Scope of service and repairs

The facility must provide services in the following areas:

Engine tune-up Minor engine repair
Brakes
Electrical systems

In addition, a facility may provide the following optional services:
Tires, steering, suspension
Major engine repairs

Automatic transmission
Heating, air conditioning
Manual transmission, rear axle

Customer service
Clean, safe and comfortable customer facilities are required.
Visible identification must be worn by all reception staff.
All service staff must be qualified, courteous and efficient.
The facility must receive a favorable response of 90% or better in each rating category of the AAA Auto Repair Service Questionnaire returned by the facility's customers.

Facility appearance
The facility must be clean, tidy and attractive inside and out.

Staff qualifications and training
The facility must have a National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified mechanic or equivalent for each area of service which the facility offers.
A garage supervisor must be available during all hours of service operation for member contact and quality control purposes.
The facility must have an effective quality control program in existence.
The facility must have a formal training system for keeping employees up-to-date on new automotive systems.
The facility must have technically competent service reception personnel who are trained to advise customers regarding repairs and service.

Community reputation
The facility must have an acceptable community reputation as determined by reviews and analysis of:
Dun and Bradstreet or bank financial or equivalent reports
Consumer Protection Agency report
Inquiries of past customers randomly selected by AAA

Insurance
The facility must have prescribed limits of commercial general or garage liability insurance, including bodily injury and property damage coverage and garage keeper's legal liability insurance.

Equipment requirements

General equipment
Vehicle lifts, hoists or lifting jacks
Lubrication equipment
Parts cleaner
Safety stands
Technical service manuals (up-to-date) or electronic access
Torque wrench set (inch/foot)
Vernier caliper
Welding equipment
Micrometer 0"-1"
Headlight alignment tester
Engine tune-up
Engine analyzer with display
Digital voltmeter, ammeter, ohmmeter, dwellmeter, tachometer
Timing light
Vacuum/pressure gauge
Compression tester, cylinder leak down tester
Exhaust gas analyzer
Fuel injection test equipment
Injector pulse tester

Minor engine repair
Hand-held tools only
Brakes
Brake drum and disc lathe
Dial indicators
Brake disc micrometer
Brake drum gauge

Electrical
Digital voltmeter
Digital ohmmeter
Digital ammeter
Battery load tester
Battery charger
Alternator, regulator, starting circuit tester

Tires, steering, suspension
Alignment rack/tables
Wheel balancer, spin or bubble
Coil spring compressor
Tire changer
Related special tools

Heating and air conditioning
Radiator and cap pressure tester
A/C recharging station
A/C leak detector
Vacuum pump
Manifold gauge set
Freon recovery system

Major engine repair
Engine repair stand
Engine floor crane
Outside micrometer 0"-4"
Valve refacer, valve seat cutter
Cylinder hone/deglazer
Cylinder bore gauge or inside micrometer 0"-4"

Automatic transmission
Related special tools
Pressure gauge (300) psi
30-inc.asph hp. vacuum gauge
Transmission jack

Manual transmission and rear axle
Gear puller, axle puller
Arbor/hydraulic press
Clutch aligning tools

Customer response*
In addition to meeting the facility approval criteria, applicants must receive a favorable response of 90% or better in each rating category of the Auto Repair Service Questionnaire returned by the applicant's customers.

*Approximately 100 questionnaires are mailed out. A minimum of 25 must be returned to make a complete file. If response is less than that, the facility is rejected.