> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configure operations settings

> Set up bookable bays and rooms, default odometer units, cars for sale, and parking audit reminders.

Use this guide when you are ready to make day-to-day shop tools match how your facility really runs.

The [Settings > Operations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/operations) page is where admins set up bookable bays and rooms, default odometer units, cars-for-sale controls, and how often staff should walk the parking lot.

## What you will accomplish

* Understand what each section on [Settings > Operations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/operations) does.
* Add the bays, rooms, or equipment that should not be double-booked.
* Choose miles or kilometers for new cars.
* Know where staff list a car for sale and how often parking audits come due.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Operations is different from Services & schedule**
>
> **Services & schedule** ([Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events)) defines *what kinds* of appointments exist and *recurring service plans*.
>
> **Operations** defines *spaces you can reserve*, *odometer defaults*, *marketplace listing tools*, and *parking audit reminders*.
>
> Set up services first, then return here.

## Before you start

* You should be signed in as a team **admin** or **manager** with permission to change settings.
* Write down the real names staff use for bays and rooms (for example **Detail Bay 1** or **Wash Bay Large**).
* Know whether your facility measures distance in **miles** or **kilometers**.
* If you track parking on a map, skim [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones.md).

## Open Operations settings

**1. Open Settings**

From the [Dashboard](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard), click **Settings** in the main sidebar.

**2. Choose Operations**

Click **Operations** in the settings list — or search **bay** or **odometer** in **Search settings…**.

Direct link: [Settings > Operations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/operations).

**Expected result:** The page title is **Operations**. The first section is **Bookable bays, rooms & equipment**. Under that you will see **Default odometer units**.

![Operations settings showing Bookable bays, rooms and equipment with an Add a bay or room card, plus Default odometer units set to Miles](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/gghhneDeW0lv-T6x/images/settings/settings-operations-page-sep22.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=gghhneDeW0lv-T6x\&q=85\&s=c1e2f9d61f80330e56489f493e4f105a)

***Operations** opens on bays and odometer units. Click **Add a bay or room** to name a space staff already say out loud, such as **Detail Bay 1**.*

## Add bookable bays, rooms, and equipment

Use this section for spaces or tools that should not be double-booked.

**1. Find Bookable bays, rooms & equipment**

At the top of [Settings > Operations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/operations), find **Bookable bays, rooms & equipment**.

**2. Create an amenity**

Click the add card. A **Create amenity** window opens.

In **Name**, type the name staff already say out loud, such as **Detail Bay 1**.

**Tags (optional)** help group similar spaces (for example **upstairs**). Press Enter to add a tag.

**3. Click Save**

Click **Save**.

**Expected result:** The bay or room appears in the list and can be reserved when staff book time on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule).

![Create amenity dialog on Operations settings with a name field and optional tags, plus Default odometer units cards behind it](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/HrLVUvqKt7UkSq2X/images/settings/settings-operations-sep15.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=HrLVUvqKt7UkSq2X\&q=85\&s=4cf60ce5e2f7faf6af905160b13f8671)

*The **Create amenity** window is how you add a bay or room. Use the name staff already say on the shop floor.*

> [!TIP]
>
> **Match spoken names**
>
> Do not name a space **Room A** if staff say **Detail Bay 1**. Matching real names makes scheduling faster and avoids double-booking the wrong bay.

## Set default odometer units

**1. Find Default odometer units**

On [Settings > Operations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/operations), find **Default odometer units**.

**2. Choose Miles or Kilometers**

Pick **Miles** (the usual choice for US facilities) or **Kilometers**.

**Expected result:** New cars and empty odometer fields use the unit you chose. You can still change units on one car later if needed.

## Review cars for sale

**1. Find Cars for sale**

Scroll to **Cars for sale**. The line under the heading says this controls marketplace listings on car detail pages — list, unlist, and mark vehicles sold.

**2. Choose Off or On**

Click one of the two cards:

* **Off** — Hide marketplace listing actions.
* **On** — List, unlist, and mark vehicles sold. When this is on, you may see **Active on car pages**.

**3. If On, choose who can list**

Two more cards appear:

* **Staff only** — Only team members manage listings.
* **Customers too** — Customers can list from the portal.

Start with **Staff only** until you have trained the front desk. Turn on **Customers too** only if you want owners to list their own cars.

**Expected result:** Staff who can edit cars see list / unlist actions on [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars). Customers see those actions in the portal only if you chose **Customers too**.

> [!TIP]
>
> **Customers only see listings you publish**
>
> Public marketplace visibility is set on [Settings > Website & customer app](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/website) under **Marketplace**. See [Configure portal and website](/docs/settings/configure-portal-and-website.md).

## Set the parking audit schedule

**1. Find Parking audit schedule**

Scroll to **Parking audit schedule**. The line under the heading says overdue audits show on Parking Spots.

**2. Choose Off or On**

Click one of the two cards:

* **Off** — No overdue flags on the parking page.
* **On** — Flag when the last audit is older than your interval.

**3. If On, set Audit every (days)**

In **Audit every (days)**, type how many days can pass between walk-throughs (for example **7** for weekly, **30** for monthly). Click away from the box to save.

**Why this matters:** Overdue audits show on [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) so a walk-through does not slip for months.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Need the floor map itself?**
>
> The visual parking map is edited from **Parking map layout** on this same Operations page (click **Edit parking map**) or directly at [Settings > Floor Plan](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/floor-plan). Follow [Set up parking spots and zones](/docs/parking-spots/set-up-parking-spots-and-zones.md).

## Where other Operations tools moved

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Service plans** — now on [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events). See [Set up vehicle service plans](/docs/settings/set-up-vehicle-service-plans.md).
>
> **Custom status labels** — [Settings > Custom statuses](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/custom-statuses). See [Manage custom statuses and amenities](/docs/settings/manage-custom-statuses-and-amenities.md).
>
> **Workflows (checklists)** — still covered in [Create operations workflows](/docs/settings/create-operations-workflows.md).
>
> **External camera systems** — appears on Operations only if your team turned cameras on.

## Test Operations with one vehicle

**1. Pick one process**

Choose a single flow your shop already does well — such as booking a detail bay or listing a car for sale.

**2. Set up only what that process needs**

Add the bay, confirm odometer units, and skip the rest for now.

**3. Book a test appointment in that bay**

Open [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule), create a test event, and reserve the bay you added.

**Expected result:** The bay appears as a choice, and a second overlapping booking is blocked or clearly warned.

## How Operations connects to daily work

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Bay or room** — [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) when booking time in a space.
>
> **Odometer units** — [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) on new vehicle records.
>
> **Cars for sale** — the car detail page when staff list or unlist a vehicle.
>
> **Parking audit** — [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots) overdue reminders.

## Common mistakes to avoid

* Do not create dozens of bays on day one. Start with the spaces that truly cannot overlap.
* Do not look for service plans on Operations — they live on **Services & schedule**.
* Do not skip testing. Book one test appointment in a new bay before the whole team relies on it.

## Troubleshooting

> [!WARNING]
>
> **I cannot edit Operations settings**
>
> You may not have admin access. Ask a facility owner to review your role on [Settings > Team](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/team). See [Manage team permissions](/docs/settings/manage-team-permissions.md).

> [!TIP]
>
> **I cannot find service plans here**
>
> Open [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events) and scroll to **Service plans**.

> [!TIP]
>
> **I am not sure where to start**
>
> Add the one bay your team argues about most (the one that gets double-booked). Test it on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule), then add the rest.

## What to do next

If your facility sells recurring care packages, continue with [Set up vehicle service plans](/docs/settings/set-up-vehicle-service-plans.md).

If your team needs a repeatable checklist for intake or pickup, continue with [Create operations workflows](/docs/settings/create-operations-workflows.md).

When Operations is in good shape, return to the [Settings overview](/docs/settings/overview.md) for billing, communications, portal, and team setup.


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