the Scale plan.
Can it tell customers when their WoF is due?
It explains the rules, including the changes from 1 November 2026, and books the car in. It doesn't look up a vehicle's record, so your team confirms the exact due date.
Will it give repair prices?
Only the fixed prices you approve, such as your WoF fee. For repairs it explains that you'll give an estimate or quote after checking the car.
What about breakdowns after hours?
Hello takes the details and texts your on-call person. If anyone is in danger, it tells the caller to ring 111 first.
Can it answer "is my car ready?"
It takes the caller's name and rego and passes the question to your team, or puts the call through. It won't guess.
How quickly can we start?
You get a local 09 number at sign-up and Hello sets itself up from your website. Forward missed calls from your workshop line and you're live the same day.
Written by Phil Dossett, co-founder of Leadica, the Auckland company that makes Hello. Facts checked 20 October 2026.
Sources
- Stats NZ business demography 2025, via Figure.NZ
- Ministry of Transport, light vehicle inspection review (proactive release, April 2026)
- govt.nz, Get a warrant of fitness
- EHINZ, NZ vehicle fleet continues to grow
- NZTA, Changes to light vehicle inspections from 1 November 2026
- Consumer Protection, Your consumer rights: car repairs
- Consumer Protection, Getting repairs
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