Setting your rate for car inspection is the most common beginner mistake. Either you undercharge and clients treat you like a side gig kid, or you overcharge and nobody calls. This article shows real market rates, when to raise prices, and how to handle payments, cash, transfer, invoice, business registration.
Real market rates (2026)
Rate depends on three things: your experience, city, and specialisation. Realistic ranges in Western/Central Europe:
| Profile | Rate | Working time | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner, small town | €35-50 | 90 min | €23-33/h |
| 10+ Google reviews, mid-size city | €50-70 | 90 min | €33-47/h |
| Pro profile, big city | €80-100 | 90 min | €53-67/h |
| Specialist (BMW/US imports/vans) | €100-150 | 90-120 min | €60-100/h |
| Exotic cars (Porsche, Tesla) | €150-300 | 2-3 h | €60-150/h |
Market median in 2026: around €55 for inspecting a used passenger car in a mid-size city.
How to set your rate
Three questions to ask before setting your pricing:
1. How many Google reviews do I have?
Clients will Google you before calling. Your review count is the strongest credibility signal.
- 0 reviews: max €45. Client’s risk is high, your fee can’t add to it.
- 5-10 reviews (4.8+ avg): €50-65. Client sees you’re not random.
- 20+ reviews (4.8+ avg): €75+. Competition is more expensive, so can you be.
- 50+ reviews and a website: €100+, sometimes €130-150 for premium cars.
2. How long is the drive?
Pricing isn’t just 90 minutes of inspection. Real time is:
Drive there (30 min)
+ Inspection (90 min)
+ Report generation and chat (15 min)
+ Drive back (30 min)
= 2 hours 45 minutesA €50 / 2h 45m rate = €18 / hour of real work. A job outside your area (60+ min drive) becomes 4-4.5h work, add €0.50/km.
3. What value am I giving the client?
Clients don’t pay for hours. They pay to avoid losing €2,000-5,000 on hidden defects.
Your rate is 1-3% of the car’s value:
| Car value | Suggested inspection rate |
|---|---|
| €3-7k | €40-50 (1-1.5%) |
| €10-20k | €60-100 (0.5-1%) |
| €25-50k | €120-200 (0.4-0.7%) |
| €60k+ | €200-400 (0.3-0.5%) |
For a €30k car no client will refuse €120 inspection, that’s 0.4% of the value, and could save them €5k.
Packages vs. one-off jobs
Some inspectors offer packages. Three typical models:
Model 1: just the on-site inspection
Client pays for a single job. Simplest, most scalable. 80% of inspectors work this way.
- Rate: €50-100.
- Time: 90 minutes + drive.
- Client buys once, doesn’t return.
Model 2: inspection + 2 months of support
After inspection, the client has 60 days to message you with follow-up questions. Average rate rises by €10-15, but clients recommend you, because they feel cared for.
- Rate: €65-115.
- Time: like Model 1 + ~30 min of calls over 2 months.
Model 3: “buying 3 cars to pick one” package
Buyer is shopping for a specific model and wants 3 inspections. Discount on the bundle, but 3 guaranteed jobs.
- Rate: €150 for 3 inspections (vs €180 individually).
- Client pre-pays, you have certain jobs that month.
- Great for side income, reduces monthly uncertainty.
How to handle payments
Most clients are private individuals. Three payment paths, from simplest to most formal:
Cash or instant transfer on-site
Most common in your first 6 months. Take payment after inspection, give a basic receipt.
- Plus: zero paperwork, no waiting, no “I’ll pay later” risk.
- Minus: you’ll need to declare this on annual tax return.
- Limit: at “side activity” / unregistered work, there’s usually an annual income cap before you must register as a business. Check local rules.
Invoice as self-employed / sole trader
If you exceed the side-activity cap, register as a sole trader (Einzelunternehmen / sole prop / etc., depending on country).
- Registration: cheap, online, 15-30 minutes in most EU countries.
- Tax setup: usually a flat-rate or simplified scheme works best for inspection services (no significant deductibles).
At 15 inspections × €60 = €900 revenue / month. After tax + social contributions, around €600-700 net.
Invoice for businesses (B2B clients)
Sometimes the client is a dealer or finance company, they need a VAT invoice. Requires business registration, but rates are higher (the business pays for speed and consistency):
- Dealer partners: €40-50 per inspection (lower because of volume).
- Finance / leasing companies: €80-120 (they want a professional report on file).
Note: this is not legal or tax advice. Consult an accountant before registering a business, rules change, and your situation may require a different setup.
When to raise prices
Your rate shouldn’t be fixed. Raise it at three moments:
After 5 good jobs
From €35 to €50. Why: you have first reviews, you know you can do this, time to price realistically.
After 15-20 jobs + 10 Google reviews
From €50 to €65-75. Why: competition in your city charges €70+, you have comparable reputation.
After tooling upgrade
After buying a pro-grade paint gauge (PosiTest) and thermal camera (FLIR ONE Pro), from €75 to €100. Why: you genuinely detect more, reports are richer.
Each price hike loses 10-20% of clients. That’s good, you lose the cheapest ones. Those who remain genuinely value your work.
Common mistake: undercharging at the start
“I’ll start at €20, then raise”. Trap.
Underpriced client = client from hell:
- Wants the inspection done in 30 minutes “because it’s only €20”.
- Negotiates the price down post-inspection if verdict displeases them.
- Won’t recommend you, because “Johnny does it for half”.
Market-rate client = happy client:
- Knows they’re paying for a professional service.
- Gives you 90 minutes without watching the clock.
- Pays immediately by instant transfer.
- Recommends you to friends with similar financial profile.
Rule: better 3 inspections × €60 than 8 × €25. Less work, more money, better clients.
Summary: 5 pricing rules
- Starting rate: €35-50. Never less.
- Raise every 10-15 jobs. Every 3-4 months.
- Minimum €25/hour. Count real time (drive + inspection + report).
- 1-3% of car value. For expensive cars, the rate scales.
- Cash / instant transfer on-site. Invoice only for businesses. Never “transfer later”.
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