How to Find an Auto Labor Guide

An auto labor guide will help a mechanic price the services they offer. Some repairs are simple and only require a few minutes of labor, while others are much more intensive and may involve several hours of work. The only way to know for sure is to reference a guide to get an estimate.

Auto labor guides are a necessary part of business for any mechanic or auto shop. Finding a good guide isn't difficult. You'll want to replace these every few years as new vehicles hit the market. If you're replacing an old copy or just want to order one for yourself there are several ways you can do this.

• Check your local auto parts supplier. They will often carry the most popular manuals. If they don't have the manuals in stock you can typically order them and have them delivered directly to your shop location.


• Save money by checking with your local bookstore. If you don't need a brand new copy you may be able to find a used copy for quite a bit less. Most bookstores will have a large pool of used books online to pull from, so this can be a good option for the backyard mechanic.


• Go directly to the guide publishers. Chilton's and AllData both make different auto repair guides. If you go directly through them to order you can set up a pre-order and have the new manuals as soon as they are released. If you own a shop and need several of these this is probably the best route to take.