CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for automotive oil change and lubrication shops in Alabama
182 automotive oil change and lubrication shops operated in Alabama in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 182CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 3.5U.S. 2.7
- State rank
- 17th of 50by count
How many automotive oil change and lubrication shops operate in Alabama
Alabama had 182 automotive oil change and lubrication shops in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 811191, Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops). That is the 17th highest count among the 50 states and DC with published figures. Automotive oil change and lubrication shops make up 0.17% of the 105,720 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Alabama has 3.5 automotive oil change and lubrication shops, 32.1% above the national rate of 2.7.
| Measure | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 182 | 9,085 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,550 (high noise) | 77,250 |
| Annual payroll | $68,919,000 (moderate noise) | $2,733,449,000 |
| Employees per establishment | — | 8.5 |
| Payroll per employee | — | $35,384 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 3.5 | 2.7 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Automotive oil change and lubrication shops by metro area in Alabama
Census published oil change shop counts for 17 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Alabama. The largest is Birmingham, AL, with 54 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 85% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 54 | — | 4.5 |
| Huntsville, AL | 22 | — | 4.1 |
| Mobile, AL | 14 | 114 | 3.4 |
| Montgomery, AL | 10 | 68 | 2.6 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 9 | 60 | 3.2 |
| Albertville, AL | 8 | 73 | 7.8 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 7 | 45 | 2.2 |
| Auburn, AL | 6 | — | 2.9 |
| Dothan, AL | 6 | — | 3.9 |
| LaGrange, GA-AL | 5 | 22 | 4.7 |
| Daphne, AL | 4 | — | 1.5 |
| Decatur, AL | 4 | 42 | 2.5 |
| Florence, AL | 4 | — | 2.6 |
| Anniston, AL | 4 | — | 3.4 |
| Cullman, AL | 4 | — | 4.3 |
| Gadsden, AL | 3 | — | 2.9 |
| Talladega, AL | 3 | — | 3.3 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at automotive oil change and lubrication shops in Alabama
15.4% of Alabama's automotive oil change and lubrication shops with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 28.9% nationally. 38.5% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 28 | 15.4% | 28.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 42 | 23.1% | 36.2% |
| 10–19 employees | 112 | 61.5% | 30.3% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 4.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls an oil change shop in Alabama has to catch
Quick-lube shops rely on walk-ins but still take calls about hours, wait times and services. Answering quickly brings customers in. That holds for automotive oil change and lubrication shops in Alabama as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to automotive oil change and lubrication shops in Alabama:
- The shop calls a customer about a reminder.
- A fleet calls about service.
- A driver calls to ask about current wait time.
Texting customers
Shops text service reminders.
Texting from a local number in Alabama requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 9-person oil change shop
The comparison uses a 9-person team, the rounded U.S. average for automotive oil change and lubrication shops. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $224.55 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $270.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $179.00 a month for 9 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,092 less than RingCentral for an oil change shop in Alabama of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $179.00 | $2,148.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $171.00 | $2,052.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $207.00 | $2,484.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $224.55 | $2,694.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $243.00 | $2,916.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Alabama
Alabama has 7 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so an oil change shop can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 256 | 786 | Central | 1998 | 938 |
| 205 | 785 | Central | 1947 | 659 |
| 334 | 784 | Central | 1995 | 483 |
| 251 | 528 | Central | 2001 | none |
| 938 | 193 | Central | 2010 | 256 |
| 659 | 177 | Central | 2019 | 205 |
| 483 | 11 | Central | 2026 | 334 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for automotive oil change and lubrication shops in Alabama
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Alabama is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many automotive oil change and lubrication shops are in Alabama?
182 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
Which Alabama metro area has the most automotive oil change and lubrication shops?
Birmingham, AL, with 54 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 9-person oil change shop?
$270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $179.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Alabama number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.