vehicle and plant repair - which option
Mobile mechanic or take it to a garage?
A mobile mechanic comes to you, which removes the whole problem of getting a vehicle that may not be driveable to a workshop. The limit is physical: some jobs need a ramp, a lift, extraction, or equipment that does not fit in a van. Knowing which side of that line your job sits on is the entire decision.
Why trust this page: GetBrent is a directory. We take no commission and we provide neither service, so we have no stake in which one you pick - which is the only reason a comparison like this is worth reading.
A mobile mechanic
A qualified mechanic who travels to your home or workplace and works on the vehicle where it stands.
Best for
- +Servicing, brakes, batteries, alternators, diagnostics and many common repairs
- +A vehicle that will not start or is not safe to drive
- +Anyone who cannot lose a day sitting in a waiting room
- +Pre-purchase inspections, where the vehicle is at a seller
- +Fleet and site work, where vehicles cannot be moved
Watch out for
- -Some jobs simply cannot be done on a driveway, and an honest mobile mechanic will say so
- -Weather affects what is practical
- -You may need somewhere legal and level for them to work
- -Check they carry the right insurance for working at your premises
A garage
A fixed workshop with ramps, lifts, alignment equipment and the tooling that heavy jobs need.
Best for
- +Clutches, cambelts, gearboxes, exhausts and anything requiring the vehicle raised
- +Wheel alignment, tyre work and anything needing calibrated equipment
- +MOT testing, which must happen at an approved test centre
- +Air conditioning, welding and body repair
- +Jobs that may uncover more work once opened up
Watch out for
- -Getting the vehicle there, which is the whole problem if it will not start
- -Being without the vehicle for a day or more
- -Courtesy cars are not standard and often cost extra
The short answer
If the vehicle cannot get to a garage, or the job is routine, a mobile mechanic is the obvious answer. If it needs to be lifted, aligned, tested or welded, it needs a workshop. Ask the mobile mechanic directly - a good one will tell you when your job belongs in a garage.
What to ask before you book
- •Describe the job accurately and ask plainly whether it can be done on a driveway.
- •Ask what happens if the fault turns out to be something bigger.
- •Confirm the hourly rate, any call-out charge and whether diagnostics are separate.
- •Check qualifications and insurance.
- •For an MOT, remember it has to be an approved test centre.
Find companies near you
Whichever way you go, compare two or three local firms. GetBrent charges no booking fee.
Browse vehicle and plant repair companies