Every price on Mendcost is checked against at least two named UK sources before we publish it. This page explains exactly how — and what we do when the data is thin.
The two-source rule
A repair price only appears on this site if we can point to it on at least two independent, reputable UK sources — typically among FixMyCar (WhoCanFixMyCar), ClickMechanic, Checkatrade, the RAC and Bumper, supplemented where relevant by Honest John, Haynes, Parkers, The AA, manufacturer announcements and official bodies such as the DVSA and gov.uk. Every figure is shown with its source named next to it, and every page lists its sources with the date we checked them.
What we do when sources disagree
We show the disagreement instead of hiding it. When ClickMechanic and Bumper publish different figures for the same job, you see both, attributed. When a source contradicts itself — the RAC’s two cambelt guides quote different averages — we say so on the page. When two sources appear to share one underlying dataset (identical figures published in two places), we treat them as a single source, not double confirmation.
What we do when there is no data
We say “not published”. If no approved source publishes a price — an engine-specific wet belt job, ADAS calibration, an EV charging port repair — the page tells you that plainly rather than inventing a plausible-sounding number. We would rather give you an honest gap than a fake average.
What the marketplace averages mean
Figures from FixMyCar and similar platforms are averages of real booked quotes: they include hard cases and easy ones, so they usually sit above the best-case estimates. Where we can, we show both an estimate range and a marketplace average so you can see the realistic spread — not just the number a garage would like you to anchor on.
How often prices are updated
Every page shows a visible “Last updated” date and the date its sources were checked. We review prices at least annually, and sooner when something material changes — a manufacturer warranty scheme, a revised service interval, a recall.
Independence
We are not a garage, a marketplace or a parts retailer, and no garage pays to appear here. Links to sources are provided for verification and are marked nofollow. That independence is the point of the site: the platforms that publish prices also sell the repairs — we only check their numbers against each other.
Spotted an error or an out-of-date price? We want to know — contact us via the details on our About page and we will re-verify it.