How to read your estimate

Nothing gets done to your car until you have a written estimate in your hand or on your phone. That is the rule for an oil change and it is the rule for an engine job.

You approve it by text, by tapping the link, or in person at the counter. If we find something else once the car is apart, the work stops and you get a new written line to approve or decline. You never get a surprise on the invoice.

GO TIME opened in 2026 with this as the founding rule, because most bad shop stories start with a price that changed after the fact.

Each part gets its own line: what it is, how many, and the price. If a part comes in more than one grade, the line says which one you are getting, so you can compare.

We list parts by the plain name, like front brake pads or serpentine belt, not a part number only. If a line does not make sense to you, ask; the advisor will point at the car and show you.

Sales tax applies to the parts lines only. You will see it calculated on the parts subtotal, not on the whole ticket.

Labor is the time it takes a technician to do the job, priced by the hour. The hours come from a standard labor time guide used across the industry, not from how long a particular tech happened to take that day.

If the job needs diagnostic time first, that is its own line and it is written before we start. When you approve the repair, the diagnostic line stays as listed; it does not grow.

The labor lines carry no sales tax on our estimate. Tax is on parts only.

At the bottom you see three numbers: the parts and labor subtotal, the tax, and the total. Because tax is charged on parts only, the tax line will be smaller than people expect, and the math is easy to check.

There are no shop supply percentages hidden in the total. If a job needs a specific fluid or hardware kit, it is listed as a part with a price, not folded into a fee.

Every repair estimate shows a warranty choice: 90 days, 1 year, or 2 years. You pick the length that fits how long you plan to keep the car and how you drive it.

A longer warranty may come with a different part and a different price, and both are written on the estimate so you can see the trade. The warranty you choose is printed on the invoice, so it is easy to find later.

If you are not sure, ask what we would pick for a car with your mileage. The answer is usually simple.

What happens if this does not fix the problem? A good answer names the next step and whether it costs more.

Which lines are needed now and which can wait? We mark safety items separately from maintenance items so you can split the job across two visits if you need to.

Can I see the old parts? Yes, always. Ask when you approve the estimate and they will be waiting with the car.