HOW TO HIRE · VEHICLES & TRANSPORT

How to hire a gearbox specialist in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

Repair, rebuild or replace — the price gap is large and there is no register. Here is what a gearbox quote must say.

  • Search and compare — no account needed
  • Nearest to you first
  • One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews

THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a gearbox specialist in five steps

  1. Note the symptomsCrunching, jumping out of gear, slipping, harsh or late shifts, a warning light or noise in certain gears.
  2. Get a diagnosis firstRoad test, fault codes for automatics and dual-clutch boxes, and a fluid check — before any figure is promised.
  3. Ask for the options in writingRepair the fault, rebuild the gearbox, or fit a new, reconditioned or used unit, each priced.
  4. Check the unit's guaranteeA reconditioned or used gearbox should come with its own written guarantee, separate from the labour.
  5. Road test before you payEvery gear, up and down, hot and cold. Then the itemised invoice.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

None of the four UK nations licenses gearbox specialists or keeps a register of them. The gearbox work must meet the Consumer Rights Act 2015 standard of reasonable care and skill, which includes diagnosing the fault properly.

Get the diagnosis and the repair option in writing before the gearbox comes out. citizensadvice.org.uk →

A fixed quote, not a guess

For a gearbox job, get a quote — an agreed price for named work — rather than an estimate, which Citizens Advice notes can go up within reason. Where no price was agreed, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 limits you to paying a reasonable one.

Get the figure and the scope in writing before the car is booked in. citizensadvice.org.uk →

The Motor Ombudsman accreditation

No law requires it, but a business accredited to The Motor Ombudsman's Service and Repair Code has agreed to let the Ombudsman settle disputes. For a gearbox specialist, that means an independent decision if you cannot agree, after the business has had eight weeks to reply.

Check the name on The Motor Ombudsman's Garage Finder; the logo alone proves nothing. businesses.themotorombudsman.org →

A price agreed before the work

Agree the price for the gearbox specialist in writing before anything is taken apart. If no price was fixed, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 only obliges you to pay a reasonable one, and Citizens Advice says a garage may keep the vehicle while a bill is disputed but may not sell it.

Get the figure in a message, and ask to be called before any extra work. citizensadvice.org.uk →

VAT

Gearbox repair or replacement is standard-rated at 20%. Gearbox specialists whose taxable turnover passes £90,000 must register, charge VAT and show it as its own line on the quote and invoice.

Ask the gearbox specialist for its VAT number and whether the price includes the 20%. gov.uk →

“What is wrong with the gearbox, and how did you find it?”

A good answer: The test or codes that point to the fault — bearing, synchro, selector, clutch pack or software.

“Can it be repaired, or does it need a rebuild or replacement?”

A good answer: The options with prices. A good gearbox specialist does not jump to a replacement unit.

“If you fit a replacement gearbox, is it new, reconditioned or used?”

A good answer: A clear answer, the source, and the mileage for a used unit.

“What guarantee comes with the gearbox?”

A good answer: Months or miles, in writing, and whether it covers labour if the unit fails.

“Does the gearbox fluid need changing?”

A good answer: For automatics and dual-clutch boxes, the right fluid type and quantity, in the quote.

“Should the clutch be done while the gearbox is out?”

A good answer: An honest view on the clutch's wear, priced separately, so you can decide.

“How long will the gearbox be off the road?”

A good answer: Hours for a software fix; one to three days for removal and refit.

Getting the quote right

  • The fault diagnosed and the repair option chosen
  • The gearbox unit described: repaired, rebuilt, new, reconditioned or used, with its source
  • Fluid type and quantity, and any software update
  • Labour for removal and refit as a fixed figure
  • The specialist's VAT number, with VAT under unit and labour
  • The guarantee on the unit and on the fitting
  • Who actually attends to the gearbox, whether they are employed or subcontracted, and who rebuilds the unit

Walk away if

  • A replacement gearbox quoted with no diagnosis
  • A used gearbox with no mileage, source or guarantee
  • The wrong type of fluid, or "fluid for life" with no check
  • Extra charges added once the gearbox is out, without a call
  • No road test before handover
LOW
£200
TYPICAL
£500
HIGH
£3,000

What a gearbox specialist costs: £200–£3,000 per job

Gearbox work is quoted per job after diagnosis, with the unit (repaired, rebuilt, new or used), fluid and labour listed separately. Gearbox Repair price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Gearbox specialists near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. DiagnoseRoad test, codes and a fluid check; the fault explained with options.
  2. AgreeA written quote for the chosen option, with the unit and its guarantee named.
  3. RemoveThe gearbox comes out; the clutch is inspected while it is out.
  4. Repair or replaceThe fault fixed, or the replacement unit fitted, with new seals and the correct fluid.
  5. TestEvery gear tested on the road; software adaptations run for automatics; handover with the old parts if asked.

Synchro (synchromesh)
The rings that match gear speeds; worn ones make a gear crunch.
Reconditioned gearbox
A used unit rebuilt with new wearing parts and tested, usually with a guarantee.
Dual-clutch (DCT/DSG)
An automatic-style gearbox with two clutches; specialist work.
Mechatronic unit
The control module and valve body in many automatic gearboxes.
Selector
The mechanism that moves the gears when you change.
Adaptation
The learning process an automatic gearbox runs after repair.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the unit's guaranteeThe gearbox's own paperwork (for a reconditioned or used unit) plus the itemised bill.
Drive through every gearUp and down, warm and cold; for automatics, gentle driving while it adapts. Raise any noise or slip straight away.
Know what the guarantee needsSome gearbox guarantees require a fluid check after a set mileage. Book it.
Review and make-it-rightLocufy's reviews are tied to real bookings. Rate it under four stars and the garage is invited to fix the problem before your review goes up.

STEP 1Tell the specialist, in writingSay what the gearbox is doing since the work and what you want done. Work that lacked reasonable care and skill can be put right at their cost, or the price cut, under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
STEP 2The Locufy make-it-right stepBelow four stars, you decide whether the complaint about the gearbox specialist goes to the garage first. We follow it through, and then you review.
STEP 3Escalate itAn accredited business can be taken to The Motor Ombudsman after eight weeks without a fix. For a garage outside the scheme, the consumer helpline hears the gearbox specialist complaint and can refer it to Trading Standards — Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060, and Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4Small claimsIf the gearbox specialist still is not settled, the limits are £10,000 in England and Wales (small claims track), £5,000 in Scotland (simple procedure) and £5,000 in Northern Ireland (small claims court). Keep every message and invoice as evidence.

Hiring a gearbox specialist: questions people ask

No. No UK nation has a licence or register for gearbox repairers. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires the work to be done with reasonable care and skill.

An itemised invoice and the unit's own guarantee, stating whether it is new, reconditioned or used. There is no certificate for gearbox work.

A properly rebuilt unit with new wearing parts can be, and costs less. The guarantee and who rebuilt it tell you most.

Expect £200–£3,000 per job, around £500 on average. Our gearbox repair price guide has the detail, and your postcode above brings up gearbox specialists close to you.

Some automatic and dual-clutch faults can, after diagnosis. It is the cheapest fix, which is why the diagnosis comes first.

Tell the specialist in writing and keep the invoice and the unit's guarantee. If the work fell short of reasonable care and skill, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 lets you require it to be redone or a price reduction.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in vehicles & transport

How to hire: Clutch RepairHow to hire: Engine RepairHow to hire: Car DiagnosticsHow to hire: Car ServicingHow to hire: Mobile MechanicHow to hire: Vehicle Recovery & BreakdownHow to hire: Timing Belt ReplacementHow to hire: Van ServicingAll 701 hiring guides →

Gearbox specialists near you

Gearbox specialists in LondonGearbox specialists in ManchesterGearbox specialists in BirminghamGearbox specialists in GlasgowGearbox specialists in BelfastAll gearbox specialists on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Citizens Advice — problems with a car repair
  2. The Motor Ombudsman — Garage Finder
  3. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  4. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  5. mygov.scot — make a court claim for money
  6. nidirect — small claims process
  7. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  8. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register