> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Set up service plans
> Bundle recurring service checks into named plans so stored vehicles stay due or not due on a repeating schedule.
## What you will accomplish
You will create a **service plan**—a named package of repeating **checks** (engine start, tire pressure, mileage, Internal Service, or a custom task) that your team can assign to vehicles on [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars).
When service plans are set up well:
* Staff know which recurring care belongs to each storage tier or membership level.
* The car page, [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) list, and dashboard show the same due / not-due state for each check.
* [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) still shows recurring appointments when a plan item is an event type.
* Customers understand what is included in their plan name and description.
* Managers can review which cars are on which plan from the vehicle record—not from a spreadsheet.
## When to use a service plan
Use a service plan when the same bundle of work repeats for stored vehicles—for example **Basic Storage Check** (one monthly internal service) or **Premium Care Plan** (monthly internal + quarterly dealer service).
Do **not** use a service plan for one-time charges. Use [Create an invoice](/docs/payments/create-an-invoice) or [Manage recurring billing](/docs/payments/manage-recurring-billing) for repeating **payments**.
**Service plans are checks, not just calendar events**
A plan item is a **check** plus a cadence. Built-in checks (engine start, tire pressure, mileage, fuel) and custom checks track whether the work happened this cycle. If the check is an **event type**, the plan still creates recurring appointments on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule). Pickup and other events can credit extra checks from the event type **Service plans** step, including any checklist row on that event—see [Configure event types](/docs/events/configure-event-types). Engine start is recorded on the event itself when that field is turned on.
**Service plans vs recurring billing**
A service plan schedules **work** on the calendar. Recurring billing charges the customer on a schedule. A membership might use both—a plan for care and a billing rule for the monthly fee—but they are set up in different places.
## Before you start
* You can open [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events) as a team admin.
* Event types already exist for each kind of work in the plan (for example **Internal Service**, **Dealer Service**). Create them first with [Configure event types](/docs/events/configure-event-types).
* You decided on a customer-friendly plan name and a short description.
* Optional: if the plan ties to a paid membership, finish [Connect payment processing](/docs/settings/connect-payment-processing) before linking a price.
## Review the Service plans section
Before you add a plan, scroll to **Service plans** on [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events). An empty section shows only the **Add a service plan** tile. A populated section shows plan cards with item counts and **Active** status.
*Service plans live on [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events), below **Services & event types**. Click **Add a service plan** to create your first package.*
## Create a service plan
Go to [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events).
Scroll to **Service plans**.
**Expected result:** You see plan cards (or an empty section with **Add a service plan** if this is your first plan).
Click the dashed **Add a service plan** tile.
**Expected result:** A window titled **Create service plan** opens with fields for name, description, **Active**, optional linked price, and **Plan items**.
In **Name**, type a label staff will recognize on car records.
Good examples: **Basic Storage Check**, **Premium Care Plan**, **Climate Storage Plus**.
**Why this matters:** The same name appears when staff assign care to a vehicle and when managers review the schedule.
In **Description (optional)**, write one sentence about what is included.
Example: *Monthly internal service, quarterly dealer service, and yearly condition review.*
**Expected result:** A new teammate can read the description without asking what the plan covers.
Leave **Active** on if staff should assign this plan now. Turn it off while you are still drafting—inactive plans cannot be assigned to new vehicles.
On the **Apply** step, turn on **Only while the car is in the facility** if washes, engine starts, and other repeating care should pause when the car is off-site.
When this is on, the start date is the day the car was added to a spot or zone—the same day of the month (or weekday) used for the repeating schedule. Due items and calendar visits stop while the car is gone and start again from the new arrival date when it returns.
In **Plan items**, click **Add item**. For each row, set:
* **Check** — a built-in check (Engine start, Tire pressure, Mileage, Fuel), an existing event type, or **Create custom**.
* **Recurring schedule** — how often it is due (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and so on). Leave **Until** empty for no end date.
* **Default start time** and **Duration** — only for event-type checks, so the first occurrence appears on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule). Non-event checks do not create calendar visits.
Example: **Engine start** every **month**, plus **Internal Service** every **month** at **9:00 AM** for **60** minutes.
Click **Add item** again for each additional check.
Click **Save** at the bottom of the window.
**Expected result:** The plan appears as a card in the **Service plans** section with an item count and **Active** status.
*Each plan item ties one service check to a repeat schedule. Event-type checks still generate calendar visits; other checks only track due state.*
## Example plan items
A **Premium Care Plan** might include:
* **Engine start** — every **1 month** (no calendar event)
* **Internal Service** — every **1 month** (creates a recurring appointment)
* **Dealer Service** — every **1 quarter** (creates a recurring appointment)
Start with one monthly item if you are unsure. You can add more items later without rebuilding the plan from scratch.
*Open **Edit** on an existing plan to add items, change repeat schedules, or update the description. Click **Save** when you finish.*
## Assign a plan to a vehicle
Creating the plan does **not** attach it to cars automatically. Each vehicle needs its own assignment and **start date**—usually the day storage begins or the day the membership starts.
Go to [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) and open the vehicle that should receive this care (for example a stored Lamborghini or Porsche).
Scroll to **Service plan** on the vehicle detail page.
**Expected result:** You see a dropdown of active plans and a **start date** field.
Select your plan from the list. Set the **start date** when recurring care should begin (often the storage start date).
Save the car record.
**Expected result:** The car shows the active plan name and a red/green list of checks (last done and next due). Event-type items also appear on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule).
Open [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) and look a few weeks ahead for the vehicle.
**Why this matters:** Service plans only help when staff see the future appointments on the calendar—not just the plan name on the car record.
**Expected result:** You see tentative or scheduled events for each plan item (for example monthly **Internal Service**). If nothing appears, check that the **start date** is today or in the past and the plan is **Active**.
For how those appointments look on the calendar, read [Understand tentative and service plan events](/docs/schedule/understand-tentative-and-service-plan-events).
*After you assign a plan and start date, open [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) and look ahead a few weeks. You should see recurring appointments for each plan item.*
*Assign the plan on the car record. The **start date** anchors when the first recurring appointments are generated.*
For additional screenshots of the assignment field from the Settings docs path, see [Set up vehicle service plans](/docs/settings/set-up-vehicle-service-plans).
## Edit or archive a plan
Open [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events) and scroll to **Service plans**.
Click **Edit** on the plan. Update the name, description, items, **Active** switch, or linked price. Click **Save**.
**Why this matters:** Changing repeat rules affects **future** appointments. Review [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) for cars already on the plan after you save.
Click **Archive** when the plan should no longer be assigned to new cars.
**Why this matters:** Archiving keeps history for cars that already used the plan while hiding it from new assignments.
## What success looks like
After setup:
* Each storage tier or membership has a clearly named plan staff recognize.
* Cars on a plan show due/not-due checks on the vehicle record and in the **Service** column.
* [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) shows upcoming recurring appointments for event-type checks.
* Customers can read the plan description and know what care is included.
## Troubleshooting
**Add item is disabled**
You need at least one service check. Built-in checks (engine start, tire pressure, mileage, fuel) are created automatically. You can also pick an event type or create a custom check.
**The plan does not show on the car**
Confirm the plan is **Active**. Open the car record, refresh the page, and verify you saved the service plan assignment and start date.
**Upcoming schedule looks wrong**
Edit plan items on [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events). After you change repeat rules, review upcoming appointments on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) for cars already on the plan.
**I need both care scheduling and monthly billing**
Use a service plan for **calendar work** and [Manage recurring billing](/docs/payments/manage-recurring-billing) for **customer charges**. They solve different problems and can be used together for a membership product.
## What to do next
* Assign the plan to more vehicles from [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars).
* Run [Test an event setup](/docs/events/test-an-event-setup) for each event type used in the plan.
* Review [Understand tentative and service plan events](/docs/schedule/understand-tentative-and-service-plan-events) so staff know how recurring items appear on the calendar.
* Return to [Events overview](/docs/events/overview) for the full setup path.
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