> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.tiretutor.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Vehicle association in estimates and work orders

> Learn how to link vehicles to customers in estimates and work orders

## How to link vehicles to customers in estimates and work orders

<iframe className="w-full aspect-video rounded-xl" src="https://play.hubspotvideo.com/v/49612225/id/198947859530" title="Vehicle association in estimates and work orders — video walkthrough" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" loading="lazy" frameBorder="0" />

Here is how vehicle association works when you create a service document.

#### **Scenario 1: Vehicle is Associated with the Primary Customer**

If the vehicle has been serviced at your shop before and is already linked to the customer's profile, the process is simple and straight forward.

1. Create or go into an **Estimate** or **Work Order**.
2. **Select the Customer:** Enter the customer's name (e.g., Jeff Cole) and select them from the customer list. Click **Save**.
3. **Select the Vehicle:** Click into the **Select Vehicle** drop-down in the **Vehicle Details** section of the document. A drop-down menu will appear, listing *all* vehicles currently associated with that customer.
   1. **Search for the Vehicle:** If there are many vehicles associated with a customer, you can start typing to search for a specific vehicle by: make, model, year, license plate, and VIN.
4. **Select and Save:** Choose the correct vehicle from the list (e.g., 2023 Subaru Outback) and click **Save**. The vehicle is now linked to the estimate/work order.

#### **Scenario 2: Vehicle is Associated with Another Customer (or New)**

What happens if the customer brings in a vehicle that is registered under their spouse's name, or if it's a vehicle that hasn't been linked to *their* profile before? You can still find it instantly.

1. **Start the Document and Select Customer:** Follow steps 1 and 2 above.
2. **Search Globally:** Instead of relying on the **Select Vehicle** drop-down, you start typing into the drop-down to **search by VIN number or license plate** field for all vehicles you have ever serviced.
3. **Link the Vehicle:** When you search by VIN or plate, the system will search *all* vehicles in the database, regardless of which customer they are currently associated with.
4. **Associate and Save:** Select the correct vehicle (e.g., the 2008 Audi) from the search results. This allows you to link that existing vehicle record to the current customer (Jeff Cole), ensuring accurate history tracking going forward.

This feature is designed to eliminate the friction of finding vehicle information, allowing your service writers to focus on the customer and the sale. It is designed to streamline your shop operations.