HOW TO HIRE · VEHICLES & TRANSPORT

How to hire a mobile mechanic in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

Mobile mechanics are unlicensed individuals working at your door. Here is how to agree the rate and what to check before they leave.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a mobile mechanic in five steps

  1. Check the job suits a mobile mechanicServicing, brakes, batteries, sensors and starters usually do; clutches and gearboxes usually need a ramp.
  2. Describe the problem and the carMake, model, engine, symptoms, where it is parked — and a photo of any warning light.
  3. Agree the rate in writingCall-out fee, hourly rate, expected hours and the parts price, with VAT if charged.
  4. Have somewhere safe to workA drive or a legal, flat parking spot; roadside work costs more and has limits.
  5. Check the work before payingEngine started, lights out, a short drive if possible, and an invoice listing parts.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

Mobile mechanics work without any licence or public register in all four UK nations, so the person you book is trusting their own skills and you are relying on the Consumer Rights Act 2015: the work must be done with reasonable care and skill.

Agree the job, the hourly rate, the call-out and the parts in writing before they come. citizensadvice.org.uk →

Insurance for working on your car

No law requires a mobile mechanic to carry insurance, but an individual working on customers' cars normally has public liability and motor trade cover. Ask what pays if your car is damaged while they work on it.

Ask the mechanic for the insurer and the cover.

An agreed price, or a reasonable one

If the mechanic gives a fixed price, that is the price. If you only agreed an hourly rate, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 entitles you to pay a reasonable amount for the time taken, so agree the likely hours first.

Get the rate, call-out and expected hours in a message. citizensadvice.org.uk →

VAT

A mobile mechanic's labour and parts are standard-rated at 20%. Mobile mechanics whose taxable turnover passes £90,000 must register, charge VAT and show it as its own line on the quote and invoice.

Ask the mobile mechanic for the VAT number and whether the hourly rate includes the 20%. gov.uk →

“Can this job be done by a mobile mechanic at my address?”

A good answer: An honest yes or no. A good mobile mechanic says when a job needs a workshop.

“What is your call-out fee and hourly rate as a mobile mechanic?”

A good answer: Two figures, and how the time is counted — from arrival, in quarter hours.

“Will the mechanic bring the parts, and which brand?”

A good answer: Named parts, priced in advance, with a receipt.

“Do you have insurance while you work on my car?”

A good answer: Yes, with the insurer named.

“What happens if the mechanic finds something else?”

A good answer: They stop and call you with a price; you decide.

“What guarantee do you give on the mechanic's work and parts?”

A good answer: In writing on the invoice.

“Will you take away the old oil and parts?”

A good answer: Yes, and dispose of them properly — not down the drain or in your bin.

Getting the quote right

  • Call-out fee and hourly rate, with the expected hours
  • Parts named and priced
  • The mechanic's VAT number, with VAT under labour and parts
  • What happens if the job turns out to need a workshop
  • Disposal of old oil and parts
  • Who actually attends to the car — the mechanic you booked, or another — employed or subcontracted

Walk away if

  • No call-out or hourly rate stated before they set off
  • A clutch or gearbox job promised on the roadside
  • Parts bought without your approval
  • Cash only, no invoice
  • Old oil left with you or poured away
LOW
£40
TYPICAL
£55
HIGH
£70

What a mobile mechanic costs: £40–£70 per hour

A mobile mechanic charges by the hour, often with a call-out fee, and parts on top; small jobs may be quoted as a fixed price. Mobile Mechanic 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

Mobile mechanics 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, or book by the hour.

  1. AgreeJob, rate, call-out and parts confirmed in writing.
  2. Arrive and diagnoseThe mechanic checks the car and confirms the job can be done on site.
  3. WorkThe repair or service done safely, the car secured on stands or ramps where needed.
  4. TestEngine run, codes cleared and checked, a short drive if possible.
  5. Tidy and invoiceOld parts and oil taken away, an itemised invoice handed over.

Call-out fee
The charge for coming to you, on top of labour.
Hourly rate
The labour price per hour on site.
Motor trade insurance
Cover for working on customers' vehicles.
Workshop job
One that needs a ramp or heavy equipment, such as a clutch.
Fault code reader
The tool that reads stored engine and system codes.
Pattern part
A part made to fit by a maker other than the car maker.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoiceHours, parts and what was done, with the mechanic's name and contact.
Check before the next long driveWarning lights, leaks under the car and the levels. Call the mechanic straight away if anything is wrong.
Know the guaranteeOn the parts and the labour, in writing.
Close the loopReview once you have lived with the result for a few days; if it falls short, the make-it-right step lets the mechanic respond before it goes live.

STEP 1Tell the mechanic, in writingSay what is still wrong and what you want. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the mechanic must work with reasonable care and skill and redo faulty work at their own cost.
STEP 2The Locufy make-it-right stepBelow four stars, you decide whether the complaint about the mobile mechanic goes to the mechanic first. We follow it through, and then you review.
STEP 3Trading Standards, through the helplineThere is no ombudsman for an individual mobile mechanic. If the mechanic will not put it right, the consumer helpline for your nation can refer your complaint 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 mobile mechanic 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 mobile mechanic: questions people ask

No. No UK nation licenses mechanics, mobile or garage-based. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires the work to be done with reasonable care and skill.

There is no legal requirement, but public liability and motor trade cover are normal. Ask what pays if your car is damaged.

An itemised invoice with hours, parts and the guarantee. There is no certificate for repairs or servicing.

Most people pay between £40 and £70 per hour; £55 is the typical figure. The mobile mechanic price guide shows what changes it, and a search above lists mobile mechanics nearby.

No. In Great Britain MOTs are done only at authorised test stations, and in Northern Ireland at DVA test centres.

Tell the mechanic in writing straight away. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you can ask for the work to be redone at their cost, or a price reduction.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in vehicles & transport

How to hire: Car ServicingHow to hire: Brake RepairHow to hire: Car Battery ReplacementHow to hire: Car DiagnosticsHow to hire: Vehicle Recovery & BreakdownHow to hire: Mobile Tyre FittingHow to hire: MOT / NCT ServiceHow to hire: Clutch RepairAll 701 hiring guides →

Mobile mechanics near you

Mobile mechanics in LondonMobile mechanics in ManchesterMobile mechanics in BirminghamMobile mechanics in GlasgowMobile mechanics in BelfastAll mobile mechanics 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