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At a glance: money to start · hours · how fast it pays · how much you keep · how much it can earn. Taller bars are better; the dashed line is halfway.

Mobile mechanic: what it really costs to start

Starting a mobile mechanic business in Europe costs €8,000–€30,000 in 2026, with first income after about 4 weeks and earnings of up to €4,200 a month working full time.

Last updated: September 2026 · sources at the bottom of the page

Servicing and repairs at the customer's home.

Mobile mechanic in numbers
Money to start €8,000–€30,000 What you spend before the first customer pays: kit, stock, licences, launch.
Hours a week 30–50 What it takes to run it properly, from part time to full time.
Weeks to first income about 4 How long you pay in before any money comes back. You still need to live in those weeks.
Kept of every €100 €60 What stays with you after running costs, before you pay yourself for your hours.
Most it earns a month €1,400 part time · €4,200 full time A realistic ceiling for one person running it. Your own hours are the limit.
Competition medium Some competition: running it well is what decides.
Licence or qualification not usually Beyond registering the business and insurance, nothing specific in our research.

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What nobody usually tells you

No premises, no rent, and customers pay a premium for not losing a day at a garage. You work outdoors in all weather, and the diagnostic kit for modern cars is a real and recurring cost.

The route, in five steps

  1. Specialise in two makes and buy the diagnostics for them
  2. Convenience is the product: price above the garage, not below
  3. Carry the twenty parts that cover most jobs
  4. Take payment before you leave the driveway
  5. Fleet and lease contracts smooth the income

What you'll need to buy

These are the categories this business pays for in the first month. We go through the software side on the tools page.

vandiagnostic toolstoolsparts floatinsurance

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Common questions

How much does it cost to start a mobile mechanic business?

Between €8,000 and €30,000 to begin. That covers van, diagnostic tools, tools and the rest of the setup. It does not cover your own living costs during the 4 weeks before the first income arrives, which is the cost most people forget.

How long after starting a mobile mechanic business does the first income arrive?

Around 4 weeks to the first euro. Reaching the realistic maximum of €4,200 a month takes considerably longer, and assumes 50 hours a week.

How much can you earn a month if you start a mobile mechanic business?

Up to about €4,200 a month working full time, or €1,400 part time. Of every €100 it takes, about €60 stays with you after running costs.

Can you start a mobile mechanic business alongside a job?

Yes, at a cost. Part time it realistically tops out around €1,400 a month, against €4,200 working full time, and it needs 30–50 hours a week.

Is there a lot of competition?

Competition is medium. Neither crowded nor protected: winning comes down to how well you run it rather than whether you can enter.

Similar businesses to compare

Sources

Where these numbers come from. Figures are rounded ranges for European markets; check the ones you are about to spend money on. Last checked September 2026.

  1. Airtasker UK — How much a mobile mechanic costs what it earns · time to first income

Does it fit you?

These numbers are the average case. Whether this business clears your target depends on your money, your hours and how long you can wait. Put them in and see.

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