In one of my previous posts last week, I talked about the usual breakdown of the rate that auto repair shops typically charge. These include the labor rate, the cost of the parts, and the miscellaneous charges. In this post, I’ll take a closer look at the broad term “miscellaneous” that you’ll find in your auto repair receipt.
What is this miscellaneous charge, and what are the items covered by this? Well, miscellaneous charges usually involve the supplies used by mechanics in performing the repair in your vehicle. These supplies could include the towel used by the shop, plus other shop chemicals such as penetrating oil and cleaner. The latter includes chemicals such as brake cleaner, elements used in cleaning the parts being repaired.
If you look at receipts from different auto repair shops, you’ll notice the difference in the way these shops compute the miscellaneous charge. Although there are shops that still compute the miscellaneous charge according to the actual items used, tallying each item on the receipt and indicating the price opposite each item, most shops today charge a flat rate for the miscellaneous fee, regardless of the actual supplies used. In the case of the latter, the rate varies from one shop to another. Some shops have a fixed rate for the miscellaneous charge while others compute this charge according to the billing of the labor hours, usually a certain percentage of the total labor rate.
This computation can be at the disadvantage of some customers, especially those whose cars were repaired without actually using a lot of shop supplies—that’s similar to paying for nothing. Therefore, if at all possible, you must go for auto repair shops that charge the miscellaneous rate per item, according to the actual supplies that have been used. This way, you know that you only pay for something that has given your vehicle direct benefits.
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