SMS updates, sender name and your allowance
Set your SMS sender name, send quick texts like ready-for-collection, and understand your monthly SMS allowance and top-ups.
2 min read
SMS is the fastest way to reach a customer. Use it for time-sensitive updates like 'your car's ready', and for MOT and service reminders.
Set your sender name
In Business Settings → Messages, set the name your texts come from, for example your garage's name. It must be 3 to 11 letters or numbers, with no spaces. You need a sender name before you can use quick SMS.
Quick texts
On a paid plan you can send prefilled texts in a couple of clicks: Collection SMS on an invoice, or the ready-for-collection text from the Jobs list. You always see the message before it's sent.
Your allowance and top-ups
SMS isn't part of the free trial. The Workshop plan includes a monthly SMS allowance (100 messages a month), shared by reminders and quick texts. If a busy month needs more, buy a top-up pack from the billing section of Account settings.
Email reminders don't use your SMS allowance, so you can lean on email for low-cost follow-up and save SMS for the urgent stuff.
- Long messages can count as more than one SMS.
- Customers who have opted out of texts are skipped.
- Email reminders don't use SMS.
FAQ
What happens if I run out of SMS?
Buy a top-up pack from the billing section of Account settings. Email reminders keep working either way, as they don't use the SMS allowance.
Why can't I send SMS during my trial?
Texts cost money to send, so SMS starts once you subscribe. Email reminders work during the trial.
Ready to try it?
Put a real job through Mechanics Hub on a 14-day free trial, no card needed.