What should I charge for mobile mechanic work?

A mobile mechanic saves customers the tow and the shop visit, and that convenience is worth real money — but you carry a van, a five-figure tool collection, insurance, and drive time between every job. Price each job from your labor and parts plus a markup for that overhead, not from what the shop down the road pays its techs.

Price a job the way contractors actually do it: add up what the job costs you, then add a markup for your overhead and profit. Fill in your numbers — your bid updates as you type.

What this job costs you

Materials & supplies ($) — your cost for everything you'll buy for this job

Other direct costs ($) — fuel, equipment rental, disposal fees, permits

Your labor

Not sure what to charge for your time? Employed automotive technicians earn a median of about $24.34/hr (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A self-employed labor rate is typically higher — roughly $35–$50/hr (about 1.5–2×) — because it also has to cover self-employment tax, the benefits an employer would otherwise pay, and the hours that cannot be billed.

Hours this job will take

Your hourly labor rate ($) — what your time is worth per hour; e.g. $35–$50

Hired help ($) — paid to a helper or subcontractor; leave blank if solo

Your markup — overhead & profit

This is where your business actually makes money. Industry standard is roughly 20–30% overall for contractors; solo operators often need the higher end to cover insurance, tools, truck, admin time, and slow weeks. Adjust to fit your business.

Markup on your costs (%)

Materials & supplies	$0
Your labor (0 hrs × $0)	$0
Hired help	$0
Other direct costs	$0
Your costs (subtotal)	$0
Markup (30% — overhead & profit)	$0
Bid price	$0

Pricing method and standard percentages from contractor-industry sources (Angi, Buildern, NAHB): overall contractor markup 20–30%, materials markup 7.5–35%, labor markup 25–50%, recommended profit margin 15–25%. A markup is a percentage of your costs; the resulting margin (share of the bid that's profit) is lower — both are shown above. These are general benchmarks, not a guarantee for your market.

What your markup has to cover

The markup in your bid covers the costs no single job shows. For mobile mechanic work, your overhead typically includes service van payment/fuel/maintenance, tool and diagnostic-scanner replacement, garage liability insurance, parts-runner time, phone, and booking software. None of that appears on one job, but all of it is paid out of the markup added to every job. Published contractor guidance (Angi, NAHB) puts a typical overall markup at 20–30%.

Be realistic about your hours

Driving to the customer is the product, but it isn’t billable — a mobile mechanic doing 6 jobs a day may spend 2+ hours driving. Many add a service-call fee ($25–$75 by distance) on top of labor; either way, your hourly rate must be built on wrench-time hours only.

Mobile Mechanic pricing FAQs

How should a mobile mechanic price compared to a shop?

Shops in most metros charge $120–$180/hr. Mobile mechanics typically land 10–30% below local shop rates while keeping far more of it — no service writer, no building. Use this calculator for your floor and the local shop rate for your ceiling.

Should I charge a service-call or trip fee?

Yes, for anything beyond your immediate area. A flat call-out fee ($25–$75 scaled by distance) keeps far-away jobs profitable without inflating your base rate for nearby customers.

How do I make money on parts as a mobile mechanic?

Mark parts up 25–50% over your cost (you usually buy below retail), and charge for the pickup time if a parts run interrupts the job. Customers supplying their own parts should acknowledge in writing that you do not warranty parts you did not supply.