How much are garages charging?

[Keith 66]

I do agree that recognised qualifications should be required, but I'm sure that you're well aware of how much push back there is from the trade for anything mandatory, given it would remove a lot of so called 'mechanics' from the employment pool.

if the mechanics got a larger percentage of the hourly rate charged there would be no shortage of mechanics at all .... its that simple , for the training and knowledge required , mechanicing has to be the worst trade out there pay wise.

Firstly recognised qualifications mean little, some of the best mechanics i know have very few & those from many years ago ie City & Guilds, back then those qualifications meant something. A friend is a time served sparks C&G & Nvqs, Last time he went on a course it was multiple choice & the examiner handed out the pass certificates before most had even finished the exam. Likewise Corgi & now Gas safe, dont mean you are any good! Just that you passed the exam.

As for worst paid trade any Mechanics would need their head testing if they were thinking of becoming a boatbuilder, the first trade to get hit by a recession & the last to come out of it! Most of the population needs cars.

 

[tom2207]

I agree 100% with everything you say.

I would not encourage anybody to go into this trade - if I had my time again - I would have been a builder and just built litttle rows of houses and bungalows...

But and this is big but.... If you want a bigger percentage of the charged hourly rate - you do have choice - you do - you can have all of it and open your own garage (that is what I did mate)

I not recommending this cource of action to anybody - you will be working two weeks in one - no holidays - no time off when you sick - you will have sold your soul to the punters...

The motortrade is just not a good trade to be in - whatever level you choose....

trouble is that you still earn every penny of your wages ,,, long gone are the days of a replacement engine at a grand and no matter what your in the clear ,,, now its 10 to 15 k and prey the rest of the ancillary's are ok for long enough to get you off the hook... Im doing a bit of maintenance fitter work to cover a slot for a friend ,,, its a four day week and paying twice what the local main dealers pay their top men ,,,, the worlds gone mad of late , and I dread to think what the next ten years will bring , theres a massive skilled men shortage coming in , from the days when everyone wanted to be in IT ,,,,

 

[premmington]

trouble is that you still earn every penny of your wages ,,, long gone are the days of a replacement engine at a grand and no matter what your in the clear ,,, now its 10 to 15 k and prey the rest of the ancillary's are ok for long enough to get you off the hook... Im doing a bit of maintenance fitter work to cover a slot for a friend ,,, its a four day week and paying twice what the local main dealers pay their top men ,,,, the worlds gone mad of late , and I dread to think what the next ten years will bring , theres a massive skilled men shortage coming in , from the days when everyone wanted to be in IT ,,,,

Oh yeah... It all big money and big risk now - fixing cars. Engine swaps are to be avoided at any cost...

If you got a set of spanners and know how to use them - train as electricaiin as well - get a job as shift tech - in a production factory - the wages will be more and you will not have to do much/any work. Fix your own car at the weekend - save yourself some money.

 

[tom2207]

Firstly recognised qualifications mean little, some of the best mechanics i know have very few & those from many years ago ie City & Guilds, back then those qualifications meant something. A friend is a time served sparks C&G & Nvqs, Last time he went on a course it was multiple choice & the examiner handed out the pass certificates before most had even finished the exam. Likewise Corgi & now Gas safe, dont mean you are any good! Just that you passed the exam.

As for worst paid trade any Mechanics would need their head testing if they were thinking of becoming a boatbuilder, the first trade to get hit by a recession & the last to come out of it! Most of the population needs cars.

these days you dont get through the door without certs ,,, no matter idf you can do the job or not ,,, hr want certs , hr get certs , the rest of the applications go in the bin ,,, its how it is , the insurance behind main dealers wont just let someone who '' can do it '' work on customers cars ,,, no win no fee saw an end to that years ago. As right as it may be in real life its not how the world works anymore.

 

[Erie Fred]

the total price charged is heavily overinflated for simple brake disk and pad change so a 10-15% charge on parts still doesnt warrent the rest of the cost in the example i gave so what is the charge for?
expertise? i doubt it, otherwise working for an employer in the motor trade wouldnt be so poorly paid. what is more likely is greed by garage/franchise owners cashing in while the goings good.
independants therefore can charge a little less but still charge an overinflated amount.
just because everyone is charging over and above doesnt make it right neither should it become standard practice
it is only my opinion but I'm am genuinely shocked what people are being asked to pay for work these days

Your brake job and their brake job might be a bit different.

I have done the "swap in a set of pads" many times.

They will at minimum probably turn the rotors, each and every time.
Some shops swap out the calipers for rebuilt as well as putting new rotors on, and some go so far
as to change the rubber hose as well (been problematic ever since the switch to chinese hose)
No diagnosing, every brake job get's the full treatment.
Because they do so many, they see the problems.

They don't want a "Call back"....it's bad for business.

If you swap in some pads, and then in a week notice the rotors are warped, will have to go back and take them off and have them turned.

But you are in the drivers seat as to what gets re-used, and what get's changed out when you DIY.

 

[james butler]

Your brake job and their brake job might be a bit different.

I have done the "swap in a set of pads" many times.

They will at minimum probably turn the rotors, each and every time.
Some shops swap out the calipers for rebuilt as well as putting new rotors on, and some go so far
as to change the rubber hose as well (been problematic ever since the switch to chinese hose)
No diagnosing, every brake job get's the full treatment.
Because they do so many, they see the problems.

They don't want a "Call back"....it's bad for business.

If you swap in some pads, and then in a week notice the rotors are warped, will have to go back and take them off and have them turned.

But you are in the drivers seat as to what gets re-used, and what get's changed out when you DIY.

well it would have got new disks and pads as quoted as £80 of parts so no simple pad swap
i would have checked and regreased slider pins, inspected caliper before winding back and cleaned the carrier as best as possible to minimise pad binding (dont forget ceramic grease)
and and and change the retaining screw that holds the disk on and not reuse the old chewed up one that many a dealer has done
only big difference would be working on a drive with a jack and stand vs a swanky lift and dry toasty garage
i do have mech and elec qualifications and worked as a mechanic granted best part of 22 years ago
since then done 20 years in engine motor manufacture from raw machining/cnc cast, forged and billet up to final assembly and test which has earned a decent wage.
as a mechanic however, i never ever dreamed of earning this kind of cash at 19 when i was on £4 and hour and factoring in 20 years worth of inflation doesn't add up to what's being charged 2026 as most mechs i know aren't on much more than £12-15 per hour so im afraid it still seems like greed to me
but i dont want to offend or upset anyone as i said earlier it may well be the different perspective of being the employer (need to cover losses and outlay with margins of profit) vs the employee (you get how much!)
anyways each to their own everyone has to earn a crust, when you need the specialists i too am glad they are there to get me out of the doo doo despite the cost (still dont like the dentist!)

 

[premmington]

these days you dont get through the door without certs ,,, no matter idf you can do the job or not ,,, hr want certs , hr get certs , the rest of the applications go in the bin ,,, its how it is , the insurance behind main dealers wont just let someone who '' can do it '' work on customers cars ,,, no win no fee saw an end to that years ago. As right as it may be in real life its not how the world works anymore.

The job has changed so much. To find someone who is qualified - MOT tester - aircon ticket - capable of diagnosing faults - ordering parts - fitting them - dealing with customers - got a driving licence clean enough to go on a trade policy - willing to do some work and can get out of bed in the morning - is near imposible...

If you can do all of the above - you will have opened your own garage... Or be in a dealership.

This is why I have just kept downsizing over the past ten years - run up to retirement and lack of anybody who can do it wanting a job.

There is still some money in lorry fitting if you want a PAYE job - but you gotta want to do permanent nights and love a bit of hard dirty work.

 

[tom2207]

The job has changed so much. To find someone who is qualified - MOT tester - aircon ticket - capable of diagnosing faults - ordering parts - fitting them - dealing with customers - got a driving licence clean enough to go on a trade policy - willing to do some work and can get out of bed in the morning - is near imposible...

If you can do all of the above - you will have opened your own garage... Or be in a dealership.

This is why I have just kept downsizing over the past ten years - run up to retirement and lack of anybody who can do it wanting a job.

There is still some money in lorry fitting if you want a PAYE job - but you gotta want to do permanent nights and love a bit of hard dirty work.

if you can find someone who wont turn up in white trainers ,,,, a glued up hoodie , and without needing a phonectomy ,,, [ a minor operation to remove an i phone from a permanently gripping hand ] your onto a winner these days.

 

[premmington]

if you can find someone who wont turn up in white trainers ,,,, a glued up hoodie , and without needing a phonectomy ,,, [ a minor operation to remove an i phone from a permanently gripping hand ] your onto a winner these days.

You gotta laugh - if someone turns up in a pair of work boots, carrying a lunchbox. You think you are on a winner.

 

[tom2207]

You gotta laugh - if someone turns up in a pair of work boots, carrying a lunchbox. You think you are on a winner.

if they actually own a toolbox , of any sort youve got a master technician

 

[premmington]

if they actually own a toolbox , of any sort youve got a master technician

 

[tom2207]

and thats the motor trade ,,,, you should see what you get when you hire '' local crew'' on a rock and roll tour ... good grief its scary , your hanging 50 tons of kit , most of these guys you wouldnt trust to hang wall paper , and most are high enough to walk past the truss anyway. The joys of it all.

 

[m_c]

Firstly recognised qualifications mean little, some of the best mechanics i know have very few & those from many years ago ie City & Guilds, back then those qualifications meant something. A friend is a time served sparks C&G & Nvqs, Last time he went on a course it was multiple choice & the examiner handed out the pass certificates before most had even finished the exam. Likewise Corgi & now Gas safe, dont mean you are any good! Just that you passed the exam.

As for worst paid trade any Mechanics would need their head testing if they were thinking of becoming a boatbuilder, the first trade to get hit by a recession & the last to come out of it! Most of the population needs cars.

The current IMI motor trade theory related tests are mostly multiple choice now.
NVQs still require a certain number of tutor assessed repairs though, but the bulk for apprentices just need witnessed by somebody trained.

I read a couple pages of the training material for the last apprentices I had to tolerate, and it was rubbish.
I poked multiple holes in it, and I suspect had been written by somebody who had no idea about basic engineering, let alone how anything vehicle related works.

Failing an apprentice does appear to be a last resort for colleges, but in the time I've been doing training, there has been a far bigger shift in later courses.

I done a Ford course a while ago, which required mandatory pre-course training, along with an assessment when you got there to make sure you'd completed and understood it.
The old school workshops had the classic thinking, "We're one of their biggest customers, and we've paid for the course, so that won't matter".
Multiple workshops managers got some very pointed questions from senior managers over why multiple people failed the test and were asked to leave.

 

[addjunkie]

All my life I have given one person a bill for a job and they reckon it is too expensive - give another the same bill for the same job - they happy to pay it and think it is fair - it is just if they are willing - happy to pay....

But here is big but - I am into my garage premises for over a million pounds in freehold building - yard - gear and equipment. I have invested decades of my time building up a business - I work 70/80hrs a week most weeks and I think my income stream should match or exceed the prime minister - I do - I actually think I am worth it.

I reckon if you can't fix your own car - I am good value....


And definatly better value than the current PM

I am sure you are good value, but running up to retirement the magic number mentioned above one might think you like it. Most folk I know if they thought they could liquidate a mil would do it, invest, and put feet up. Have you looked at your return on investment over and above the wage you take!

Ive lots of bits of paper, one from the government says I can be Chief Engineer on any ship in the world, but BP still wanted me do a pointless NVQ. Fortunately I was promoted to a supervisor who then didn't need it. They now want a different bit of paper for almost everything, its mental, glad I no longer need to goto work. Training is big business and its big companies ass covering who have driven it!

One of the reasons for a shortage of labour is companies saving on training, by hiring european labour prior to puppy dog, and its probably going to have been false economy as rates need to rise to attract folk in to vacencies.

Yes I can generally fix my own vehicles but choose not too. While under warranty I use the dealer, for obvious reasons.

 

[Keithmac]

The job has changed so much. To find someone who is qualified - MOT tester - aircon ticket - capable of diagnosing faults - ordering parts - fitting them - dealing with customers - got a driving licence clean enough to go on a trade policy - willing to do some work and can get out of bed in the morning - is near imposible...

If you can do all of the above - you will have opened your own garage... Or be in a dealership.

This is why I have just kept downsizing over the past ten years - run up to retirement and lack of anybody who can do it wanting a job.

There is still some money in lorry fitting if you want a PAYE job - but you gotta want to do permanent nights and love a bit of hard dirty work.

Sadly people with a good methodical approach, proper understanding of modern fuel injection systems, wiring, canbus etc are few and far between.

Seems the parts cannon iis the preferred method.

I've repaired motorcycles where people have been quoted £1000+ for replacement PCM's where its been wiring or low fuel pressure faults. If you are going to pull the trigger on a PCM you have to be damn sure you've tested wiring integrity and fuel supply..

That's where the problem lies, if you don't understand how it works how can you genuinely test it and come to an informed decision?.

Oddly as a bike dealer we get a lot of trade work for diagnostics, wiring etc. Cheaper for us to fix it than them spending twice as long on it I suppose?.

Was working on a Ducati 999R today with my Daughter, explaining how the fuel injection worked.

We had the injectors out and in the ultrasonic cleaner, then manually operated.

Syring with intake cleaner in was the fuel pump, my daughter tapping the jumper wire on the battery was the PCM.

When it was finally back together, you could see the injectors (umbrella style over the velocity stacks) injecting into the engine.

Learing by doing is probably best way to get a handle on it.

She's getting a dab habd with the carbs as well, same thing hands on experience.

I've seen people 30+ years in the trade who just don't have a clue, but unusually still in a job.

 

[jimbo84]

and thats the motor trade ,,,, you should see what you get when you hire '' local crew'' on a rock and roll tour ... good grief its scary , your hanging 50 tons of kit , most of these guys you wouldnt trust to hang wall paper , and most are high enough to walk past the truss anyway. The joys of it all.

My first live job the local crew had assembled the truss, the rigging chief told me to get a spanner and ratchet from the production box and go round and double check the bolts, an alarming number of finger tight ones.

Another load in and the local crew decided to run his meat rack into the one I was handling, straight onto my arm, how it didn’t snap my arm I don’t know.

 

[Robotstar5]

You gotta laugh - if someone turns up in a pair of work boots, carrying a lunchbox. You think you are on a winner.

We had a production welder who would turn up in a suit and carrying a briefcase before changing into overalls to do his shift, we think he told his wife he had an office job

 

[Robotstar5]

Back to garage charges, I used to take my Freelander to a local chap who specialised in Land Rovers, he did a good job for reasonable prices, one year I was collecting my car when he told me he was going into partnership with a mate in Redditch and gave me the address so the following year I booked in there, went to collect my car and found the price more than double the previous year plus there was a nice 3 or 4 page checklist of all the work done including a 3 mile road test, now I have a habit of noting my mileage when I leave the car to check if they use it as a runabout and found they had only put 0.2 miles on it, so much for the 3 mile road test, to cap it all there were grease/oil marks on the drivers seat, I was not happy but it was "pay the bill or we keep your car" needless to say it was the last time I went there.

 

[Ubique]

these days you dont get through the door without certs ,,, no matter idf you can do the job or not ,,, hr want certs , hr get certs , the rest of the applications go in the bin ,,, its how it is , the insurance behind main dealers wont just let someone who '' can do it '' work on customers cars ,,, no win no fee saw an end to that years ago. As right as it may be in real life its not how the world works anymore.

I have all my training & accreditation certs. attached to my CV, the last job I applied for they complained at the interview that it took too long to print out...

 

[premmington]

I not been on a Snap On van for ages - last time I went on one - I got talking to the chap who sells the tools and he told me there is not a single apprentice in my area buying tools off him...

Not a single one... He reckons his customer base will die of old age - I kid you not...!