08/31/2026
Ok folks, let’s talk mobile mechanics.
Seems like every time I get on Facebook, there’s a “new” mobile mechanic pining for work, and offering “low” prices.
Please be careful with these folks. Make sure they are licensed and insured. And when I say “insured” I mean a liability insurance policy of at least $1,000,000.00. Yes, one million dollars.
Let’s say you have a mobile guy do brakes on your car, you and the family take off down the road and your wheel comes off and hits another car and someone gets seriously hurt.
Or let’s say they’re in your driveway/yard and your car falls off the jack/jackstand and crushes them or damages your car. Who is on the hook for that? If they aren’t properly insured, YOU ARE responsible. And your full coverage car insurance has a $100,000 (at the most) cap.
Operating a legitimate, licensed, and properly insured repair shop and or a mobile service is not cheap.
Let’s do some quick math on a brake job.
Parts (brakes/rotors/fluid) -$150, labor (drivetime and pays himself $25 an hour) 3 hours @ $25 per- $75, fuel/vehicle allowance- $50, insurance (liability) cost per day- $35, sales tax on parts- $12ish. So $322 if he’s running a non profit business and paying himself pennies. Where’s the money for tools? Where’s the money for diagnostic machine to put your car in brake service mode so your ABS pump doesn’t get ruined?
So, if you aren’t paying at least $350 for a front yard brake job, it either isn’t being done properly, you’re letting a non profit organization do it, or they aren’t a legitimate business. Period.
Ask for their proof of liability insurance, ask to see their (local and state) business licenses, ask them where they got certified/educated. Ask them about a warranty, ask for a receipt with their company name and address on it. If they don’t charge you tax, then they aren’t paying taxes.
And before anyone of these legitimate “mechanics” chimes in about rotors being changed, if you aren’t replacing them or turning them, you ARE NOT doing brakes properly. And I have yet to see an SUV or mini van with a brake lathe mounted in it.
Please be careful, do your research, and make sure you are safeguarding your self.
Insurance, tools, education, experience, quality, warranty, and piece of mind shouldn’t come cheap.