Auto repair shops are among the most vulnerable commercial businesses when it comes to pests. Open gates, many hiding places, food scraps in the break room, and the warmth from engines make workshops an ideal habitat for mice, rats, insects, and other pests.
This article shows the biggest risks, explains why workshops are especially affected, and what businesses can do to protect themselves effectively.
Why workshops are particularly prone to pests
1. Open gates & passages
In workshops, gates are often left open for hours.
Pests like mice, rats, or flies thus have free access without anyone noticing.
Typical consequences:
- Rodents get into storage & cable ducts
- Flies in break rooms & trash areas
- Spiders behind shelves & tool cabinets
2. Food scraps & trash in the break area
The break room is one of the most common infestation hotspots:
- open trash bins
- food residues
- unsealed packaging
- Crumbs & odors
All this attracts rodents and insects ― especially at night.
3. Heat Sources & Engines
Mice and rats love warm engines and crawl:
- in engine compartments
- under batteries
- in insulation
- vehicles parked indoors
This often leads to expensive cable damage – one of the biggest risks for workshops.
4. Large Storage Rooms & Shelves
Workshops often store:
- Spare parts
- Cartons
- Packaging material
- Tires
- Doormats
These areas provide perfect hiding places for mice & spiders.
5. High Humidity & Drains
Damp floor areas attract woodlice, silverfish, and mold beetles.
Clogged drains promote fly infestations.
6. Deliveries & Cartons
Many pests are brought in, e.g. through:
- Cardboard packaging
- Pallets
- Returns
- Tires and interior parts of customer vehicles
Especially common: silverfish, moths, spiders.
How workshops effectively prevent pests
✔ 1. Keep doors & gates closed
Automatic closing systems prevent pests from entering unhindered.
✔ 2. Keep the break room hygienic
- Empty trash daily
- Avoid food leftovers
- Store food sealed
- Clean work surfaces in the evening
✔ 3. Use professional monitoring
Especially important in:
- Storage rooms
- Break rooms
- Gate areas
- Floor drains
- Vehicle parking areas
Glue traps, monitoring cards, and bait boxes indicate early activity.
✔ 4. Mouse and rat prevention
- Seal all cable passages
- Seal gaps along the walls
- Use steel wool or mesh at openings
- Bait stations along the exterior areas
✔ 5. Create order & structure
- Do not store boxes on the floor
- Regularly inspect shelves
- Dispose of unused material
- Stack tires neatly
✔ 6. Check vehicles
Check immediately for marten or mouse infestation if there is unusual damage in the engine compartment.
Conclusion
Car workshops are particularly vulnerable to pests due to construction and work-related reasons.
The greatest risks arise from:
- open gates
- food residues
- warm engines
- large storage areas
- Moisture
- introduced pests
With good hygiene, structural prevention, and professional monitoring, workshops can be reliably protected – before damage occurs.
