What Is a DIY Self-Service Garage?

Mechanics without a space to repair cars can rent a bay with tools and facilities for car-maintenance projects.

Andy Stonehouse | 

Jun 14, 2024 | 3 min read

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If you're a do-it-yourself (DIY) auto mechanic who has the skills to do minor auto repairs but lacks a garage or a place to do bigger jobs, a self-service garage may be right up your alley. For a fee, commercial DIY garages offer owners space to work on their vehicles in a professional setting with tools and auto-maintenance equipment.

Here's how self-service garages work and how they might be a good setting for your weekend mechanical project.

You Get to Be the Mechanic at a DIY Garage

Unlike a traditional car-repair shop staffed by professional mechanics, DIY garages put you in charge, with a facility that generally features equipment and tools much the same as you'd find in a commercial garage.

That includes an extended range of mechanics' tools, plus power and air hoses. Many DIY garages also offer hoists, floor jacks for lifting a vehicle to allow easier underbody and engine access, and even engine stands or transmission jacks for more sophisticated jobs.

The do-it-yourself garage idea goes back decades at least. Brothers Tom and Ray Magliozzi of NPR's "Car Talk" radio show, for example, opened a self-service garage in Massachusetts in the early 1970s. The DIY concept continues to offer options to enterprising mechanics who are short on garage space. Self-service garages are also popular on some military bases, allowing service members to work on their personal cars and trucks.

DIY Workspaces Can Save Money in a Safer Environment

Cost savings can be the biggest benefit of a DIY garage. You might be able to save money on straightforward jobs such as tire rotations or oil changes, compared with the cost of having those types of things done by a mechanic at a private shop or the service department of a car dealership. Many DIY shops also offer proper disposal or recycling of automotive fluid and parts, tasks which can be an issue for at-home oil changes or radiator jobs.

Additionally, you might only have rudimentary mechanics' tools if you don't have a garage at home. A do-it-yourself space can mean a broader range of specialty tools and equipment.

It's also likely to be a safer and easier environment for car owners who might have to crawl under their car on a side street or in a parking lot for a repair job. Plus, some locations have certified mechanics on site. If you get in over your head on a repair job, you can engage some professional assistance.

Some Considerations for Do-It-Yourself Car Jobs

A self-service garage can be ideal if you're skilled at basic mechanical work. But if you're a first-timer relying on YouTube videos to learn your way around your engine bay, it might not be the best arrangement.

Paying by the hour — even $20 for a half-hour, as one Seattle-area DIY shop charged in 2024 — can quickly add up and may also mean a self-service setup is not ideal for longer-term repair or restoration projects.

Expect to sign a waiver to use a DIY garage and abide by rules regarding the safe use of tools and equipment. As a safety precaution, you may have to ask staff members to move cars in or out of the garage and place vehicles on lifts.

Andy Stonehouse

Andy Stonehouse literally fell into the world of auto writing while working as a ski-town journalist, and has not looked back since. A childhood spent dealing with the eccentricities of a 1976 MG Midget has made any subsequent auto experience a more safe and reliable drive. He has been blessed with nearby mountain trails and snowy roads in Colorado to do TV-adventure-styled test drives on a weekly basis.