MLS 2026 continuously tracks:
•Vehicle service history
•Preventative maintenance schedules
•Technician recommendations
•Inspection concerns
•Prior repairs
The Workorder Development screen provides immediate access to this information using several dedicated buttons. These tools allow the service advisor to quickly review the vehicle’s history and discuss important service needs with the client while writing the estimate.
Using these features consistently will:
•Improve customer communication
•Increase service accuracy
•Prevent missed maintenance
•Build long-term client confidence
•Increase legitimate service opportunities
P/M's ( Preventative Maintenance )
The P/M button displays the:
•Preventative Maintenance Scheduler
for the selected vehicle.
The PM system tracks:
•Mileage intervals
•Service dates
•Due dates
•Upcoming maintenance requirements
based on:
•Previous completed services
MLS 2026 automatically calculates:
•Next due mileage
•Expected service dates
•Days remaining
•Mileage remaining
This allows your staff to quickly identify:
•Services currently due
•Services nearing due status
•Overdue maintenance items
Examples include:
•Oil services
•Timing belt intervals
•Transmission service
•Coolant replacement
•Brake fluid service
If you use the PM system, reviewing this information should become a standard part of every write-up procedure.
Service History
The History button displays:
•The complete service history for the vehicle
This is one of the most valuable tools in MLS 2026 because it allows the staff to instantly review:
•Previous repairs
•Past recommendations
•Earlier inspections
•Warranty work
•Repeat failures
•Historical patterns
This is especially helpful when:
•Diagnosing recurring concerns
•Reviewing previous repairs
•Determining whether services were already performed
•Investigating warranty questions
Viewing Full Detail
When reviewing the history:
•Double-click any labor or parts entry
and the system will display:
•The complete detailed description
This includes:
•Full labor text
•Parts used
•Notes
•Recommendations
•Additional supporting detail
Inspection History
While reviewing service history:
•Scroll through the complete display carefully
Inspection Checklist entries from prior visits are also retained and displayed.
This information may reveal:
•Previously failing items
•Wear trends
•Long-term concerns
•Deferred repairs
These records are often extremely valuable when discussing vehicle condition with the client.
Carfax
The Carfax button provides direct access to:
•The online Carfax service database
The information displayed includes:
•Services performed at other participating facilities
•Historical maintenance records
•Repair activity reported outside your shop
This provides a broader service history than your own internal records alone.
Of course:
•The accuracy depends entirely on reporting by participating facilities
•Not all repair centers report to Carfax
Nevertheless, this information can provide valuable insight into:
•Prior ownership maintenance
•Previously completed repairs
•Vehicle usage history
Needs
The Needs button displays:
•Previous recommendations that remain incomplete
These are services your shop previously recommended but which:
•Have not yet been marked completed
•Have not been removed from active recommendation status
When the Needs screen opens, the system asks:
•Whether you wish to display only pending recommendations
Normally:
•This should be selected
The display then shows all outstanding recommendations for the vehicle.
Adding A Recommended Service
When discussing pending items with the client, they may approve additional work.
If the client says:
•“Go ahead and do it”
highlight the recommendation and press:
•Add
The system will immediately transfer the recommendation:
•Into the Labor section of the current workorder
This eliminates:
•Duplicate typing
•Re-entering descriptions
•Missed information
Removing A Recommendation
Sometimes the client will state:
•The repair was already completed elsewhere
In that case:
•Highlight the recommendation
•Press Delete
The item will no longer appear:
•As pending
However:
•The recommendation itself remains in historical records
This preserves the integrity of the service history while preventing repeated reminders about completed work.
The Analysis Screen
The Analysis button on the General tab combines all of these tools into:
•A single floating information window
This display includes:
•Client statistics
•Service history
•Pending recommendations
•PM schedules
•Inspection concerns
The window may remain open while:
•Writing the estimate
•Editing the workorder
•Discussing service options with the client
You can even:
•Move the window aside
•Continue working
•Reference the information continuously
This is one of the most powerful customer communication tools in MLS 2026.
Best Practices
•Always review service history before writing estimates
•Check PM schedules during every visit
•Review pending recommendations with the client
•Use Carfax history for broader vehicle insight
•Remove completed recommendations promptly
•Use the Analysis screen during customer discussions
The combination of History, Needs, PM, Carfax, and Analysis tools allows MLS 2026 to provide a complete view of the vehicle’s condition and service background, helping your shop deliver more informed, professional, and proactive customer service.