- Digital Inspections: Replace paper checklists with mobile-friendly inspections on tablets and smartphones.
- Photo & Video Sharing: Send visual proof of vehicle issues directly to customers via text or email.
- Customer Approvals: Collect digital approvals before starting repair work to reduce delays.
- Workflow Integration: Seamlessly sync inspections with RO Writer’s shop management system.
- Custom Templates: Use prebuilt inspection templates or customize checklists for your shop.
Rowriter Digital Vehicle Inspections (DVI Suite)
Digital vehicle inspections that build trust and increase auto shop revenue
Updated July 30, 2026
Rowriter Digital Vehicle Inspections (DVI Suite) Overview
RO Writer Digital Vehicle Inspections (DVI Suite) is a mobile-first inspection solution designed for auto repair shops. It replaces paper inspections with digital checklists, photos, and videos shared directly with customers.
Integrated natively into RO Writer’s shop management system, the DVI Suite improves transparency, streamlines workflows, and helps shops close more jobs with confidence while increasing efficiency and average repair order value.
Key Features
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Featured |
|---|---|---|
| RO Writer Essentials | $199/month for the first year | Two-way texting with photos and videos, Unlimited users, ROs & invoices, Inventory management & tire quoting |
| RO Writer | $299/month for the first year | Integrated payments, Advanced reporting dashboards, Multi-location & workflow management |
| Digital Vehicle Inspection (DVI Suite) Add-On | Custom Quote (Add-On Pricing) | Photo & video inspections, Digital approvals, Integrated with RO Writer workflows |
RO Writer advertises first-year pricing only; renewal pricing and multi-location deals are quoted directly by sales.
Pricing source: https://info.rowriter.com/pricing/
Pros
Competitor |
Pros |
|---|---|
| AutoVitals | RO Writer DVI Suite benefits from native integration with a full shop management system, reducing the need for third-party syncing. Compared to AutoVitals, it offers a more unified workflow, simpler onboarding for existing RO Writer users, and stronger alignment between inspections, estimates, and invoicing. |
| Tekmetric | Compared to Tekmetric, RO Writer DVI Suite provides deeper customization options and long-established automotive workflows. It is often preferred by traditional and high-volume shops that want granular control over inspections, roles, and reporting without switching platforms. |
| Shopmonkey | RO Writer DVI Suite offers stronger inspection detail with built-in photo and video validation tools. For shops prioritizing customer education and trust-building visuals, RO Writer’s inspection-first approach can feel more robust than Shopmonkey’s lighter DVI features. |
| Mitchell 1 | Against Mitchell 1, RO Writer DVI Suite stands out for its mobile inspection experience and real-time customer communication. The ability to text photos and videos directly helps close jobs faster and improves transparency during the repair process. |
| ARI | Compared to ARI, which focuses heavily on fleet management, RO Writer DVI Suite is better optimized for independent and multi-location repair shops. It emphasizes ease of use, technician adoption, and customer-facing inspection reports. |
Cons
Competitor |
Cons |
|---|---|
| AutoVitals | Compared to AutoVitals, RO Writer DVI Suite can feel less modern in UI design. Some shops report a steeper learning curve and occasional performance issues, especially after the transition to cloud-based versions. |
| Tekmetric | Tekmetric generally offers a more intuitive cloud-native experience. In comparison, RO Writer DVI Suite may require more training and configuration, which can slow adoption for smaller shops seeking simplicity. |
| Shopmonkey | Shopmonkey’s modern UX can be more appealing. RO Writer’s DVI Suite add-on is also quote-based, which may be a drawback for shops wanting complete upfront pricing. |
| Mitchell 1 | Mitchell 1 often provides broader OEM data integrations. RO Writer DVI Suite, while strong in inspections, may require additional add-ons or integrations to match Mitchell 1’s data depth. |
| ARI | ARI excels in enterprise fleet reporting and analytics. RO Writer DVI Suite is more shop-focused and may lack the advanced fleet-wide insights required by large corporate or government operations. |
Reviews
- Capterra Review (Rating: 3.9/5, 93 reviews): One billing clerk wrote that it “really helps get the most out of every Repair in the Shop and then follow it through from customer communication to invoicing,” and a COO credited it with handling retail and fleet management across multiple locations and operations of different sizes. Complaints focus on performance: reviewers describe slow program start-up each day, a clunky recent version with missing features, and the cursor jumping to the bottom of the page while writing repair descriptions.
- G2 Review (Rating: 3.0/5, 11 reviews): One user found R.O. Writer user friendly, intuitive, and easy to train new employees on, with built-in parts lookup, ordering, and labor time guides, though appointment scheduling and the inspection software drew criticism. Another praised the painless data migration from Mitchell 1 but called the system “bulky to manage,” saying it required an IT person on retainer for the in-shop database while newer cloud-based competitors run lean.
