How to get your garage recommended by ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity

What our measurements show

On 2 October 2026 we asked ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity for the best car repair garage in 10 cities. The result: 134 garages named, none by all three assistants. 91% of the garages appeared in only one of them. In 3 cities out of 10, the three lists did not share a single name (full study).

For comparison, with pizzerias the three assistants agreed on at least one place in 7 cities out of 10.

What this means: for garages, no single source is the reference. Each assistant draws on different sites. Being well placed in one spot is not enough; you need to be present in several.

Where AI gets its information about garages

In one of our garage rankings (28 September 2026), the most cited sites were:

• garage directories and comparison sites;
• local business directories;
• car listing sites;
• the garages' own websites, when they describe their services clearly.

That last point is specific to this trade: with no recognised guide to rely on, AI reads garage websites directly. A clear website therefore weighs more here than it does for restaurants.

The 5 actions, in order

1. Measure on all three assistants, not just one

Because they do not name the same garages, showing up on ChatGPT tells you nothing about Perplexity or Gemini. The free check gives a first result; the plans ask all three every week.

2. A complete listing on every directory that matters

Your local business directories and the garage comparison sites for your area. Same name, same address, same phone number everywhere, with your list of services and makes. A half-filled listing gives little to quote.

3. One page per service, with the town

“Air conditioning service in Leeds”, “Electric vehicle repairs in Bristol”, “MOT preparation”. In one real answer, AI described a garage as a specialist in hybrids, electric cars and classic vehicles, citing the garage's own website as its source. It cannot guess that: it has to be written down.

4. Your proof, spelled out

In 136 answers we analysed, AI justified its picks with quality (63%), reviews (58%), specialisation (54%) and years in business (51%) (details). On your website: the year you opened, the makes you are approved for, network labels, number of mechanics, warranties. As text, not inside a logo.

5. Regular reviews on your Google Business Profile

Gemini reads Google Maps. Ask every happy customer for a review, and suggest they mention the job done (“clutch replacement”, “annual service”). See Google Business Profile and AI.

Common mistakes

• A one-page brochure site that says “servicing and repairs for all makes” and nothing more: nothing to quote.
• Services shown in an image or a script-loaded carousel: AI crawlers do not see them. Check with Your site as AI sees it.
• A different name between the company name, the sign and the Google profile: AI thinks it is looking at two garages.