How prices are calculated
Every price on MecaScan is calculated from three public or verifiable inputs. Here is exactly how.
1. Book time
For each job we use a labour time range based on standard manufacturer times, the book times garages use to quote. On a model page, that time is adjusted by an access factor for the vehicle: crowded engine bay, electronics to reset, parts to remove to reach the job.
2. Local hourly rate
We use observed hourly rates including VAT for 10 countries, separating independent garages and main dealers. In the UK: £60 to £90 an hour independent, £100 to £170 at a dealer. Motorbike workshops get their own factor.
3. Parts prices
Parts ranges reflect public retail prices, from original-equipment brands up to genuine manufacturer parts, across three vehicle classes, adjusted to each country's price level.
The calculation
Total = book time × hourly rate + parts. The low end combines the short time, the low rate and the cheapest parts; the high end the opposite. Dealers get a 15 to 30% premium on genuine parts.
What the method does not cover
Extra parts found during the job, seized or broken fasteners, rare engines, very old or classic vehicles, and one-off promotions. Our ranges are deliberately wide: a quote slightly above is not necessarily a rip-off.
Quote checks
When you upload a quote, AI is only used to read the lines and match them to our jobs. The market comparison is then calculated with the method above, not by the AI. Updated October 2026.