What must a UK garage display?
For many drivers, a garage is a place of mistrust: they do not know what they will pay until they get the keys back. Clear prices at reception are the first sign of a trustworthy garage, before anyone says a word.
This guide is based on GOV.UK guidance for MOT testing stations, the Price Marking Order guidance and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (links at the bottom). It is written for independent garages in Great Britain doing servicing, repairs and MOTs. It is not legal advice.
MOT stations: the fee poster and maximum fees
The MOT testing guide for test stations on GOV.UK sets clear rules:
- The MOT test fees and appeals poster must be publicly displayed on, or next to, the MOT notice board.
- The statutory fees are maximums. GOV.UK gives £54.85 for a car and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle, and VAT is not added to the fee.
- You may charge less than the maximum, but the full test must still be carried out.
- If you take card payments, you must not add an administration fee that takes the total above the maximum.
Many garages show a reduced MOT price as a way to bring cars in for servicing. That is allowed, as long as the test itself is complete and any extra work is agreed separately.
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Google Business description generator
Three description options for your garage’s Google profile, with the 750-character counter and Google’s rules checked.
Repairs and servicing: what the law says about price
There is no UK regulation that tells a garage exactly what to put on its walls for repairs. The Price Marking Order covers goods (tyres or parts sold over the counter), not services. For the work itself, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies to every service contract with a consumer:
| Section | What it means for a garage |
|---|---|
| s.49 Reasonable care and skill | The work must be done to a proper standard |
| s.50 Information is binding | A price or description you give, which the customer relies on, can become part of the contract |
| s.51 Reasonable price | If no price was fixed, the customer only has to pay a reasonable price, and no more |
| s.52 Reasonable time | If no time was agreed, the work must be done within a reasonable time |
The practical lesson: agree the price, or a ceiling, before you start, and put it in writing. A clear quote or estimate on the job sheet protects you if the customer disputes the bill, because what was agreed is on paper.
A price board template for your reception
Adapt this template with your own prices (amounts below are examples). Print it at A3 for the entrance and A4 for the counter.
[GARAGE NAME] · OUR PRICES (including VAT)
Labour: mechanical £[65] per hour · diagnostics £[55] (deducted if we carry out the repair)
Fixed prices (parts and labour, standard car): interim service from £[129] · full service from £[219] · front brake pads from £[119] · wheel alignment £[49] · air-con regas £[69]
MOT: £[45] (maximum statutory fee £54.85, see MOT notice board)
Quotes: free. We always call you before carrying out any extra work.
Storage: free for [3] days after the work is finished, then £[10] per day
Opening hours: [Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm, Sat 8am-12pm] · [phone] · [website]
For “from” prices, say what the base price covers (vehicle size, entry-level parts) so there are no surprises.
Quotes, estimates and the job sheet
Most disputes come down to “I never agreed to that”. A short written job sheet, signed by the customer when they drop off the car, prevents them:
| On the job sheet | Why |
|---|---|
| Customer details, vehicle, registration, mileage | Clear record |
| Work requested, described precisely | Avoids “I didn’t ask for that” |
| Fixed quote, or estimate with a ceiling | The price becomes part of the contract |
| Promised completion date | Sets the reasonable time |
| Customer signature and date | Proof of agreement |
If further work is needed, or if the estimated cost of £[xxx] including VAT is likely to be exceeded, we will call you on [phone] and will only carry out the extra work with your agreement.
Make the difference clear to customers: a quote is a fixed price for the work described; an estimate is your best guess, which can change. Write which one you are giving.
Invoices: what to include
A detailed invoice is the end of a well-documented job. Good practice for a garage invoice:
- Date, garage name and address, and VAT number if you are registered
- Customer name, vehicle registration and mileage
- Each job listed separately, with labour time and rate
- Each part with its price, and whether it is new, reconditioned or used
- Totals before and including VAT
- Any guarantee on parts and labour
Offer to show customers the parts you replaced, or to put them in the boot. It costs nothing and answers the unspoken question “did they really change it?”.
Common mistakes that turn into complaints, and what to say instead
Most garage complaints are not about bad work. They are about surprise and silence. The usual triggers:
- No price agreed at drop-off: “have a look and let me know” becomes a bill the customer never expected.
- Extra work done without a call: even when it was needed, the customer feels pushed.
- Labour time not shown on the invoice: a single total looks inflated, even when it is fair.
- A different price on the website: the customer arrives with a figure in mind that the counter does not honour.
- “From” prices with no explanation: the customer’s car is never the base model.
A few sentences to use at the counter and on the phone:
At drop-off: “We’ll start with the diagnostic, which is £[55]. Before doing any repair, I’ll call you with a price. If it’s under £[150], are you happy for us to go ahead without calling?”
During the job: “Hello [Name], it’s [your name] from [garage]. While changing the pads we found the rear discs are worn below the limit. Replacing them is £[xxx] including VAT, parts and labour. We can do it today, or leave it and note it on the invoice. What would you like to do?”
At collection: “Here’s the invoice: labour is [1.5] hours at £[65], and these are the parts. Your old pads are in a bag in the boot if you’d like to see them.”
A garage that explains its prices this way rarely gets a one-star review about money, and often gets a five-star one about honesty.
Reception checklist
- Price board at the entrance and at the counter, prices including VAT
- Labour rate for each type of work, fixed-price menu, diagnostic charge
- Quote policy written (free or charged, call before extra work)
- Storage charges stated
- MOT stations: fees and appeals poster on or next to the MOT notice board
- MOT price at or below the statutory maximum, no card surcharge above it
- Tyres and parts sold over the counter: price including VAT shown on or next to the item
- Job sheet with work, price or ceiling, date and signature
- Detailed invoice with parts and labour itemised
- Same prices on your website and Google Business Profile
Drivers increasingly compare garages online before they call. Clear prices and recent reviews often make the difference. For more ways to bring cars in, see our garage marketing ideas.
The steps at a glance
The steps to display prices and document work so customers know what they will pay.
- Put up a price board. Labour rates and fixed prices including VAT at the entrance and the counter.
- Display the MOT poster. MOT stations: fees and appeals poster on or next to the MOT notice board, fees at or below the maximum.
- Use a job sheet. Work requested, quote or estimate ceiling, completion date and customer signature.
- Call before extra work. No additional work or cost without the customer’s agreement.
- Issue detailed invoices. Labour and parts itemised, with totals before and including VAT.
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Sources
The rules quoted in this guide come from these official pages, checked on October 28, 2026.