Google’s “Ask for Me” AI Is Calling Auto Repair Shops — Here’s What You Need to Know

If your auto repair shop has received a strange call from a robotic voice claiming to be from Google, you’re not alone. Some shop owners have wondered if these calls are scams. In reality, these are part of a new feature Google is testing called “Ask for Me.”

And yes — it’s real.

At Business Actualization, we’ve reviewed these calls, researched the rollout, and want to help you understand what they mean for your shop and your marketing strategy.

What Is Google’s “Ask for Me”?

In early 2025, Google rolled out an experimental feature called Ask for Me. It’s powered by the same AI voice technology behind Google Duplex and is currently being tested in specific industries — including auto repair shops and nail salons (The Verge).

Here’s how it works:

• A customer searches for a service (like an oil change) on Google.
  
  
• Instead of calling you themselves, they tap a button that lets Google Assistant call on their behalf.

The AI agent calls your shop, asks a short list of approved questions (like pricing or availability), and passes the information back to the customer.

What Do These Calls Sound Like?

A legitimate “Ask for Me” call will start with a disclosure, such as:

“Hi, I’m calling on behalf of a customer who had some questions. This is an automated service from Google, and the call is monitored and recorded to improve Google services.”

From there, the AI may ask:

• “How much is an oil change for a 2015 Honda CR-V?”
  
  
• “What’s the soonest appointment you have available?”
  
  

The agent will thank you, end the call politely, and deliver the information back to the customer.

Should Auto Shops Be Concerned?

The good news is that these calls are not scams. They’re part of Google’s effort to improve users' search-to-service experience.

That said, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Service advisors should be prepared. If they pick up one of these calls, answer just as if it were a customer — because it is a customer on the other end, just communicating through Google’s AI.
  
  
• Expect them to be limited. Since this is an opt-in experimental feature, most shops will only get a handful of these calls for now.
  
  
• You can turn them off. If you prefer not to receive these calls, you can disable the feature in your Google Business Profile.

Why It Matters for Your Marketing

For auto repair shops, “Ask for Me” is another sign that Google is investing heavily in customer convenience and automation. Like click-to-call buttons, map packs, and Local Services Ads, this feature pushes the boundary between search and direct customer contact.

The shops that win will be the ones that:

• Keep their Google Business Profile fully optimized
  
  
• Make sure pricing and availability are clear and consistent
  
  
• Train staff to handle AI-assisted calls with professionalism
  
  

At Business Actualization, we specialize in helping auto repair shops stay ahead of Google’s changes — from ad strategy to call tracking to review generation.

Final Takeaway

If you get one of these calls, don’t hang up — it’s a legitimate Google feature, not a scam. Answer the AI’s questions as you would a customer’s, and know that your shop is being presented as an option to someone actively searching for your services.

If you’d like help making sure your shop is set up to maximize these opportunities — whether through Google Ads, Business Profile optimization, or call tracking — our team is here to help.

👉 Contact us today to learn how we can make sure your marketing is ready for the future of Google search.