What it is
LxCars is a web-based ERP for motor-vehicle repair shops and dealerships, combining customer and vehicle records with workshop planning and accounting. Its vehicle database connects to KBA vehicle data, and an AI-assisted scanner can extract information from photographed or uploaded registration documents. Mechanics can view work instructions, record time and request spare parts; the TÜV module manages defects and inspection reminders. Accounting covers quotes, orders, invoices and delivery notes, with DATEV export and role-based access rights. The Community plan is free and provides the full software as self-hosted, MIT-licensed software. LxCars can run locally or in Docker on customer infrastructure, with PostgreSQL on its own server and no cloud dependency. Its six optional AI functions include call transcription, vehicle chat, work-item suggestions, number-plate recognition, incoming-invoice analysis and the Weroni office assistant. Text requests are sent encrypted to Anthropic or OpenAI APIs; number-plate recognition runs locally, and camera image and video data stay on the server. WhatsApp customer messaging uses the Meta Business API and requires a Meta Business account and verified phone number. The provider is Inter-Data, Ronny Zimmermann, in Rehfelde, Germany.
Who it suits. LxCars suits repair shops and dealerships that need customer, vehicle, workshop and accounting functions in one ERP. Its self-hosted Community plan may fit organizations that want to run the software on their own infrastructure; the maker describes its kivitendo migration service as intended for workshops and smaller dealerships.
Good to know
- Community includes the full software under the MIT license.
- Vehicle records connect to KBA vehicle data.
- Workshop tools include work instructions and spare-part requests.
- Accounting includes DATEV export and role-based access rights.
- Number-plate recognition runs locally.
- Can run locally or with Docker on customer infrastructure.
Watch for
- WhatsApp messaging requires a Meta Business account and verified phone number.
- Live-demo WhatsApp, telephony and AI features are limited by external-service requirements.
- Automatic kivitendo migration excludes custom Perl extensions and non-standard reports.
Choose LxCars if your workshop or dealership needs vehicle management, workshop planning and accounting in a self-hosted ERP, including a full-featured free Community plan. Look elsewhere if you need WhatsApp messaging without a Meta Business account and verified phone number, or if your migration depends on custom Perl extensions, non-standard reports or archived email correspondence.
Your product? You can pay for an editorial review of LxCars; CarCody's editors write the verdict · from $99/mo. How it works →
Plans and prices
Community
freeSelf-hosted · MIT-licensed · Full software
Enterprise
on requestDedicated server · Individual configuration · Multi-branch businesses
Professional
on requestHosted · Setup, updates and backups included
From LxCars's own pricing page, read 9 October 2026. Every plan →
Its site
Getting started
- Use the LxCars website to review the product and installation documentation.
- Choose the Community plan for self-hosting, or the Professional hosted plan if hosted service is needed.
- For a local installation, prepare Linux server components including PHP 8 and PostgreSQL 16.
- Alternatively, use Docker and Docker Compose on your infrastructure.
- For WhatsApp messaging, provide a Meta Business account and verified phone number.
Limits
The free Community plan is self-hosted. The live demo uses regularly reset sample data, and WhatsApp, telephony and AI functions are limited because they depend on external services.
On record
- Product
- LxCars is a web-based ERP for motor-vehicle repair shops and dealerships that combines customer management, invoicing, vehicle management, mechanic time tracking and work planning.
- Vehicle management
- Its vehicle database connects to KBA vehicle data and includes an AI-assisted scanner that extracts information from photographed or uploaded registration documents.
- Workshop tools
- The mechanic mode supports work instructions, time tracking and spare-part requests, while the TÜV module provides defect management and inspection reminders.
- Accounting
- The ERP includes quotes, orders, invoices and delivery notes, plus DATEV export and role-based access rights.
- Integrations
- WhatsApp customer messaging uses the Meta Business API and requires a Meta Business account and verified phone number.
- AI features
- Six optional AI functions include call transcription, vehicle chat, work-item suggestions, number-plate recognition, incoming-invoice analysis and the Weroni office assistant.
- AI data handling
- Text requests are sent encrypted to Anthropic or OpenAI APIs, while number-plate recognition runs locally and camera image and video data stay on the server.
- Hosting and data
- The maker says LxCars can run locally or with Docker on the customer's infrastructure, with a PostgreSQL database on its own server and no cloud dependency.
- Installation
- The documented installation uses Linux server components including PHP 8 and PostgreSQL 16, or Docker and Docker Compose.
- Demo limits
- The live demo uses sample data that is regularly reset, and WhatsApp, telephony and AI features are limited because they require external services.
- Migration limits
- The automatic kivitendo migration does not transfer custom Perl extensions, non-standard custom reports or archived email correspondence.
- Audience
- The maker describes the kivitendo migration service as intended for workshops and smaller dealerships and says the complete migration price depends on data volume, workstation count and training scope.
- Support
- The kivitendo migration package includes two to four weeks of extended support after the transition.
- Company
- The site identifies the provider as Inter-Data, Ronny Zimmermann, at Bahnhofstraße 23, 15345 Rehfelde, Germany.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Work order management
- Yes
- Parts inventory
- Yes
- Technician time tracking
- Yes
- Vehicle history
- Yes
Questions
Is LxCars free?
Yes. The Community plan costs nothing and includes the full software as self-hosted, MIT-licensed software.
What platforms does LxCars support?
It is web-based and supports Linux and self-hosting. Installation documentation describes Linux server components or Docker and Docker Compose.
Can LxCars run without a cloud service?
Yes. It can run locally or in Docker on customer infrastructure, using PostgreSQL on its own server without a cloud dependency.
Who makes LxCars?
The site identifies the provider as Inter-Data, Ronny Zimmermann, at Bahnhofstraße 23, 15345 Rehfelde, Germany.
What does WhatsApp integration require?
It uses the Meta Business API and requires a Meta Business account and a verified phone number.
What are the migration limits?
Automatic kivitendo migration does not transfer custom Perl extensions, non-standard custom reports or archived email correspondence.