Overview
Mechanic quotes are diagnostic first, parts second, and labour is the line the customer queries
A mechanic's quote covers a huge range. A 30-minute oil and filter change, a half-day timing belt replacement, a three-day cylinder head job, an MOT or roadworthy with retest. The customer doesn't see the difference between a service and a repair, and a flat quote for 'service my car' covers the easy work and absorbs the hard work as a loss. The diagnostic is its own line: an hour on the laptop reading codes, road-testing for symptoms, and pricing a proper estimate. The customer who pays for a diagnostic up front gets a proper repair quote; the customer who doesn't, gets a price that's a guess.
QuoteGenio gives mechanics a quoting shape that separates diagnostic, parts, and labour. Diagnostic and inspection as the first line, parts at supplier price with the mark-up disclosed, labour by hour at the workshop rate, sundries (oil, fluids, consumables), MOT or roadworthy retest separately if needed, and any optional work the customer wants to authorise or defer on the same record. Send via WhatsApp from the workshop with the customer's number, take a deposit on parts orders for bigger jobs, and the final invoice ties to the work that was actually done, not the work that was estimated.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every type of mechanical workshop and service business.
The problem
The quoting headaches every workshop knows
Customers want to know the price before you crack a bolt. A messy quoting process loses jobs to the workshop down the road.
Quotes written between jobs
You're trying to phone a parts price, type up a quote, and finish the brake job all at once. Something always slips.
Hand-written job cards look cheap
A scribbled quote on a service sheet makes a R 18,000 cambelt job feel like a back-yard guess.
Slow quotes lose work
If the customer waits two days for a price, the car has already been booked into another workshop.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A clean workflow for the workshop floor. Quote labour and parts, send the customer a link, get the go-ahead before you start.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for mechanics
Line items for labour hours, parts, sundries, diagnostics, and VAT. The workshop quote everything a customer expects to see.
Works from your phone
Quote from under the bonnet. No need to walk to the office computer between jobs.
Quote in under 2 minutes
Build templates for common services so the next major or cambelt quote is three taps away.
Track payments easily
See which invoices are still outstanding and chase them with one tap. No paper job cards to dig through.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how mechanics actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Mechanics choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Mechanics build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Mechanics job pricing
A rough guide to what mechanics charge for common workshop jobs. Pricing varies by region, vehicle make, and whether you fit OEM or aftermarket parts. Use these as a sanity check when building your own labour rate, not as fixed numbers.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic / scan (first 30 min) | R1,240 - R2,479 |
| Minor service (oil, filter, inspection) | R2,975 - R6,280 |
| Major service (plugs, filters, fluids) | R6,941 - R15,701 |
| Brake pads and discs (front axle) | R5,289 - R12,891 |
| Cambelt and water pump | R10,743 - R29,749 |
| Clutch replacement | R15,701 - R39,665 |
| Engine rebuild (4-cyl petrol) | R74,372 - R206,588 |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
A diagnostic fee covers scan time and the technician's hour to find the fault. Most workshops charge R1,240 to R2,479 for a standard scan, often credited back if the customer goes ahead with the repair. Quote it as its own line so customers see your time has value, even before parts go on.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use hourly pricing (typically R1,074 to R1,818 per workshop hour) for diagnostic and unknown-scope jobs. Use fixed pricing for clear work like services, brake pads, and cambelts where the labour time book gives you exact hours. Mix both on the same quote when it suits.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's what a clean, itemised quote for a typical cambelt job looks like. Notice how every cost is visible: diagnostic, parts, fluids, labour, and shop supplies. Transparent quotes win jobs because the customer can see exactly what they're paying for.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Cambelt and water pump replacement, 1.6 petrol
Diagnostic and pre-strip inspection
Cambelt kit (OEM, tensioner and idlers)
Water pump and gasket
Coolant (5L premix) and sundries
Workshop labour (strip, fit, time, refill)
Old parts disposal and shop supplies
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic and pre-strip inspection | 1 | R1,570 | R1,570 |
| Cambelt kit (OEM, tensioner and idlers) | 1 | R4,628 | R4,628 |
| Water pump and gasket | 1 | R2,727 | R2,727 |
| Coolant (5L premix) and sundries | 1 | R1,074 | R1,074 |
| Workshop labour (strip, fit, time, refill) | 5 | R1,405 / hr | R7,024 |
| Old parts disposal and shop supplies | 1 | R578 | R578 |
| Subtotal | R17,601 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R1,760 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R19,361 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Coolant top-up, sump plug washer, shop supplies, environmental disposal, the second timing check, and the road test. Add these as standard lines on your service templates so they stop coming out of your margin.
Peer snapshot
How Mechanics actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Mechanics on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
23
Quotes sent per month
49%
Average quote acceptance
5 min
Median time to send quote
R19,361
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Mechanic jobs like this, free
Build your first quote in under 2 minutes. No credit card, no setup fee, no contract.
Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of workshop owners. The same quoting and margin mistakes come up again and again. Fix these and your shop rate will actually land in the bank.
Mistake: Quoting labour as a flat lump
Better: Itemise labour by hours at your published shop rate. Customers accept a clear hourly line faster than 'labour: R7,024' with no breakdown.
Mistake: Forgetting shop supplies
Better: Rags, lubes, threadlock, gaskets, and disposal are real costs. List a 5 to 8 percent shop supplies line so they stop bleeding your margin.
Mistake: Not separating OEM and aftermarket
Better: Specify the part brand and grade on every line. 'Brembo front discs' protects you when the customer later compares to a no-name option.
Mistake: Verbal price over the phone
Better: Even a quick brake pad job needs a written quote before the wheels come off. WhatsApp a quote in 60 seconds before the spanner moves.
Mistake: No allowance for what you find on strip
Better: Major services and cambelts often uncover extras. Add a 'contingency on findings' note and call before doing the work, never after.
Mistake: Skipping the diagnostic line
Better: Scan time and inspection are skilled work. Quote the diagnostic separately, even if you credit it back when the job is approved.
Mistake: No expiry on the quote
Better: Set a 14 or 30 day validity. Parts pricing moves with the rand, and you don't want to honour a two-month-old quote at a loss.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote mechanic jobs
Get the vehicle on the ramp before you price anything beyond a basic service. Note the make, model, engine code, and current odometer. Scan the car and save the fault codes to the job card. For known work like a cambelt or a clutch, check the manufacturer labour time book so the hours on your quote are defensible. For diagnostic jobs, look for the obvious first (oil level, coolant, belts, mounts) so you can quote a tight range before the customer commits to hours of fault-finding. These first twenty minutes at the bay are where a profitable quote comes from.
Itemise labour, parts, fluids, and shop supplies as separate lines. Quote the diagnostic fee on its own with a note that it is credited back if the work is approved. Spell out the part brand and grade on every line: Brembo front discs, OEM cambelt kit with tensioner and idlers, 5 litres of premix coolant. Break labour into hours at your published shop rate rather than a lump figure, and include a 5 to 8 percent shop supplies line for rags, threadlock, gaskets, and environmental disposal. On major services and cambelts, add a 'contingency on findings' note so any extras uncovered on strip are quoted, not assumed.
Set a 14 to 30 day validity on every workshop quote. Parts pricing moves with the rand weekly, and exchange units can shift between the quote and the invoice. State clearly whether the price is VAT inclusive or exclusive, show VAT as its own line, and note your payment terms: most workshops take a 50 percent parts deposit for big-ticket work like cambelts, clutches, and engine rebuilds. For unknown-scope work such as wiring faults, cap the diagnostic hours on the quote and commit to phoning the customer before exceeding the cap. This single clause stops most payment disputes before they start.
Send the quote while the customer is still at the service desk. Share it as a WhatsApp link so they can read it on their phone, ask questions, and click accept before they walk out of the workshop. Once they have left, the car is competing with every other quote the customer is chasing. Follow up with a short message after 24 hours if you have not heard back. On jobs where something extra comes up on strip-down, send a variation quote in writing on WhatsApp and wait for the accept before fitting the part. Verbal authorisation from a driver is not authorisation from the person paying the bill.
FAQ
Common questions from mechanics
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Add labour as one line at your hourly rate, then add each part as its own line item with description and price. Customers expect to see them split.
Yes. Once the quote is ready, share it as a link via WhatsApp. The customer gets a professional branded document on their phone instantly.
Yes. Add it as its own line item, with a note that it's credited back if the work is approved. Customers respect that your scan time has value.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. The customer opens it on their phone and clicks accept. No app needed.
Yes. Convert any accepted quote to an invoice with one click. All line items carry over, no double entry.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes, invoices, statements, and reports.
Quote the known work (the cambelt, the timing kit, the water pump) as fixed lines, and add a clear note that any extras found on strip will be quoted before fitment. Always phone before doing extra work, and send a variation quote in writing so the customer accepts it before the part goes on.
Quote the option the customer asked for, and offer the alternative as a note. State the brand and grade on every part line so there's no confusion later. If a customer chooses cheaper aftermarket, write the warranty difference into the quote so it's accepted in writing.
Use the manufacturer's published labour times for the operation, then multiply by your shop rate. If the time book says 4.5 hours for a clutch and your rate is R1,570 per hour, your labour line is R7,057. It protects you against jobs that take longer than expected and stops customers arguing the hours.
If you are VAT registered, yes. Show VAT as its own line so the customer can see it before they accept. Hiding it in the subtotal causes invoice disputes every time. If you are under the VAT threshold, state clearly on the quote that prices are VAT exempt.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
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Reviews
Trusted by tradespeople
Real feedback from people who quote for a living.
"Switched from a clunky desktop app. QuoteGenio is faster, simpler, and my crews actually use it. Payments tracking is a huge plus."
Michael O'Brien
General Contractor · Denver, CO
"Saves me about 3 hours every week. I would still be sending WhatsApp images of handwritten quotes if I had not found QuoteGenio."
James van der Merwe
Plumber · Johannesburg
"The biggest win for me is speed. I can quote while I am still with the client and not worry about doing it later."
Jason Naicker
Electrician · New Delhi
Guides
Guides for Mechanics
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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