R-01 Pricing
Posted Labor Rates, Explained
Body and paint is $210 per hour, electrical and accessory work is $260, diagnostic and calibration is $285 with a one hour minimum credited against an authorized repair, and detail is $95. Four rates rather than one blended rate, so the estimate reflects what was actually performed.
- Body and paint
- $210
- Electrical and accessory
- $260
- Diagnostic, scan and calibration
- $285
- Detail
- $95
| Category | Rate | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Body and paint | $210 per hour | Panel work, structural straightening, refinish, and blend time. |
| Electrical and accessory | $260 per hour | Lighting circuits, liftgate power, camera and upfit wiring. |
| Diagnostic, scan and calibration | $285 per hour | One hour minimum, credited against an authorized repair. |
| Detail | $95 per hour | Prep, cut and buff, delivery detail. |
R-01
Why there are four rates rather than one
A single blended shop rate is simpler to advertise and worse for the customer. It means panel work subsidises diagnostic time, or diagnostic time subsidises panel work, and neither line is honest about what it costs to perform.
Four rates means the estimate reflects what was actually done. Body and paint time at $210 per hour covers panel work, structural straightening, refinish and blend time. Electrical and accessory work at $260 covers lighting circuits, liftgate power and upfit wiring, which needs different training and different equipment.
Diagnostic, scan and calibration at $285 per hour carries a one hour minimum and is credited against an authorized repair. Detail at $95 per hour covers prep, cut and buff and delivery detail.
- Body and paint at $210 per hour
- Electrical and accessory at $260 per hour
- Diagnostic, scan and calibration at $285 per hour, one hour minimum, credited against an authorized repair
- Detail at $95 per hour
R-02
How materials are calculated
Materials are not estimated by eye. Paint supplies bill at $55 per paint hour and body supplies at $5 per body hour, calculated automatically on every written estimate from the labor hours booked.
That method is standard across the industry and it is published here so a quote from any shop can be checked against it. If a competing estimate shows a materials figure that does not correspond to the paint hours booked, that is worth asking about.
Hazmat and disposal is $45 flat where chemicals or refrigerant are involved. Sales tax of 7.75 percent applies to parts and materials. Labor is not taxed in California.
R-03
Parts markup, stated openly
Parts at or under $100 carry 100 percent markup. Parts above $100 carry 35 percent. Special order parts require a 100 percent non refundable deposit at order, because a chassis specific panel ordered for one unit cannot be sold to anyone else.
Publishing markup is unusual and it is deliberate. A fleet comparing two estimates needs to know whether a lower labor rate is being recovered through parts, which is a common structure and is not visible unless the markup is disclosed.
R-04
What insurance billed work does to the rate
Insurance billed work may be written at a carrier negotiated rate that differs from posted retail. That is normal across the industry and it does not change the scope of work performed or the standard it is performed to.
Where a carrier rate is below what a line item genuinely requires, the difference is documented in the supplement rather than absorbed by cutting the procedure. Corrosion protection and blend time are the two lines most commonly cut on fleet work, and neither is optional if the repair is meant to last.
ADD Additions
Materials, parts and payment
Materials
| Line | Basis |
|---|---|
| Paint supplies | $55 per paint hour |
| Body supplies | $5 per body hour |
| Hazmat and disposal | $45 flat when chemicals or refrigerant are involved |
| Sales tax | 7.75 percent on parts and materials. Labor is not taxed. |
Parts
| Tier | Markup |
|---|---|
| Parts at $100 or less | 100 percent markup |
| Parts above $100 | 35 percent markup |
| Special order parts | 100 percent non refundable deposit at order |
Payment
| Stage | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Jobs above $2,000 | 50 percent deposit at authorization |
| Jobs above $10,000 | Additional 25 percent when parts arrive |
| Balance | Due at pickup. No unit leaves the property until paid in full. |
| Card payments above $1,000 | 3.5 percent surcharge, a pass through of merchant fees |
FAQ Questions
Rate questions
Why is the diagnostic rate higher than the body rate
Diagnostic, scan and calibration work requires equipment and training that panel work does not, and it produces a documented result rather than a physical repair. It runs $285 per hour with a one hour minimum, and it is credited as a line item against an authorized repair, so proceeding removes the cost.
How do I check a materials figure on an estimate
Multiply the paint hours by 55 and the remaining body hours by 5. That is the calculation, and it is the same one used industry wide. A materials figure that does not correspond to the labor hours booked is worth questioning on any estimate, including ours.
Is the parts markup negotiable on a fleet account
Volume changes the conversation. An established fleet account running consistent work has room to discuss both parts and labor terms. The published figures are the standard retail structure, which is the right starting point for a single unit or a first job.
Does labor get taxed in California
No. Sales tax of 7.75 percent applies to parts and materials only. Labor is not taxed, which is why the tax line on a labor heavy structural job is smaller than people expect relative to the total.
Every service price band on this site is built from these rates. See the complete price list for the dollar range and labor hour band on every service.
Next step
Put a unit on the schedule
Send the unit number, the damage, and a few photos. You get a written scope and a price band back, not a sales call.
All work is performed at our Yorba Linda facility. Estimates are scheduled, not walk up.