Frequently asked questions

Torque DMS is a dealer and garage management platform for vehicle sales and service businesses. It covers both sales — lead management, deal building, stock — and workshop operations in a single system.

Torque DMS is designed for independent vehicle dealers and garages of all sizes, from single-site operations upwards. It works equally well for sales-only, service-only, or combined businesses.

Yes. Torque DMS is a web-based platform used by vehicle sales and service businesses internationally, not only in the UK. Core features — job management, invoicing, digital health checks, sales pipeline, workshop scheduling — work the same way anywhere. A small number of integrations, such as DVLA vehicle lookups and specific UK finance providers, are UK-only, but they are optional extras, not a requirement to use the platform.

Yes. Torque DMS combines sales and service in one platform. There is no need for separate systems.

Most dealers are up and running within a few days. There is no hardware to install — Torque DMS is a web-based platform that works on any device.

Torque DMS is free for dealers. There are no subscription fees, no monthly charges, and no per-user costs. The platform is funded through preferred supplier partnerships — dealers access the software at no cost, and Torque DMS earns a commission when dealers use integrated partners.

No. You are never required to use any specific supplier, and your data is never sold. Torque DMS earns revenue from suppliers who pay a referral fee when dealers choose to use them. You keep full control over which suppliers and finance providers you use.

No hidden fees. Every DMS and workshop feature, all integrations (AutoTrader, finance providers, parts suppliers), and the mobile app are free, with no subscription, ever. AI tools are the one optional exception: you never have to use them, and if you do, they are pay-as-you-go at 25p per lookup from a top-up-able credit balance — see the AI pricing below for exactly what that covers.

No. Torque DMS has no minimum contract term. You can start and stop using the platform whenever you choose.

Most DMS providers charge £300–£800+ per month in subscription fees. Torque DMS is free because it is partner-funded. It also covers both vehicle sales and workshop service in a single platform, gives you access to optional AI tools billed pay-as-you-go only if you choose to use them, and is built for independent dealers rather than large franchise groups.

Yes. There are no subscription fees, no monthly charges, and no hidden costs at any point. Torque DMS is funded through preferred supplier partnerships — suppliers pay a commission when dealers choose to use them through the platform. You are never required to use any specific supplier, and the full platform remains free regardless.

There is no catch in the traditional sense. You keep full control over your data and your supplier choices. Torque DMS earns revenue from suppliers who want access to the dealer network — not from dealers. If you never use a preferred supplier, you still get the full platform for free.

Through preferred supplier partnerships. Finance providers, parts suppliers, and payment processors pay Torque DMS a referral fee when a dealer uses them through the platform. The dealer pays nothing extra — the cost comes from the supplier's marketing budget, not yours. This is the same model used by price comparison platforms: free for users, funded by providers.

Dragon2000 is one of the longest-established UK dealer management systems, with 1,000+ dealers and a 30-year track record. The key differences: Torque DMS is free (Dragon2000 charges a subscription), includes a full workshop module as standard, and offers optional pay-as-you-go AI tools that Dragon2000 does not have at all. Dragon2000 is worth trialling if you want an established vendor with a long customer history.

Garage Hive is a workshop-focused DMS built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, starting at £145/month. It is strong on reporting and accounting integration. Torque DMS covers the same workshop functionality at no subscription cost, and also includes the vehicle sales side — Garage Hive does not have a sales module.

TechMan is a UK cloud garage system with published pricing from £189 to £415/month. It has a useful Autodata integration for labour times and digital VHC. Torque DMS includes the same VHC capability at no subscription cost, plus smart estimates and automated inspection narratives that TechMan does not offer.

Vehiso is a UK sales DMS for independent used car dealers on a paid subscription. Torque DMS is free. Torque DMS also covers workshop operations in the same platform — Vehiso has no workshop module. For a sales-only dealer on a budget, Torque DMS is the free alternative.

Yes — Torque DMS is free. It covers both vehicle sales and workshop service with no subscription fee, no per-user charges, and no minimum contract. It includes AutoTrader integration, finance integrations, and digital health checks that those platforms charge monthly fees to access, plus optional pay-as-you-go AI tools those platforms do not offer at all.

Lead management with automatic scoring, a visual drag-and-drop sales pipeline, stock management with smart pricing, a deal builder with finance calculations, test drive and appointment scheduling, and market intelligence.

Yes. Stock is automatically advertised to AutoTrader (and other platforms including Car Gurus) directly from the DMS. Pricing intelligence from Periscope uses live AutoTrader data to recommend the best asking price for each vehicle.

Torque DMS integrates with Black Horse, MotoNovo, and Santander. Finance proposals can be submitted and tracked directly from the platform.

A visual kanban job board, digital vehicle health checks with photo and video plus AI analysis, smart estimates, a customer portal for approvals and payments, parts management, and technician scheduling.

Yes. Customers receive visual health check reports via SMS or email and can approve work and pay invoices online.

No. The booking widget checks your real bay capacity before showing a time slot, so customers can only book a slot you actually have room for. If a day is fully booked, they are shown the next available date.

GSF Car Parts and Michelin (for tyres) are live today, with automated ordering and parts need prediction. Euro Car Parts is in development.