Auto Repair estimate template
An auto repair estimate should list the vehicle and VIN, the customer's complaint, diagnosis, each part with brand and price, labor hours and rate, shop supplies, taxes on parts, what is excluded and how long the price holds.
What goes into a auto repair estimate
An auto repair estimate is a promise about one specific vehicle, so start with year, make, model, mileage and VIN. Then write the customer's complaint in their words and your diagnosis in yours. The gap between the two is where most repair disputes start.
The example quotes a front brake job, a brake fluid flush and a serpentine belt on a 2017 sedan: parts priced by line, labor in book hours and a shop supplies charge. It holds for 7 days, since parts prices and stock change quickly.
Not included in this estimate
- Rear brakes, calipers and hoses unless listed
- Additional repairs found during the job, which need your approval first
- Diagnosis of unrelated warning lights
- Customer-supplied parts
Gearhouse Auto Service
shop.gearhouse@example.com · (555) 010-6207
Estimate
EST-1024
Prepared for
Natalie Brooks
Valid until
October 27, 2026
Estimate total
$872.00
| Description | Qty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic inspection: brake noise and belt squeal | 1 | $120.00 |
| Front brake pads, ceramic, aftermarket | 1 | $85.00 |
| Front brake rotor | 2 | $190.00 |
| Brake labor, front axle, hours | 1.5 | $210.00 |
| Serpentine belt | 1 | $48.00 |
| Belt labor, hours | 0.6 | $84.00 |
| Brake fluid flush | 1 | $110.00 |
| Shop supplies | 1 | $25.00 |
- Total
- $872.00
Estimate valid for 7 days. No work beyond this estimate without your approval. Parts carry the maker's warranty.
Fill in this auto repair estimate online
The lines are already in. Change them to your own job, then download a free PDF. Nothing you type leaves this browser.
Your business
Estimate
EST-0001
Prepared for
Client name
Valid until
November 20, 2026
Estimate total
$872.00
| Description | Qty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic inspection: brake noise and belt squeal | 1 | $120.00 |
| Front brake pads, ceramic, aftermarket | 1 | $85.00 |
| Front brake rotor | 2 | $190.00 |
| Brake labor, front axle, hours | 1.5 | $210.00 |
| Serpentine belt | 1 | $48.00 |
| Belt labor, hours | 0.6 | $84.00 |
| Brake fluid flush | 1 | $110.00 |
| Shop supplies | 1 | $25.00 |
- Total
- $872.00
Estimate valid for 7 days. No work beyond this estimate without your approval. Parts carry the maker's warranty.
Free, no signup, no watermark. What you type stays in this browser.
How to fill in a auto repair estimate template
- 1
Open the template
Fill in the auto repair estimate template on this page, or download it for Word or PDF.
- 2
Add your business and client
Enter your business name, contact details and logo, then the client's name and address.
- 3
Set the number and how long it's valid
Give the estimate a number and the date the price is good until, often 7 days.
- 4
List the work
Add each line with quantity and rate, such as diagnostic inspection: brake noise and belt squeal and front brake pads, ceramic, aftermarket. Add tax, a discount or a deposit if needed.
- 5
Send it for approval
Download the PDF, or send it from Invoicefy so the client can accept it online and you can turn it into an invoice.
How to price a job as a mechanic
Get approval before turning a wrench
Many states have rules about written estimates and getting the customer's okay before a repair goes over the estimate. Even where it isn't required, an accepted estimate is your best defense in a dispute. Check your state's consumer rules for repair shops.
Price parts and labor line by line
List each part with its brand or grade, and show labor as hours times your rate. Customers who can see 1.5 hours are less likely to argue than those who see one big number.
Offer part grades as options
A customer on a budget may prefer aftermarket pads, while another wants OEM. Quote both, on separate estimates or as clearly marked choices, so the decision is theirs and on record.
Call before adding work
When you find a leaking hose or a worn tie rod mid-job, stop and send a revised estimate for approval. Note the time and how the customer approved it.
Make approval quick
Customers often aren't at the shop when the estimate is ready. With Invoicefy you can text the estimate link from your phone; the customer accepts online, and once the car is done one click turns it into the invoice.
Questions people ask
Yes, diagnosis takes skilled time and equipment. Many shops charge a diagnostic fee and apply part or all of it to the repair if the customer approves the work. Say which approach you use on the estimate.
A week is common for shops, because parts prices and availability shift. If the customer comes back later, recheck parts pricing and the vehicle's condition before you start.
Many states tax parts, and some also tax labor, so the rules vary. Follow your state's rules and show tax on the estimate, so the total matches what the customer will pay.
Some shops install customer parts and charge labor only, with no warranty on the part or the labor tied to it. Write that policy on the estimate if you allow it.
Keep going
Send the proposal, then bill it in one click.
Your client accepts the proposal online and you turn it into an invoice without retyping a thing. Free to start.