A customer gets confused when a mobile mechanic still charges for 3.2 hours when the job only took 80 minutes. 

The Texas based mobile mechanic posted a TikTok explaining exactly how mechanics determine their pricing. 

On Jan. 13, the mechanic (@personalmechanics) posted a TikTok breaking down the business behind being a mechanic. This TikTok has over 1,600 views as of this writing.

How Do Mechanics Charge For Labor?

“Here’s a quick PSA for anybody who plans on using a mobile mechanic,” he begins. 

His core argument hinges on how labor is priced across the automotive industry, whether the work is done in a dealership, a traditional shop, or someone’s driveway. 

“I quote the labor according to the book,” he says. “There is a set time for the job that you’re doing, and in the auto industry, we call this flat rate.”

He explains that most automotive labor is billed using “flat rate” or “book time,” a standardized system that assigns a fixed number of hours to specific repairs. That number doesn’t change based on how fast or slow the mechanic actually completes the work. 

“If I can get the job done in two hours, I still get paid for three hours,” he explained. “However, if I take four hours, I still get paid for three hours,” he clarifies. 

The mechanic says the issue came to a head after a recent job he quoted at 3.2 hours. Thanks to more than 20 years of experience, he finished in just over an hour. The customer, surprised by the speed, assumed the final bill would be reduced accordingly. 

“They were thinking they’re just gonna pay me for the hour and 20 minutes. Not the 3.2 hours it’s supposed to take,” he said. 

Experienced mechanics, he argues, are faster precisely because they’re skilled, not because the numbers are inflated. He also notes that customers rarely question this system at dealerships, largely because they don’t see the work happening in real time. “If you took your car to a dealership or a shop, they’re still gonna charge you the 3.2 hours,” said the mechanic.

What Book Is The Mechanic Referring To? And Is This Book The Standard?

To justify the pricing, the mechanic describes how book times are established. He also cites firsthand experience watching Ford engineers in Dearborn measure repairs step by step. Each action is timed, added together, and averaged into an industry standard.

This is meant to reflect a technician following procedures exactly as written. “If you’re a mechanic following the procedures in the book step by step, it should take you that exact amount of time,” he explained. 

In this context, when the mechanic says “the book,” he’s likely referring to industry flat-rate or labor time guides. These are standardized manuals and databases that list the expected duration of specific repairs, based on careful time studies and manufacturer data. Shops use these guides to quote labor book times and set flat-rate pricing instead of charging strictly by the clock. 

These guides include factory service labor times and third-party references that estimate average job durations for particular makes and models. Most repair facilities do use standard books or labor guides as the basis for pricing, and the flat rate system is the accepted industry practice that helps shops provide consistent estimates and pay technicians based on their ability to complete work efficiently. 

MotorBiscuit reached out to @personalmechanics for comment via TikTok direct message.

@personalmechanics

♬ original sound – Personal Mechanics