On-Demand Garage Finder for Classic Vehicles

Executive Summary

On-demand garage finder app for classic vehicles offering real-time, location-based emergency repairs, offline access & multilingual support across borders.

A prominent classic vehicle club, with over 14,000 members, struggled to provide timely breakdown assistance. They stored emergency garage details in spreadsheets and shared them as static PDFs, which left members without reliable help—especially during breakdowns abroad. These files often contained outdated or irrelevant entries, and there was no way to confirm the reliability or location of listed garages.

To resolve this, the club partnered with us to develop a modern solution. Within 12 weeks, our team delivered a cross-platform mobile app and a secure admin portal. Members can now access over 280 verified garage listings instantly, in multiple languages, with location-aware search and offline access. Volunteers, who once spent over 10 hours a month on manual updates, now manage the system with ease, reducing their workload by more than 60 per cent. The new platform allows members to find help in seconds rather than hours.

Client Challenges

The existing system caused delays because the garage lists were only updated quarterly and often failed to reach members in time. Members travelling abroad couldn’t easily identify nearby garages or reach local support. Volunteers faced burnout due to the time they spent editing and distributing spreadsheets. The club also lacked a feedback mechanism, so members couldn’t report bad experiences or suggest better alternatives. Without access controls, anyone could modify garage data, which led to inaccuracies and reduced member trust.

Project Overview

We built a mobile application for both iOS and Android, supported by a secure web-based admin portal. Our team chose Django for the backend, Ionic for the frontend, and PostgreSQL with PostGIS to enable advanced geo-location features. A token-based REST API handled secure data communication, while Google Maps API v3 enabled location mapping and deep-link navigation. The entire project ran from February to May 2023, staying within a cost-effective budget and using an architecture that supports future scalability.

Why the Client Chose Us

The client selected us because we committed to delivering a working MVP in just eight weeks. We tailored the admin controls for ease of use by regional volunteers and prioritised accessibility for the club’s older members. Our team designed the platform with offline functionality and multilingual support in mind. We also ensured full transparency, providing clean code, comprehensive documentation, and the flexibility to scale. Our experience in developing location-aware tools that work across regions gave the client added confidence.

Delivered Solution

We used an Agile delivery model with fortnightly sprints and regular reviews with stakeholders to keep the project aligned with evolving needs. Our team adopted a microservices approach, combining a Django REST API with an Ionic mobile frontend. PostgreSQL with PostGIS enabled spatial queries for fast and accurate results. We implemented offline-first functionality using IndexedDB for background data syncing and local caching on mobile devices. The Google Maps API integrated real-time mapping, geocoding, and navigation. To maintain reliability and reduce deployment time, we set up CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions for automated testing, linting, and environment-based deployments.

Key Features

The app enables real-time, location-based searches using GPS to help users discover the nearest verified garages. Members can apply distance and rating filters to refine their results and make informed choices quickly. To support reliability even in poor signal areas, the app seamlessly caches critical data, ensuring garage listings and contact details remain accessible offline. A built-in review and feedback system allows members to submit ratings and suggestions, which follow a moderation workflow before becoming publicly visible. Volunteers can manage listings easily through the admin dashboard, which offers bulk editing, version history, and content moderation tailored to regional needs. The interface is fully localised in five languages, using intelligent fallbacks when a user’s preferred language isn’t available. For ease of navigation, the app provides one-tap deep linking to native map applications, allowing users to receive turn-by-turn directions with minimal effort.

Results

Since launch, the platform has delivered measurable results. Administrative workload for volunteers has decreased by 62 per cent, with time spent per month dropping from 15 hours to just under 6. All members now enjoy 100 per cent live access to accurate, updated garage data. The introduction of strict user roles and moderation controls has ensured zero data breaches or listing errors. Over 250 verified garages are now featured on the platform, each complete with GPS coordinates, contact details, and community-sourced reviews. Feedback from members has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly in response to the intuitive map view and overall ease of use, which contributed to a strong adoption rate from the outset.

Implementation Challenges

Transitioning from a legacy system presented several hurdles. Some members hesitated to abandon the familiar PDF format, so we developed clear and concise onboarding materials to ease the change. In certain rural areas, Google Maps estimates proved inaccurate, prompting us to explore the integration of open-source mapping alternatives. Garage descriptions, often written in regional dialects, required human translators to ensure clarity and consistency across languages, which slowed the initial setup process. The offline access feature also required refinement. In early versions, the app struggled to load data in low-signal areas until we introduced background caching improvements to address the issue.

Lessons Learned

This project reinforced the importance of simplicity in volunteer-led environments. Tools that prioritise clarity and ease of use consistently outperform feature-heavy alternatives. Although hybrid mobile apps can sometimes raise concerns around performance, our careful scoping and thorough testing ensured that the chosen stack met all performance needs. Early feedback from field users was invaluable—it allowed us to prioritise essential workflows and avoid unnecessary development cycles.

Next Steps

Building on the success of the core system, the next phase includes launching a visual directory that allows members to locate non-professional helpers such as fellow club members. We also plan to introduce functionality for users to store personal notes about their own vehicles, which can be shared when needed. Future updates will offer integration with insurance providers for emergency support, and the garage search feature will expand to display useful travel indicators, such as toll roads, ferry routes, and national borders. We are also exploring opportunities for in-app branding and sponsor partnerships to support ongoing development and monetisation.

Final Thoughts

This project empowered a traditional motoring club to embrace modern technology without compromising its values. A process that once relied on slow, manual updates now runs with speed, precision, and reliability. Whether a member is stuck in Kent or navigating a breakdown across the Alps, they now have a dependable support system in their pocket—one designed with their real-world needs in mind.

Get in touch today to explore how we can help you build smart, scalable solutions tailored to your needs. Whether you’re starting from scratch or upgrading an outdated process, our team will guide you every step of the way. Let’s work together to turn your idea into a reliable, real-world solution. Contact us now to start the conversation.