News & Advice

Usually, labor charges quoted by repair shops are done using a computer program or “flat rate” manual that provides the average time taken by an experienced technician to complete a given vehicle repair. This flat-rate duration is then multiplied with the shop’s hourly labor rate to acquire the total labor charges for the rendered services.

These are the national average hourly labor rates for different auto body jobs:

• Paint Labor – $50
• Body Labor – $50
• Paint Materials – $32
• Electrical – $98
• Mechanical – $98
• Frame / Structural – $60
• Fabrication – $60
• Fiberglass – $60
• Mount & Balance – $26
• Glass – $60

Charges might be different based on the skill level of each body or repair shop.

Many car owners feel that flat-rate pricing is used by body shops to overcharge customers. However, the system allows for the shop to offer a fair and consistent estimate while paying the technician for their ability.

At Global Collision Centers in Wichita, we are very competitively priced, give honest estimates and usually can meet or beat our competitors’ quotes. We also offer loaner vehicles and towing services.

For many auto body shops, if the flat-rate time to replace a car starter is fixed at 2 hours. The shop might quote the rate to the customer and pay the technician twice their hourly wage for the work.

An experienced technician could complete the job in less time and earn a higher hourly rate.