Mysql – Car Dealarship Database Design

I think you are trying to be a bit too "elegant". Einstein is quoted as saying "things should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler."

You are trying to have a single record for something like an oil change - but then you need two other tables that give you the flexibility to apply the approriate price for this service in different situations.

Instead, I would suggest that you flatten out your three tables and just have a SKU table which includes a default price. You would have different SKU records for each kind of oil change, for example.

The service technician (i.e. user) needs to apply the proper SKU to each service they provide. This way, you are relying on the user to pick the right service/price rather than trying to build a table-driven set of business rules that must be used so that you can "deduce" the proper pricing. I would say, based on my experience, that users would much rather have a short list of SKUs to scan through and to pick from rather than having some kind of interactive expert system that asks them multiple questions about different criteria until the right answer finally pops out the bottom.

If you want to allow some drilling down (or some rolling up) for SKUs, you can create a grouping table that groups similar SKUs. If you really feel it necessary, you could even make this grouping hierarchical.

Your model might look something like this:

This will be easier to build and maintain, and much easier to explain to your users. I believe too, as I said before, that your users will find this to be easier to use at the service counter too.

Perhaps something like this:

CREATE TABLE make (
    make_id INT NOT NULL,
    make_name VARCHAR(25),
    PRIMARY KEY(make_id);
);

CREATE TABLE model (
    model_id NOT NULL,
    make_id NOT NULL,
    model_name VARCHAR(25),
    PRIMARY KEY(model_id)
);

CREATE TABLE model_year (
    model_id INT NOT NULL,
    year_num INT NOT NULL,
    PRIMARY KEY (model_id, year_num)
);

CREATE TABLE transmission (
    transmission_id INT NOT NULL,
    transmission_descrip VARCHAR(15),
    PRIMARY KEY (transmission_id)
);

CREATE TABLE drive (
    drive_id INT NOT NULL,
    drive_descrip VARCHAR(10),
    PRIMARY KEY (drive_id)
);

INSERT INTO transmission (transmission_id, transmission_descrip)
VALUES (1, 'Auto'), (2, '4-speed manual'), (3, '5-speed manual');

INSERT INTO drive (drive_id, drive_descrip)
VALUES (1, '2WD Front'), (2, '2WD Rear'), (3, '4WD'), (4, 'AWD');

To allow someone to add a 2005 Toyota Camry, first you need to make sure Toyota is in the make table, Camry is in the model table, and 2005 is available for the Camry:

INSERT INTO make (make_id, make_name)
VALUES (1, 'Toyota');

INSERT INTO model (model_id, model_name)
VALUES (1, 1, 'Camry');

INSERT INTO model_year (model_id, year_num)
VALUES (1, 2005);

We keep certain data on car buyers at my job, and in selecting the car type (either currently owned or looking to buy), we have them select the year, then make, then model and options from drop-downs. Each drop-down is populated on the fly based on previous answers. First the year:

SELECT DISTINCT year_num FROM model_year;

Then the make (you can't pick Pontiac for 2013):

SELECT DISTINCT m.make_id
FROM make m
INNER JOIN model mo ON mo.make_id = m.make_id
INNER JOIN model_year my ON my.model_id = mo.model_id
WHERE my.year_num = @some_year_variable;

Then the model drop-down gets populated based on:

SELECT DISTINCT model_id
FROM make m
INNER JOIN model mo ON mo.make_id = m.make_id
INNER JOIN model_year my ON my.model_id = mo.model_id
WHERE my.year_num = @some_year_variable
    AND ma.make_id = @some_make_variable;

You get the idea. As far as constraining other options for a model, there are a few options, based on how strict you want to be, how much time you want to spend managing it, and how much you know about the auto industry.

Since all cars have a drive type and transmission, you might want to make those separate tables, like:

CREATE TABLE model_transmission (
    model_id INT NOT NULL,
    year_num INT NOT NULL, -- include this to restrict tranny based on some years 
                           -- certain models had different trannies offered   
    transmission_id INT NOT NULL,
    PRIMARY KEY (model_id, transmission_id) -- include year_num in PK if it is in the
                                            -- table
);

CREATE TABLE model_drive (
    model_id INT NOT NULL,
    year_num INT NOT NULL, -- again, if you are up to this level of control
    drive_id INT NOT NULL,
    PRIMARY KEY (model_id, drive_id) --include year_num in PK if it is in the table
);

Or you could use an option table and a model_option table, like this:

CREATE TABLE option (
    option_id INT NOT NULL,
    option_descrip VARCHAR(25),
    PRIMARY KEY (option_id)
);

INSERT INTO option (option_id, option_descrip)
VALUES (1, 'Transmission'), (2, 'Drive'), (3, 'Doors');

CREATE TABLE model_option (
    model_id INT NOT NULL,
    option_id INT NOT NULL,
    option_value VARCHAR(15),
    PRIMARY KEY (model_id, option_id) -- include year_num as above if desired
);

INSERT INTO model_option (model_id, option_id, option_value)
VALUES (1, 1, '1'), (1, 2, '1'), (1, 3, '4'); -- All Camrys now have automatic,
                                              -- front-wheel drive, and 4-door options
                                              -- available

I prefer the first approach as you can see the problem with referential integrity inherent in the second, plus it makes it more awkward to restrict available options. The table for listed cars might be like this:

CREATE TABLE car (
    listing_id INT NOT NULL,
    year_num INT NOT NULL,
    model_id INT NOT NULL,
    transmission_id INT NOT NULL,
    drive_id INT NOT NULL,
    doors INT NOT NULL, -- might want varchar to include 'hatchback' or other options
    mileage INT,
    customer_id INT NOT NULL,
    PRIMARY KEY (listing_id)
);

If this doesn't address a particular feature you believe you need just add a comment.