AutoBolt FAQs
What is AutoBolt and who is it for?
What is AutoBolt?
AutoBolt is auto glass part number lookup software, built for the shops that install the glass. More than 5,000 auto glass shops run lookups through us.
Enter a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and AutoBolt returns the exact glass for that vehicle. You get OE and aftermarket part numbers, the features tied to that build, calibration requirements, and interchangeable options. Results come back in under 2 seconds. No dealer call. No catalog flipping.
We do one job, and we do it well. Get the right part the first time.
What is auto glass part number lookup software?
It is software that turns a VIN into the correct glass part number for that vehicle.
Here is why it exists. Two vehicles with the same year, make, and model often need different windshields. Trim level, option packages, HUD, cameras, and sensors all change the part. A catalog can tell you what fits the model. It cannot tell you what is on the vehicle in the customer’s driveway.
AutoBolt uses VIN-based part identification. It reads the build data for that VIN, so the answer matches the vehicle, not the model line.
Is AutoBolt a replacement for my point of sale system?
No. AutoBolt sits alongside your point of sale (POS) system. It does not replace it.
We handle part identification. You can compare OE, aftermarket, and interchangeable options side by side in AutoBolt, including lower-cost alternatives. Job pricing, labor times, invoicing, and scheduling stay in your POS. Most shops run a lookup in AutoBolt, then carry the part number into the system they already use.
Who is AutoBolt built for?
Independent shops with one or two locations are our largest group. The owner often answers the phone, quotes the job, and orders the part. Speed and accuracy matter the moment the call comes in.
We also work with multi-location and regional operators who need every location to give the same answer. Customer service representatives (CSRs) and technicians use the tool all day.
Resellers and software partners access AutoBolt through our application programming interface (API) and white-label options.
How do I reduce windshield returns for wrong part number orders?
Returns almost always trace back to one moment. The part was chosen from the model, not from the vehicle. A shop without reliable part identification typically sees returns in the range of 10 to 15 percent.
Three things move that number:
- Identify the part from the VIN, not from the year, make, and model.
- Confirm the build features before ordering: HUD, camera, rain sensor, bracket style.
- Verify visually when the variant is unclear.
AutoBolt does all three in a single lookup. One shop reported that returns to wholesalers dropped by nearly 85 percent after they switched.
How should a shop evaluate auto glass part number lookup software?
Five questions worth asking of any tool you are considering:
- Where does the data come from? Matching a part to a model and reading the build data for one VIN are not the same thing.
- Does it show the features, or just a part number? A bare part number leaves you guessing.
- Can you confirm the result before ordering? On a hard vehicle, one unverified answer is still a guess.
- Does it flag calibration at quoting? Finding out after dispatch costs margin.
- What happens when it is wrong? Look for a stated remedy, not a claim.
Then run your own hardest VINs through it. Every tool looks accurate on a base-model sedan.
What happens if a lookup returns the wrong part?
Tell us and we’ll make it right. Qualifying wrong-part results are backed by up to a $15 account credit under our Promise of Accuracy, so a bad lookup doesn’t come out of your margin.
Real people answer support. You are not filing a ticket into a void.
See our full Promise of Accuracy.
What are AutoBolt's features?
What information does a lookup return?
One VIN returns the full picture for that vehicle:
- OE and aftermarket part numbers
- Feature descriptions for each part
- Glass features tied to the build: HUD, camera, sensors, bracket style, solar, acoustic
- Calibration requirements for the job
- Interchangeable part options, including lower-cost alternatives
- Accessory information for billing the job, such as moldings and brackets
- Exclusive vehicle and glass photos on the Core + Enhanced Lookups plan
Results come back in under 2 seconds, while the customer is still on the phone.
Can I see the vehicle before I order the glass?
Yes. Our exclusive vehicle photos show the actual vehicle and how the glass sits on it. You can see where the camera sits, the HUD area, sensor placement, and bracket style.
It is the closest thing to having eyes on the vehicle without the customer driving in.
Exclusive vehicle photos are included on the Core + Enhanced Lookups plan.
Does AutoBolt identify HUD, camera, rain sensor, and other glass features?
Yes. Every lookup surfaces the glass features tied to that build: HUD, front camera, radar, lidar, rain, light and humidity sensors, mirror bracket style, solar glass, and acoustic glass.
This is where most wrong-part orders start. A base trim and the same vehicle with an ADAS package often take completely different glass.
Can AutoBolt find a lower-cost interchangeable part?
Yes. We surface interchangeable part numbers, including options that cost less.
On the right job, that is margin you would otherwise leave on the table. You decide what to order.
Does AutoBolt tell me if a job requires calibration?
Yes, and it shows up at quoting rather than after dispatch.
Our calibration intelligence flags whether the vehicle needs ADAS calibration after a windshield replacement, and which type: static, dynamic, or both. Quote the glass and the calibration together on the first call, and the job gets billed for what it actually takes.
Can I look up a vehicle from a part number?
Yes. Reverse lookup works the other way around. Enter a part number and AutoBolt shows you the vehicles it matches.
It is useful for checking what you already have on the shelf, or confirming a part someone else ordered.
What if the customer doesn't have their VIN?
Run the license plate instead. AutoBolt converts a plate to a VIN, then returns the part.
Customers rarely have the VIN handy when they call. This keeps the quote moving instead of sending someone out to their glovebox mid-conversation.
Can technicians run lookups from the field?
Yes. AutoBolt runs in a browser on any device, so a technician on a mobile job can pull a lookup from the driveway. Same result the front desk sees. Nothing to install.
Can I see my shop's past lookups?
Yes. Lookup history keeps every VIN and year, make, and model search your account has run, along with the results, in one readable record.
It helps with job records, and with checking what was ordered on a job that comes back.
What vehicles does AutoBolt cover?
We cover about 99% of private passenger vehicles on the road in North America, including makes that are traditionally hard to match, such as Mazda and Land Rover. Porsche coverage is available as an add-on, billed per lookup.
Does AutoBolt work for vehicles outside the United States?
AutoBolt supports vehicles in the United States, Canada, and Australia. We are Canadian-headquartered, and shops on both sides of the border run on the same data.
How often is AutoBolt's vehicle data updated?
Our vehicle data is updated on an ongoing basis, so new model years become available as they reach the road.
What tools does AutoBolt integrate with?
Does AutoBolt integrate with my point of sale or shop management system?
AutoBolt integrates with select POS systems and glass distributors. Our API connects us to anything else you run, including customer relationship management (CRM) and accounting software.
If you are not integrated, nothing breaks. Most shops simply run AutoBolt in a browser tab next to what they already use.
Do I need to install anything?
No. AutoBolt is a secure, cloud-hosted web app. Open a browser, sign in, and start looking up VINs.
No installation, no IT project, no hardware.
How much training does a new CSR need before they can quote accurately?
Close to none. The workflow is one step. Enter the VIN, read the result.
A new CSR does not need to know which questions to ask about trim or sensor packages, because the lookup answers them. That is the whole idea. The tool carries the expertise so the rep does not have to build it first. Most shops have new reps quoting on day one.
How do I move from another lookup tool to AutoBolt?
There is nothing to migrate. Sign up, and your first 10 lookups are free. No credit card needed.
Most shops start by running AutoBolt alongside what they already use. Same VIN, both tools, compare the answers. The hard vehicles tend to settle it. When you are ready, pick a plan.
Can I white-label AutoBolt inside my own product?
Yes. Our White-Label Partner option lets resellers and software partners embed AutoBolt part identification under their own brand, with partner API access.
Shop management systems, quoting tools, and CRM products use this to add glass-specific lookup without building the data themselves. Get in touch and we will scope it with you.
What do AutoBolt plans look like?
Am I locked into a contract?
No. We offer a range of flexible plans. Monthly, annual, and pay as you go options are available. Get to know AutoBolt with a free trial, then choose the plan that fits the way your shop does business.
Can I change or cancel my plan?
Yes. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time. Upgrades are processed immediately, while downgrades and cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing cycle.
Am I charged for a lookup that doesn't return a part?
No. You are only charged for successful lookups. A failed search costs you nothing.
What do I get in the free trial?
Your first 10 lookups are free, and you do not need a credit card to start. Run your hardest VINs first.
Is AutoBolt secure, and can I track usage?
Is AutoBolt SOC 2 compliant?
Yes. AutoBolt is SOC 2 Type ll compliant, covering data privacy, access controls, and reporting.
Can I track lookup usage across my locations?
Yes. Your lookup history shows every search run on the account, so operations leaders can check adoption across locations and report it upward.
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