Check a car repair estimate
Enter what your written estimate says, line by line or just the total. See what is itemized, what is missing and what to ask before you approve the work. This page does not guess what the job should cost: it checks the estimate you already have.
- Checks whether the lines on a written car repair estimate add up to its total, for any job.
- Keeps a line you have not filled in as unknown rather than zero, and shows which parts, labor, fees and tax are written down.
- Compares two estimates line by line and by scope, and explains the abbreviations shops use.
- Estimate a price for your car: RepairWorth has no licensed U.S. repair-price data, so this page shows no average, range or labor rate.
- Diagnose the vehicle, or say whether a shop's price or hourly rate is fair.
Simplified drawing, not a specific part. Not to scale and not a diagnosis.
Usually named on this kind of quote
- Parts
- Labor
- Fees
- Tax
Start with the total.
Unsaved draft restored from this browser.
Your quote
Itemized linesAdd only what the quote states
Scope checklistIncluded, excluded or not specified
Second quote
Itemized linesAdd only what the quote states
Scope checklistIncluded, excluded or not specified
Line by line
Enter a total or line
Nothing is treated as zero until you enter zero.
- Known itemized amount
- —
- Unspecified lines
- 8
- Unexplained difference
- —
- After stated core refund
- —
- Can I have this estimate in writing, with parts and labor listed separately?
- Which items fix the problem I came in for, and which are recommendations that could wait?
- For each part, is it new from the vehicle maker, aftermarket, used or rebuilt?
- How were the labor hours set, and what is the hourly rate?
- What does each fee cover, and is the diagnostic charge credited toward the repair if I approve it?
- Will you contact me for approval before doing any work that is not on this estimate?
Arithmetic and scope notes only. RepairWorth does not rate the shop, diagnose the vehicle or know local market prices.
How to get a car repair estimate.
A car repair estimate is the shop's statement of the work it proposes and what it expects to charge. Ask for it in writing before any work starts, and ask that it say the shop will contact you for approval before doing work beyond it.
Some states go further. California requires repair dealers to give a written estimated price for parts and labor for a specific job, and Michigan requires a written estimate that itemizes parts and labor as closely as possible before repair work begins. Rules differ from state to state.
If the shop has to inspect or diagnose the car before it can write the estimate, ask what that step will cost and whether the charge is credited toward the repair.
SourcesFederal Trade Commission — Auto Repair Basics (opens an external site)California Legislature (leginfo) — Business and Professions Code § 9884.9 (Automotive Repair Act) (opens an external site)Michigan Legislature — MCL 257.1332 (Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act, Sec. 32) (opens an external site)
A calculator for the estimate you already have.
Many online car repair estimate calculators predict a price from a vehicle and a location. This page does something different: it takes the numbers written on your estimate, adds them up to the cent, keeps an unknown line unknown and compares two estimates side by side.
It is free, needs no account and keeps what you enter in this browser. It is not estimating software for repair shops, and it does not replace the written estimate itself.
How to read a car repair estimate, line by line.
Read the estimate as a set of separate decisions rather than one number. Each line should tell you what is done, to which part, with what, and for how much. The abbreviations are explained in the glossary below.
- The header: shop name and contact details, your vehicle and its mileage, the date, and how long the estimate stays valid.
- The problem and the cause: what you reported, what the shop found and how it found it.
- Parts: each part named, with its quantity, its price and its type (new from the vehicle maker, aftermarket, used or rebuilt).
- Labor: each operation with its hours and the hourly rate, or a flat charge for the operation.
- Sublet: work the shop sends to another business, such as an alignment, glass or machine-shop work.
- Fees: shop supplies, environmental or disposal fees, diagnostic charges and any core charge, each named.
- Tax and the total, and whether the total is a fixed amount or a range.
- Approval and warranty: how extra work will be approved, and the written warranty on parts and labor.
SourcesFederal Trade Commission — Auto Repair Basics (opens an external site)Federal Trade Commission (eCFR) — 16 CFR Part 20 - Guides for the Rebuilt, Reconditioned, and Other Used Automobile Parts Industry (opens an external site)
Red flags on a car repair estimate.
- Only a total, with no parts or labor listed.
- A part listed without saying whether it is new, aftermarket, used or rebuilt.
- Vague lines such as miscellaneous or labor as needed, or a large supplies charge with no explanation.
- Work you did not ask about, with no explanation of why it is needed now.
- No statement that the shop will ask for your approval before going beyond the estimate.
- Pressure to approve on the spot, or a refusal to put the estimate in writing.
- No written warranty terms.
SourcesFederal Trade Commission — Auto Repair Basics (opens an external site)Federal Trade Commission (eCFR) — 16 CFR Part 20 - Guides for the Rebuilt, Reconditioned, and Other Used Automobile Parts Industry (opens an external site)
Why two estimates for the same repair differ.
Scope explains most of the gap: one estimate may include related parts, fluids or a follow-up check that the other leaves out, or may fix a different cause of the same problem.
The rest usually comes from the parts type, the number of labor hours and how they were set, the hourly rate, the fees, sublet work and the warranty offered. A lower total can describe a smaller job.
How to compare two car repair estimates.
- Check that both estimates fix the same problem with the same operations before looking at the totals.
- Compare the parts type part by part: new from the maker, aftermarket, used or rebuilt.
- Compare labor as hours and hourly rate separately, not only as a dollar amount.
- Put fees, tax and sublet work side by side: one estimate may include what the other leaves out.
- Compare the written warranties on parts and on labor.
- Use Compare two at the top of this page: both estimates are laid out line by line, and the lower total is not labeled better.
Free car repair estimates online: what they can and cannot know.
A free car repair estimate online, or an estimate generator, usually asks for the vehicle, the job and a ZIP code, then returns a figure built from its own price data. It has not seen your car: it cannot confirm the diagnosis, find parts that turn out to be needed once work starts or know the rate of the shop you will use.
Treat such a figure as a starting question, not as a price. The number that counts is the written estimate from the shop that will do the work, and that is the document the checker on this page works from.
Mechanic estimate, quote or invoice: what each one commits to.
Shops use the words estimate and quote loosely, so read what the document says: one amount or a range, how long it stays valid, and what happens if the work costs more. The FTC advises that a written estimate state that the shop will contact you for approval before doing any work exceeding a specified amount of time or money, and notes that state law may require this.
The invoice is the final bill. Compare it with the approved mechanic repair estimate line by line: any added work should match an approval you gave. Some states limit how far a bill may go above the estimate without your consent; the table of state laws below shows which rules were found in each state.
SourceFederal Trade Commission — Auto Repair Basics (opens an external site)
Estimates for a specific job: oil change, transmission and more.
For a routine job such as an oil change, the estimate is often a package price, so check the oil, the quantity included and the filter it covers. For a transmission repair estimate, check first which operation is quoted: a repair of one part, a rebuild or a replacement unit.
Both jobs have their own checker in the list below, with the quote lines and questions that fit that work.
When a second estimate is worth it.
- The estimate is a single total with no breakdown.
- The cause of the problem is not written down, or the shop cannot explain how it found it.
- Several expensive items are recommended at once and none is explained.
- The job is large compared with what the car is worth to you.
- The shop adds work during the repair that was not written down and approved.
If the car has a safety problem, such as braking, steering or a warning light that stays on, have it checked before driving it to another shop.
What is the $3000 rule for car repairs?
It is a popular rule of thumb, not a standard: no government agency, insurer or industry body sets it, and people state it in different ways. The shared idea is to pause before approving a large repair and weigh it against the car's value, its condition and what else it is likely to need.
A rule of thumb cannot know your car. The repair-or-replace model in the list below compares keeping the car with replacing it, using only the amounts you enter.
Is $100 an hour fair for mechanic labor?
RepairWorth cannot tell you whether a given hourly rate is fair. It has no licensed data on U.S. shop labor rates, and rates vary with the region, the type of shop and the kind of work.
What you can check is how the labor line is built: the hourly rate, the hours for each operation and where those hours come from. Ask each shop for both in writing, then compare hours with hours and rate with rate. Technician wage statistics are not the rate a shop bills, so they are not a benchmark either.
How much does it typically cost to repair a car?
No single figure fits your car: the price depends on the job, the vehicle, the parts chosen, the shop and where you live. Published averages describe a particular sample, such as one kind of repair or one group of vehicles, and are not the price of your repair.
The most reliable number is a written estimate for your vehicle; for a larger job, get two and compare them line by line. For a specific job, the pages listed below by system explain what a complete estimate for that work should contain.
Car repair estimate laws by state.
First compiled on September 23, 2026 from searches of state legislature and agency sites, search engines and public legal databases. On September 29 and 30, 2026 and October 2, 2026, every row that shows values was re-read on the official text. Where the official text could not be read, or the first search was not repeated on the official source, the row shows no value; where the official pages that were read contained no dedicated law, the row says so, with the date.
This is not legal advice; local ordinances and later amendments are not covered; where a row links a law, check the linked text. Each row summarizes the sections cited in the Law column. A dash means no value was recorded for that column; it does not mean the state has no rule on that point.
How this table was checked: method note on the Data & sources page.
| State | Law | Written estimate required | Dollar threshold | Allowed above the estimate without new consent | Replaced parts returned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. Code §32-17A-3 (nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts disclosure on written estimates only) (opens an external site)Checked on October 2, 2026Quoted text
| — | — | — | — |
| Alaska | Alaska Stat. §§45.45.130-45.45.240 (Regulation of Motor Vehicle Repairs), esp. §§45.45.140, 45.45.170 (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| on request (a price estimate; the statute does not say it must be written) | — | 0% (the estimate may not be exceeded without the customer's approval) | yes, if requested when the repair order is taken |
| Arizona | A.R.S. §44-1293 (written notice on a repair estimate when a non-OEM aftermarket crash part is used; disclosure only) (opens an external site)Checked on October 2, 2026Quoted text
| — | — | — | — |
| Arkansas | Not verified | ||||
| California | Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §9884.9 (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes | — | any amount requires new oral or written consent | — |
| Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. §§42-9-104, 42-9-105 (Motor Vehicle Repair Act) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes, when labor and parts exceed $100 (the customer may waive it in writing; towed or after-hours vehicles: max $100 without consent) | $100 | 10% of the estimate or $25, whichever is less (§42-9-105(1)) | yes, on request (exceptions for body, exchanged and airbag parts) |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. §§14-65f, 14-65g, 14-65h (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes (written authorization with a written estimate of the maximum cost, signed by the customer); a written waiver with a dollar cap is allowed (§14-65g) | $50 | 0% (no charge above the estimate without oral or written consent) | yes, if requested when the work is authorized (§14-65h(b)) |
| Delaware | 6 Del. C. §§4904A, 4906A (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| a written statement must be given before work begins (what it must contain, and any waiver, are not confirmed here) | — | 20% or $50, whichever is less | yes, the shop must offer to return replaced parts |
| District of Columbia | 16 DCMR §633 (D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 16, ch. 6) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes, unless the customer waives it | — | 20% for repairs of $300 or less; 10% for repairs over $300 | — |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. §§559.904, 559.905, 559.909(1)(b) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes, unless the customer waives it on the statutory disclosure form | $150 | $10 or 10%, whichever is greater, but not more than $50 | the written estimate must let the customer indicate whether replaced parts are to be saved for inspection or return (§559.905(1)(m)) |
| Georgia | Not verified | ||||
| Hawaii | Haw. Rev. Stat. §437B-15 (ch. 437B, Motor Vehicle Repairs) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes, unless waived in writing by the customer | — | 15% if the estimate is under $100; 10% if it is over $100 | — |
| Idaho | IDAPA 04.02.01.120-.122, .131 and .132 (Attorney General rules under Idaho Code §48-604(2); repairs of any goods and services, not specific to motor vehicles) (opens an external site)Checked on October 2, 2026Quoted text
| no: nothing requires an estimate; an estimate given, oral or written, must not be unreasonably understated or misstated (Rule 120) | — | no fixed tolerance: if an estimate is given, authorization is needed before additional, unforeseen but necessary work that would unreasonably increase the estimated price (Rule 121); a price limit set by the customer may not be exceeded without express consent (Rule 122) | on request: return or allow inspection of old or replaced parts on completion (Rule 132.01); no keeping them for reuse or resale after a request unless disclosed before the work, offset by a bona fide price reduction, or replaced under warranty (Rule 132.02) |
| Illinois | 815 ILCS 306 (Automotive Repair Act), esp. 815 ILCS 306/15 (collision and body repair facilities excluded, 306/83) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes (unless waived or no face-to-face contact) | $100 | 10% over a written estimated price, or 0% over a written price limit | — |
| Indiana | Ind. Code § 24-5-0.5-3(b)(12), (b)(13), (b)(14) and (f) (general deceptive-acts section covering any replacement or repair in a consumer transaction; not specific to motor vehicles) (opens an external site)Checked on September 30, 2026Quoted text
| only for a supplier that provides estimates: a written estimate itemizing the price for labor and parts as closely as possible, before work starts (IC 24-5-0.5-3(f), stated for purposes of (b)(12)); no stand-alone duty to offer an estimate in the section read | — | no stand-alone overrun-consent rule; a cost 10% or more above the estimate is a deceptive act only when all of these hold: the specified work is completed, the supplier had no written permission from the customer to complete the work at that higher cost, the total cost for services and parts of the single transaction is more than $750, and the supplier knew or reasonably should have known of the overrun (IC 24-5-0.5-3(b)(12)) | no return duty in the section read; (b)(13) lists as a deceptive act representing that a repair is needed and disposing of the repaired or replaced part earlier than 72 hours after both the customer was notified that the work is completed and the part was made available for examination upon the customer's request |
| Iowa | Iowa Code §537B.3 (Motor Vehicle Service Trade Practices) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| on request: the consumer may choose a written, oral or no estimate when the expected cost exceeds $50 | $50 | 10% | — |
| Kansas | K.S.A. 50-661, 50-662 (aftermarket parts disclosure only) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| — | — | — | — |
| Kentucky | KRS 367.361 (motor vehicle glass repair shops; insured first-party claims only) (opens an external site)Checked on October 2, 2026Quoted text
| only for repair or replacement of damaged motor vehicle glass for an insured who has made a first-party claim: before contracting, an invoice (at least 12-point font) that includes an estimate of the fees and costs anticipated to be charged to the insured | — | — | — |
| Louisiana | La. Admin. Code tit. 46, pt. V, §1103 (Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission rules; new-vehicle dealers only) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| on request, when anticipated repairs exceed $125, from new-vehicle dealers only | $125 | 25% (excluding tax) | — |
| Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, §§1801-1809 (ch. 15, subch. 2, Repair), esp. §§1802, 1803, 1805 (opens an external site)Checked on September 30, 2026Quoted text
| no written estimate is required by §§1801-1809: before repairs begin, the customer may designate in writing a maximum amount of charges (§1802(1)), and the shop must post a notice of that right (§1805(1)) | — | nothing above the amount the customer designated in writing without a further specific oral or written agreement (§1802(2)) | yes, on request, unless the shop must return the part to the manufacturer or distributor under a warranty or exchange arrangement; the customer may inspect replaced parts before paying (§1803) |
| Maryland | Md. Code Ann., Com. Law §14-1002 (Automotive Repair Facilities Act) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| on request | $50 | 10% | — |
| Massachusetts | 940 CMR 5.05 (Attorney General regulation, repairs and services) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes, written authorization signed by the customer listing the repairs and the total price (or posted prices) | — | $10 (a fixed amount, not a percentage) | yes |
| Michigan | MCL 257.1332 (Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act, sec. 32) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes | — | 10% or $50, whichever is less | — |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. §§325F.56-325F.58 (Truth in Repairs Act) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| on request | — | 10% (the bill may not exceed 110% of the written estimate) | — |
| Mississippi | Not verified | ||||
| Missouri | No dedicated state statute found in the official pages read (September 30, 2026) | ||||
| Montana | Admin. R. Mont. 23.19.202 (Repairs, estimates, and invoices); see also 23.19.201 (Definitions) and 23.19.203 (Repairs and services) (opens an external site)Checked on September 30, 2026Quoted text
| yes, on request, for repairs, maintenance or service over $50 (no duty if the shop declines the job or makes no charge) | $50 | 10% or $25, whichever is greater, above the estimated price (rule tied to a requested written estimate) | yes, if requested when the work order is taken (parts impracticable by size or weight excepted; warranty or exchange parts are only shown, and only if the customer asked to see them) |
| Nebraska | Not verified | ||||
| Nevada | NRS 487.6875-487.6893 (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes | $50 | 20% or $100, whichever is less: above that, the owner and the insurer must be notified and the extra work may not start until the election the statute provides for has been made | yes, on request |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. ch. 358-D, §§358-D:2, 358-D:5, 358-D:11 (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes, on the customer's request | — | 10% (written consent needed above that) | yes, if requested before the work (except warranty or exchange parts) |
| New Jersey | N.J.A.C. 13:45A-26C.2 (Consumer Fraud Act rules: deceptive practices, automotive repairs) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes, before work for compensation begins: a written estimated price (not-to-exceed figure or itemized parts and labor) | — | 0% (nothing above the estimate without oral or written consent) | yes, if requested before work begins |
| New Mexico | N.M. Admin. Code 12.2.6.10 (Estimates, invoice and payment), 12.2.6.12 (Parts) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes, unless the consumer signs a waiver | $100 | the greater of 10% or $50 | yes: the shop keeps replaced parts for customer inspection and the customer may keep them (manufacturer-return and hazardous parts excepted); the shop need not keep parts after the vehicle is released (12.2.6.12(B) NMAC) |
| New York | N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law art. 12-A, §§398-c, 398-d (implementing rules: 15 NYCRR Part 82) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes, at the customer's request | — | 0% (nothing above the estimate without the customer's consent) | yes, on timely written demand (kept for the customer when work is authorized by telephone) |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. §20-354.3 (Motor Vehicle Repair Act) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes | $350 | — | — |
| North Dakota | No dedicated state statute found in the official pages read (October 2, 2026) | ||||
| Ohio | Ohio Admin. Code 109:4-3-13 (Attorney General consumer sales practices rule) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| on request: the consumer chooses a written, oral or no estimate | $50 | 10% (excluding tax) triggers a new authorization | yes, replaced parts must be tendered (exceptions: rebuild, sale or warranty return) |
| Oklahoma | Not verified | ||||
| Oregon | Or. Rev. Stat. §§646A.480-646A.495 (esp. §§646A.482, 646A.486) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| the shop must prepare an estimate before beginning work (the text quoted does not say 'written') | — | 10% or $200, whichever is less | — |
| Pennsylvania | 37 Pa. Code §301.5 (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| no written estimate as such. Among the choices §301.5 gives the customer: no repairs until the customer is told the exact repairs and the total price and authorizes them orally or in writing; or repairs may start and need oral or written authorization only to exceed a price the customer set in advance. Other choices in §301.5 are not listed here. | — | no percentage tolerance stated; above the price the customer set in advance, oral or written authorization is required | yes, on request, at the completion of the service (or inspection) |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws §5-38.3-3 (Motor Vehicle Repair Shop Act) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes, on the customer's request | — | 0% (nothing above the estimate without the customer's consent) | yes, on timely written demand |
| South Carolina | No dedicated state statute found in the official pages read (September 29, 2026) | ||||
| South Dakota | SDCL §58-33-71 (non-OEM aftermarket crash parts: consumer advised in writing by insurer, repair facility or installer; identification and disclosure on the estimate when the insurer intends their use) (opens an external site)Checked on October 2, 2026Quoted text
| — | — | — | — |
| Tennessee | Not verified | ||||
| Texas | Tex. Occ. Code ch. 2304 (Nonmechanical Repairs to Motor Vehicles), esp. §§2304.002, 2304.051, 2304.102, 2304.104 (body-repair facilities in counties of more than 50,000) (opens an external site)Checked on October 2, 2026Quoted text
| — | — | — | — |
| Utah | Utah Code §13-11-4(2)(p) (Consumer Sales Practices Act; insurance-claim repairs only) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| only when the consumer will claim the repair on auto insurance: oral and written notice of the total estimated cost and of the consumer's share before the repair | — | — | — |
| Vermont | Not verified | ||||
| Virginia | Va. Code Ann. §59.1-207.3 (ch. 17.1, Automobile Repair Facilities Act) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| on request | $25 | 10%, or 20% for vehicles at least 25 model years old | yes, the required customer-rights sign states that the facility shall offer to return all replaced parts (warranty, core-charge or trade-in parts returned to a manufacturer or distributor excepted) (§59.1-207.3) |
| Washington | Wash. Rev. Code §46.71.025 (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| yes | — | 10% (the bill may not exceed 110% of the written estimate, excluding sales tax) | — |
| West Virginia | W. Va. Code §§46A-6B-3, 46A-6B-4 (motor vehicle body shops; crash parts only) (opens an external site)Checked on October 2, 2026Quoted text
| — | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 132 (Motor vehicle repair) (opens an external site)Checked on September 29, 2026Quoted text
| a written repair order is required before work over $50; the estimate provisions of ATCP 132 were not read | $50 | — | — |
| Wyoming | No dedicated state statute found in the official pages read (October 2, 2026) | ||||
What to find in writing.
- Written and dated estimateShop name, your vehicle, the date and how long the estimate stays valid.
- Problem and causeThe problem you reported and the cause the shop found, in writing.
- Parts typeNew from the maker (OEM), aftermarket, used or rebuilt, for each part.
- Labor basisHours for each operation and the hourly rate, or a flat charge.
- Fees namedShop supplies, disposal, diagnosis and any core charge, each listed.
- Approval before extra workThe shop contacts you before doing work that is not on the estimate.
- Old parts returnedWhether you get replaced parts back, except parts returned as cores.
- Written warrantyWhat the warranty covers on parts and labor, and for how long.
Four checks that apply to every quote.
- Get it in writing first.Ask for a written estimate before work starts, and ask the shop to contact you for approval before doing anything that is not on it.
SourceFederal Trade Commission — Auto Repair Basics (opens an external site)
- Know the rules in your state.Several states regulate estimates. In California any charge above the written estimate needs your consent. Florida requires a written estimate for work over $150 and caps an unapproved overrun at $10 or 10 percent, whichever is greater, up to $50. In Michigan, unless you signed a waiver, a shop may exceed the estimate by up to 10 percent or $50, whichever is less, without asking you again. Other states have their own rules.
SourcesCalifornia Legislature (leginfo) — Business and Professions Code § 9884.9 (Automotive Repair Act) (opens an external site)Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine) — Florida Statutes § 559.905 Written motor vehicle repair estimate and disclosure statement required (opens an external site)Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine) — Florida Statutes § 559.909 Notification of charges in excess of repair estimate (opens an external site)Michigan Legislature — MCL 257.1332 (Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act, Sec. 32) (opens an external site)
- Check for open recalls.Look up the vehicle identification number (VIN) on NHTSA's recall site; the search covers recalls from the last 15 years. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at a dealer.
- Ask for the old parts.Asking for replaced parts back is a simple way to confirm the work, except for parts that must be returned for a core charge or a warranty claim.
SourceFederal Trade Commission — Auto Repair Basics (opens an external site)
Questions for a
car repair estimate.
- 01Can I have this estimate in writing, with parts and labor listed separately?
A written, itemized estimate is what you compare and what you approve. It also records what was agreed before the work started.
- 02Which items fix the problem I came in for, and which are recommendations that could wait?
Separating required work from suggestions lets you approve what is needed now and compare the rest calmly.
- 03For each part, is it new from the vehicle maker, aftermarket, used or rebuilt?
Parts type can change both the price and the warranty. A used or rebuilt part should be disclosed as such.
- 04How were the labor hours set, and what is the hourly rate?
Two shops can quote the same job with different hours or different rates. Knowing both explains the labor line.
- 05What does each fee cover, and is the diagnostic charge credited toward the repair if I approve it?
Fees are easy to miss when you compare totals. Ask for each one by name.
- 06Will you contact me for approval before doing any work that is not on this estimate?
An agreed approval step keeps the final bill tied to the estimate. Some states set rules on this.
Terms, in plain English.
- R&I (remove and install)
- A part is taken off to reach or protect another part, then put back. It is labor only; that part is not replaced.
- R&R (remove and replace)
- The old part is removed and a replacement is installed. Some shops use R&R for remove and reinstall, so ask which one is meant.
- O/H (overhaul)
- An assembly is taken apart, worn internal parts are replaced and it is put back together, instead of being replaced as a unit.
- OEM
- Original equipment manufacturer: a part made for or supplied by the vehicle maker.
- Aftermarket
- A new part made by another company to fit the vehicle. Quality and warranty depend on the maker.
- Used, recycled or rebuilt
- A part that is not new. It should be clearly disclosed as such, including on the invoice.
- Labor hours
- The time charged for an operation. Multiplied by the shop's hourly rate, it gives the labor amount.
- Book time / flat rate
- Labor time taken from a published labor-time guide for that operation. Under flat-rate billing the shop charges that time even if the job takes longer or shorter.
- Shop supplies
- A charge for small consumables such as cleaners, rags and small hardware. Shops calculate it differently; ask how.
- Diag fee
- A charge for the time spent finding the cause of a problem. Ask whether it is credited toward the repair if you approve the work.
- Core charge
- A refundable deposit on some parts, returned when the old part (the core) goes back for rebuilding.
- EPA / hazmat fee
- An environmental or hazardous-materials charge for disposing of fluids, filters, refrigerant or other waste. Ask what it covers and how it is calculated.
- Sublet
- Work the shop sends to another business, such as an alignment, glass, machining or towing, and bills on your estimate.
Where the facts come from.
- Federal Trade Commission — Auto Repair Basics (opens an external site)Accessed 2026-09-22
- California Legislature (leginfo) — Business and Professions Code § 9884.9 (Automotive Repair Act) (opens an external site)Accessed 2026-09-22
- Michigan Legislature — MCL 257.1332 (Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act, Sec. 32) (opens an external site)Accessed 2026-09-22
- Federal Trade Commission (eCFR) — 16 CFR Part 20 - Guides for the Rebuilt, Reconditioned, and Other Used Automobile Parts Industry (opens an external site)Accessed 2026-09-22
- Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine) — Florida Statutes § 559.905 Written motor vehicle repair estimate and disclosure statement required (opens an external site)Accessed 2026-09-22
- Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine) — Florida Statutes § 559.909 Notification of charges in excess of repair estimate (opens an external site)Accessed 2026-09-22
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Check for Recalls: Vehicle, Car Seat, Tire, Equipment (opens an external site)Accessed 2026-09-22
What this page cannot tell you.
- RepairWorth has no licensed U.S. repair-price data: this page shows no average, range or labor rate, and it cannot say what your repair should cost.
- It does not inspect or diagnose the vehicle, and it cannot tell whether a repair is needed.
- State rules on estimates differ; the states cited are examples, not a complete list, and this is not legal advice.
- The answers to common questions are general information, not financial advice.
Content status: Technical review: AI-assisted, against common service practice, 2026-09-25; not reviewed by a certified technician.