Time & Labor Guide for Garages
by David Harris
Auto repair guides dictate a common price for mechanics to protect customers from paying too much. However, each shop varies in how much they charge for labor, especially as technology improves and repairs become more complex.
Guides
Most auto repair shops use one of three guides for charges: Chilton's, AllData and Mitchell. However, these guides need to be constantly updated as new cars come out featuring different technology.
Significance
When customers pay for labor in an auto shop, they pay for the parts needed plus the hourly rate charged by the mechanic. This hourly rate helps pay the mechanic's wage, any tools the shop needs and the overhead to keep the shop running.
Regional
Labor guides vary depending on where you live. If you are in a part of the country that gets a lot of snow, the sand and salt on the roads corrode your car. Working with rust is difficult for mechanics and costs more money than cars in drier, warmer climates.
References
Writer Bio
David Harris is a writer living in Portland, Ore. He currently is the editor-in-chief of the online magazine Spectrum Culture. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College.
