When you take your car to a mechanic, you expect to have your car accurately diagnosed, and repaired correctly on the first visit, all while paying a reasonable price. Auto repairs can cost anywhere from a few dollars to a few thousand or even higher depending on the type of vehicle, the problem, and the shop. For most of us, we aren’t experts under the hood of our automobile and therefore look to our mechanic to make the repair and charge accordingly.
In this blog, we’ll help you understand the various charges on your mechanic’s invoice. Why some repairs are billed into a package price while others are billed according to parts/labor markup.
So let’s begin by looking at each component within an automotive repair estimate.
What is the labor rate?
One of the most common questions in the automotive repair industry is, “what is your labor rate?”. The customer is typically looking for the price the shop charges per hour to make the needed repair. In almost all cases, this rate is determined by how long the job should take the mechanic. It is not charged for every hour your car remains at the shop.
You may be wondering if the mechanic takes “too long” if you’d be charged extra. In most cases, a national labor guide determines how long the job should take and how much time to charge the customer for. In some cases, higher mileage vehicles with extensive rust may take longer than “the labor guide” recommended time. And a quality mechanic would make you aware of this potential extra charge ahead of time and get your approval for the repair.
Now that you understand how labor hours are billed, let’s discuss the labor rate the repair shop charges. Auto dealerships, custom/performance shops typically will have the highest dollar per hour charge. These facilities may offer more guarantees, higher tenured technicians, or offer a speciality that is hard to find. On the other side of the spectrum, your friend who works on cars in his spare time is probably going to have one of the cheapest rates in town.
While labor rates are something to be considered, they shouldn’t be the primary decision on who you hire. Going with the cheapest option will have consequences, and going with the most expensive may not mean you’ve hired the best.
How are you charged for parts?
Typically, your mechanic is able to acquire parts for your car at a lower cost than you can. They have commercial accounts with parts stores and because they order far more than the average consumer, they are given a breakpoint.
You may be able to visit your local Napa store and purchase a water pump for $189, whereas your mechanic might only be charged $135 for that water pump. However, it is highly likely the repair shop will mark that water pump higher than what they paid, to let’s say $200. The added advantage to having your mechanic get the part for you is because the repair will likely come with a warranty and because the repair shop is getting the part, they’ve taken the time to research and find the most suitable part for your specific repair. Not to mention it saved you the time of finding the part, ordering it, and picking it up.
Picking up a part yourself comes with its own risks. One, you may pick up the wrong part since many cars have different parts for different engine sizes, or other variables. Two, if you bring in your own part, it is likely the mechanic will not warranty that work and not repair it for free if that part fails. Three, most mechanics will research multiple shops to find the best deal/value for you.
Package prices and oil changes.
You may be wondering why some repairs are quoted based on labor and parts cost, but others are based on a fixed or package price, like $79.99. It is common that frequently performed jobs or promotional repairs are priced in a package. A tire store that does over 50 alignments per month may run a $49.99 alignment special. Or you’ve likely driven past a quick lube shop offering $19.99 oil changes. It is quite common in the auto repair industry to charge a break-even price on the oil change in hopes to get you in the door and find more repairs. This isn’t an unethical practice, per se, but on a “cheaper” oil change you may feel more pressured for additional repairs than from a mechanic not offering the lowest priced oil change.
Shop supplies and other fees.
Mechanics simply don’t have the profit margins that you would think. There are many costs associated with running a professional and reputable auto repair business. Shops are required to ethically dispose of hazardous liquids and tires. There are costs associated with that and you may notice those charges being passed to you on your invoice.
A shop supplies charge covers supplies used on your vehicle aside from the specific parts being replaced. This could mean fluids, solvents, lubricants, and cleaning solutions. These supplies are often ordered in bulk and used as needed in your repairs. It wouldn’t be appropriate to charge a customer for a can of brake clean if the job only took ~10% of the can per se.
Diagnostic charges.
Occasionally, customers wonder why they’re charged for a diagnostic fee sometimes, but other times they’re not. If your vehicle is at a certain mileage, the mechanic may perform recommended service interval maintenance. This entails replacing parts at certain mileage time frames per manufacturer recommendation and doesn’t require a diagnosis. However, if your back up camera stopped working, that may take quite a bit of time to find the problem and the solution. This level of work often requires the more tenured/certified technician and therefore has a greater cost.
Estimates
It is important to know that most states require your mechanic to receive written approval on a work estimate before completing the repair. This is to protect the customer from coming in for a $100 repair, but then being surprised with a $1,500 bill to pay before they can leave. It’s important to know that unforeseen needs can arise, but if the cost is a significant difference, your mechanic should reach out to explain and ask for permission to move forward.
The Bottom Line
Repairing vehicles isn’t cheap, but it doesn’t have to break the bank either. By following the steps above, you should be able to find a trustworthy mechanic at a fair price. And when you’re ready to make a purchase, you’ll feel confident in making a wise decision.
Need Your Vehicle Fixed At a Reasonable Amount?
Andy’s Automotive & Truck Services is located in Jacksonville, FL. We offer a wide range of services for automotive and truck-related needs.
We provide mobile delivery of our services or we can pick up and drop off your vehicles. We also offer after-hours and weekend maintenance options in an effort to keep your trucks operating during your business hours. Contact us today to know more!