How we estimate repair costs
Every estimate on this site is calculated from the same transparent formula, so you can see exactly where the numbers come from.
The formula
Total = (labor hours × hourly shop rate × regional adjustment) + parts price
Each part of the formula is shown as a range, from the lowest typical case (aftermarket parts, quick job, lower-cost shop) to the highest (OEM parts, difficult access, higher-cost shop).
Labor time
Labor hours reflect typical "book" times that shops use to quote jobs. Book times vary by engine layout: a front-mounted alternator on a 4-cylinder takes far less time than one buried under the intake of a V6.
Hourly shop rates
- Independent shop: $110–$160 per hour
- Chain (Midas, Firestone…): $120–$175 per hour
- Dealership: $160–$230 per hour
Vehicle type adjustments
- Compact / economy car: parts ×1, labor ×1
- Midsize sedan / crossover: parts ×1.15, labor ×1.1
- Truck / full-size SUV: parts ×1.3, labor ×1.15
- Luxury / European: parts ×1.8, labor ×1.3
State adjustments
When you enter a ZIP code, we adjust the labor portion of the estimate for your state. The adjustment is the ratio between the mean hourly wage of automotive service technicians in your state and the national mean ($27.13/hour), from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. We cap it between ×0.85 and ×1.25. Parts prices are not adjusted, because they vary much less by state.
Shop rates track technician pay closely, but not perfectly: a city can be more expensive than its state average. Without a ZIP code, estimates use US averages.
| State | Mechanic wage | Labor × |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $32.65/h | 1.20 |
| Alaska | $31.55/h | 1.16 |
| California | $31.47/h | 1.16 |
| Colorado | $30.76/h | 1.13 |
| Oregon | $30.39/h | 1.12 |
| Massachusetts | $30.27/h | 1.12 |
| Washington | $30.03/h | 1.11 |
| Virginia | $29.62/h | 1.09 |
| New Hampshire | $29.18/h | 1.08 |
| Connecticut | $28.92/h | 1.07 |
| Maryland | $28.55/h | 1.05 |
| Minnesota | $28.51/h | 1.05 |
| Montana | $28.51/h | 1.05 |
| New York | $28.42/h | 1.05 |
| New Jersey | $28.28/h | 1.04 |
| Delaware | $28.12/h | 1.04 |
| North Dakota | $27.88/h | 1.03 |
| Vermont | $27.90/h | 1.03 |
| Wisconsin | $27.35/h | 1.01 |
| Illinois | $27.25/h | 1.00 |
| Georgia | $27.21/h | 1.00 |
| Michigan | $27.16/h | 1.00 |
| Hawaii | $27.01/h | 1.00 |
| Nevada | $26.97/h | 0.99 |
| Arizona | $26.77/h | 0.99 |
| South Dakota | $26.76/h | 0.99 |
| Nebraska | $26.65/h | 0.98 |
| Iowa | $26.59/h | 0.98 |
| Wyoming | $26.59/h | 0.98 |
| Maine | $26.54/h | 0.98 |
| Tennessee | $26.25/h | 0.97 |
| Ohio | $26.24/h | 0.97 |
| Pennsylvania | $26.13/h | 0.96 |
| Rhode Island | $26.11/h | 0.96 |
| Idaho | $25.96/h | 0.96 |
| Missouri | $25.94/h | 0.96 |
| Florida | $25.84/h | 0.95 |
| Indiana | $25.82/h | 0.95 |
| North Carolina | $25.72/h | 0.95 |
| Texas | $25.47/h | 0.94 |
| Kansas | $25.37/h | 0.94 |
| South Carolina | $25.20/h | 0.93 |
| Oklahoma | $25.04/h | 0.92 |
| New Mexico | $24.90/h | 0.92 |
| Utah | $24.85/h | 0.92 |
| Alabama | $24.53/h | 0.90 |
| Louisiana | $24.35/h | 0.90 |
| Arkansas | $23.28/h | 0.86 |
| Kentucky | $23.07/h | 0.85 |
| Mississippi | $21.95/h | 0.85 |
| West Virginia | $21.19/h | 0.85 |
Vehicle make and model
Choosing a make and model sets the vehicle category automatically, for example a Honda Civic as a compact car or a Ford F-150 as a truck. You can override the category if your trim differs.
Limitations
These are estimates, not quotes. Your exact price depends on your specific model, engine, the condition of related parts, taxes, shop fees and diagnostics. Always get a written estimate from a licensed shop before authorizing work.