• As you know, vehicles are becoming increasingly complex to diagnose and repair. It’s therefore not surprising to see shops offering their clients a base hourly rate for standard mechanical work, while adding a higher rate for specialized tasks such as electric vehicles, diesel engines, or highly specific electronic diagnostics.
• Upon review, this practice is perfectly legal as long as the different rates are clearly displayed in the waiting area or at the reception desk, on the work estimate, and ultimately on the invoice.
• These specialized tasks indeed require specific tools, advanced training, and often the shop’s best technicians. It is reasonable to charge clients more for such work, provided they are clearly informed.
• Feedback from our coaches in the field confirms that this practice is fully justified and well understood by clients, who are often overwhelmed by their vehicle’s technology. These experts recommend a basic rule of increasing the hourly rate for these specialties by 20% compared to the base rate. In short, it is essential to receive fair compensation for the technical expertise of our shops.

Text and image credit: PME GURU