Automotive App Development
Our automotive app development team builds apps for dealerships, service shops, and mobility startups across Canada. From online service booking to connected-car features, we help automotive businesses keep bays full and customers coming back.
- Fixed-scope quoteA written price and milestone plan before any work starts.
- From $4,999 CADTypical single-platform apps $5,000 to $12,000.
- You own the codeSource, designs and store accounts are yours.
- Reply within 24 hoursMon to Fri, Toronto time. Call +1 (365) 440-1786.
Who this is for
Automotive app development serves dealerships and dealer groups that want service booking and inventory in their own app, independent service shops and franchise chains cutting phone calls, fleet and rental operators tracking vehicles and bookings, parts distributors, and mobility startups connecting to vehicle data. The common goal is keeping bays full and drivers coming back.
Apps we build for automotive
- Service booking apps that fill the schedule and cut phone calls
- Dealership apps for inventory, test drives, and finance requests
- Connected-car apps for remote lock, location, and diagnostics
- Fleet and rental apps for tracking, bookings, and maintenance
- Loyalty and reminder apps that bring drivers back for service
- Parts and inventory apps for shops and distributors
Key features
- Online booking with real-time bay and technician availability
- Push reminders for service, recalls, and appointments
- Vehicle history and digital work orders
- Payments and digital invoices
- Inventory and parts lookup
- Role-based access for staff, service advisors, and managers
Systems we typically integrate with
- Dealer management systems for customers, vehicles, repair orders and inventory
- Service scheduling and shop management platforms
- Manufacturer or telematics APIs for connected-vehicle features
- Parts catalogues and supplier systems
- Payment providers for deposits, invoices and service payments
- CRM and marketing platforms for reminders and campaigns
Integration access is confirmed during discovery, before we quote, because vendor onboarding often takes longer than the code. Our backend and API service covers the server side of these connections.
What discovery covers for an automotive project
The first week or so answers these questions, and the answers set the fixed-scope quote:
- Which dealer management or shop system holds customers, vehicles and repair orders
- How service appointments are booked and confirmed today, and what falls through the cracks
- Whether connected-vehicle data is available to you and under what terms
- For fleets and rentals: how vehicles are assigned, tracked and maintained
- Which reminders (service intervals, recalls, seasonal tyres) drive revenue
- Roles for advisors, technicians, managers and customers
Build custom or use an off-the-shelf tool?
Custom is not always the right answer. This is how we advise automotive clients in the first call:
| Need | Off-the-shelf is usually enough when | Custom makes sense when |
|---|---|---|
| Online service booking | Many DMS and shop platforms include a booking widget | Custom when you want your own app with reminders, history and payments in one place |
| Dealer group app with inventory | Manufacturer apps cover some brands | Custom for multi-brand groups, trade-in flows and finance requests |
| Fleet or rental management | Fleet platforms exist for standard needs | Custom when bookings, inspections and customer apps need to work as one product |
| Connected-car features | Manufacturer apps for their own vehicles | Custom only where a data programme grants you access |
Compliance and considerations
Automotive apps handle personal information, payment details and sometimes vehicle location and diagnostic data. Personal information falls under PIPEDA or the equivalent provincial private-sector law, and marketing messages need CASL consent collected at sign-up. Card payments should run through a tokenised provider so PCI DSS obligations stay with the processor. Connected-vehicle data is usually available only through the manufacturer's or telematics vendor's programme and its terms, and location data about drivers needs clear notice and retention limits. We are developers, not your legal advisors, so we build to the requirements your team sets and document how the app meets them.
What drives the cost of an automotive app
Most apps we build land between $5,000 and $25,000, with complex platforms from about $25,000. These drivers decide where yours sits, far more than the screen count does. See our price sheet.
| Cost driver | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| DMS or shop system integration | Vendor access, data mapping and testing decide much of the schedule. |
| Connected-vehicle data | Vendor programmes, approvals and varied data formats add time and uncertainty. |
| Roles | Customer, advisor, technician and manager views each need screens and permissions. |
| Payments and documents | Deposits, invoices, digital work orders and inspection photos add integration and storage. |
| Locations | Multi-store groups need per-location hours, staff and reporting. |
Timelines
- Focused first version. 6 to 10 weeks for an iOS and Android service booking and reminders app on an existing shop system.
- Full platform. 3 to 6 months for a dealer group or fleet platform with inventory, payments and staff tools.
What moves these ranges:
- DMS vendor API access and certification
- Manufacturer or telematics data approvals
- How quickly decisions and feedback come back each week
- Scope changes mid-build, which we quote before starting
Common mistakes we help you avoid
- Assuming DMS data is easy to get; confirm API access before scoping
- Building reminders without accurate service history behind them
- Ignoring the advisor and technician side, so bookings still get re-keyed
- Promising connected-car features before data access is confirmed
- Skipping recall and seasonal campaigns, which are the easiest revenue
What a first version can look like
Illustrative example: a three-store dealer group wants fewer service phone calls. Version one lets customers see their vehicles, book service against live bay availability from the shop system, receive reminders for intervals and recalls, approve additional work from a digital inspection and pay the invoice in the app. Inventory browsing and trade-in requests follow in phase two.
Why automotive companies choose us
- We design around how a busy shop or dealership actually runs, so staff use the app instead of working around it
- Integration experience with scheduling, inventory, and payment systems
- Security planned into the build, not bolted on at the end
- Fixed-scope quotes and milestone billing, so the project does not drift in cost
- You own all source code, designs, and documentation at handover
- Support plans that keep the app compatible as iOS and Android change
See every industry we serve, compare project pricing, or read how a project runs before you send us a brief.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
In most cases yes. We review what your system allows, then build the integration against a test environment before touching live data.
Yes, where the vehicle platform provides an interface. We work within what the manufacturer or device allows and plan security around any vehicle data.
A focused first version is usually 6 to 10 weeks on iOS and Android, or 4 to 8 weeks on one platform. Larger apps with several integrations run 3 to 6 months, built in phases.
It depends on scope. Rather than guess, tell us about your project and get a free, no-obligation quote for your actual requirements.
Usually, if the vendor offers an API or certified integration programme. We confirm access during discovery and scope the integration as its own line so you can see the cost.
Discovery, design, the app for iOS and Android, integration with your shop or dealer system and payment provider, store submission and a warranty period. Fleet, inventory and connected-car features are scoped separately.
Free quote
Tell us about your app
A senior engineer reads your brief and replies within 24 hours with questions and a fixed-scope estimate. No obligation and no sales sequence.
- Written, fixed-scope quote before any work starts
- You own the code, designs and accounts
- Typical apps from $4,999 CAD
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