The Truth About Auto Repair Labor Rates

ALBANY — One of the first questions you might ask when looking for an auto shop is, “What’s your labor rate?” While this is good information to have, it’s far from the most important question you can ask, and it certainly shouldn’t be the determining factor in your decision. The truth is that a shop’s labor rate means almost nothing—it has little to do with the actual cost of the job and even less to do with the quality of the work.

Consider the following example. One mechanic tells you their labor rate is $200 an hour and gives an estimate of $200 for the job. Meanwhile, the mechanic down the street says their labor rate is $50 an hour and quotes the same total cost for the job. Now, who would you rather have work on your car: the mechanic who can do the job in an hour or the one who’s going to take four hours? What does this say about the latter mechanic’s proficiency?

This is why labor rate is far from the most important detail to consider when choosing an auto repair shop. A much more pertinent question is, “Can you fix my car?” Can the mechanic explain the problem and how they plan to solve it? Will they be able to accurately diagnose the issue? Will the repair be final or will you be back again because it wasn’t the right solution? These types of questions will give you a more accurate insight into which auto repair shop will provide the best value for your money.