What is a PDR Lot Walk?
A lot walk is the process of inspecting vehicles on a dealership lot to identify dent damage that needs repair. PDR technicians walk the lot - typically at a body shop, used car dealership, or auction house - and document every vehicle that needs work. This inspection determines which vehicles get repaired and generates the estimates that drive revenue.
Traditionally done with paper forms and clipboards, digital lot walks with Steelie are faster, more accurate, and create an instant digital record that flows directly into estimates and work orders.
Lot Walk Features
VIN Scanning
Scan the VIN barcode with your phone camera. Year, make, model, and trim auto-populate - no manual entry needed.
Photo Documentation
Attach photos directly to each vehicle inspection. Document damage location, severity, and before/after conditions.
Vehicle Tracking
Track stock numbers, RO numbers, colors, and locations. Filter and search your lot walk history by any field.
Instant Reports
Generate lot walk reports directly from your inspection data. Dent counts, damage notes, and vehicle details are compiled into a professional report automatically.
Dealership Association
Associate each lot walk with a specific dealership. Track which lots you've walked, when, and how many vehicles were flagged.
Status Tracking
Track each vehicle's status - inspected, estimated, approved, in progress, completed. Nothing falls through the cracks.
Built for Mobile, Used on the Lot
Lot walks happen on the dealership lot, not at a desk. Steelie is a progressive web app (PWA) that installs directly to your phone's home screen. It works like a native app - fast, responsive, and accessible with one tap.
From Lot Walk to Invoice
Steelie connects the entire PDR workflow. A vehicle identified during a lot walk flows seamlessly through the rest of your business process.
Walk the Lot
Scan VINs, document damage, flag vehicles for repair.
Create Estimates
Generate pricing from lot walk data using your matrix.
Assign Work
Create work orders and assign to technicians.
Invoice & Get Paid
Convert to invoice, sync to QuickBooks, collect payment.
Lot Walk FAQ
Can multiple technicians do lot walks at the same time?
Yes. Each technician can run their own lot walks from their own device. All data syncs to the same company account in real time, so managers can see all inspections as they happen.
Does VIN scanning work with all vehicles?
VIN scanning uses your device's camera to read the barcode on the windshield or door jamb. It works with standard 17-character VINs on vehicles from 1981 onward. You can also enter VINs manually if the barcode is damaged or unreadable.
Can I share lot walk results with the dealership?
Yes. You can generate PDF reports from lot walk data showing all inspected vehicles, damage notes, and estimated pricing. These are suitable for presenting to dealership service managers for approval before starting repairs.