When someone's check engine light comes on or their brakes start grinding, they're not browsing national directories — they're typing "auto repair near me" or "brake service [city name]" into Google and clicking one of the first three map results.
This is the Map Pack: the block of three local business listings that appears above organic results for nearly every location-based service query. In auto repair, it captures the large majority of click intent for local searches. If your shop isn't in those three results, you're largely invisible to in-market customers at the exact moment they're ready to book.
The good news is that the Map Pack isn't purely pay-to-play. Google selects Map Pack results based on three factors it calls Relevance, Distance, and Prominence. Distance is partially fixed — you can't move your shop. But relevance and prominence are fully within your control, and they're what this guide covers.
One thing worth understanding early: local SEO for auto repair is not the same as general website SEO. You can have a slow, thin website and still rank in the Map Pack if your Google Business Profile and off-site signals are strong. Conversely, a beautifully built website with no GBP optimization will sit below shops that have done the basics correctly. The Map Pack runs on its own signal set, and that's where your attention should go first.