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 also carry a van, a five-figure tool collection, insurance, and drive time between every job. Price your labor from the income you want to keep, not from what the shop down the road pays its techs.
| Gross revenue you need to bill | – |
| Business expenses | – |
| Self-employment tax (15.3%) | – |
| Federal income tax (est.) | – |
| State income tax (est.) | – |
| Retirement savings | – |
| Your take-home income | – |
For projects: estimate the hours the job will take, multiply by your hourly rate above, then add materials (with markup) and a 10–25% buffer for overruns.
Estimates use 2025 federal brackets, the standard deduction, and an approximate state rate. Local taxes, credits, and deductions beyond the standard deduction are not included. Not tax advice.
What to count as expenses
For mobile mechanic work, annual business expenses typically include service van payment/fuel/maintenance, tool and diagnostic-scanner replacement, garage liability insurance, parts-runner time, phone, and booking software. Add up a full year of these — using a rough annual total is far better than entering zero and pricing your overhead at nothing.
Be honest about billable 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 sign off that there is no warranty on those parts.