Where should you advertise your garage?
Every platform wants your money and none of them publish straight answers about price. Here is what garage listing and lead sites actually cost in 2026, what you get, and what garage owners complain about with each - compared honestly, including the free options.
What each platform costs (2026)
| Platform | Cost | Model | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Free | Map + search listing, reviews | Nothing - do this first. Only Google Ads costs money, and that is optional |
| Checkatrade | ~£70-£140+/mo* | Vetted membership + leads | Trade sources report £300-500 setup, lead credits on top, leads shared with 3-4 competitors, and your reviews are not portable if you leave |
| Yell.com | Free basic; paid ~£30-£1,000/mo* | Directory + managed ads | Sales-negotiated pricing, 12-month minimum contracts widely criticised |
| FixMyCar (WhoCanFixMyCar) | £99 + VAT setup, then success fees | Quote for jobs, pay when you win | Commission on every booking won; you compete on price against other quoting garages |
| BookMyGarage | Commission per booking | Marketplace bookings | Percentage not published; optional marketing add-on reported ~£120/mo |
| Trustpilot | Free tier; paid from ~$99/mo | Review platform | Paid tiers get expensive fast; free tier is enough for most garages |
| MyRepairCost - Fair Price Approved | Free for founding garages, then £39/mo flat | Recommended to drivers who just checked a fair price | New network, growing area by area - founding garages get the most exposure while it grows |
*Checkatrade and Yell do not publish price lists; figures are ranges reported by trade sources and members in 2025-26. FixMyCar setup fee from their official packages page. Always confirm current pricing directly.
The lead-fee trap
The most common complaint from garage owners about the big platforms is not the headline price - it is the model. Pay-per-lead means you pay when someone enquires, not when they book. Trade forums are full of garages paying £100+ a month for leads that were shopping five garages at once, price-hunting, or never replied. Commission models are fairer, but you are still handing over a slice of every job and competing in a bidding war.
What actually works for most independents
1. Google Business Profile, done properly. Free, and where most local "garage near me" traffic actually goes. Fill in every field, add photos, reply to reviews.
2. Reviews everywhere they matter. Ask every happy customer. Google first, Facebook second.
3. Facebook presence in local groups. Post real work - the before-and-after jobs, the rescue stories. It is free and it is exactly how local reputations get built now.
4. A trust signal that answers the price fear. Drivers’ biggest worry is being ripped off. A credential that says "this garage prices fairly" converts the customers the big directories never send you.
A listing that sends you drivers, not just a directory entry
MyRepairCost points drivers who’ve just checked a fair price to our Fair Price Approved garages — free for founding garages, then £39/month flat. No per-lead fees, no commission, no contract.
Get your garage listed →The honest bottom line
If you have deep pockets, the big directories do produce work - at £1,200-£4,800 a year plus commissions. If you do not, the free foundations (Google, reviews, Facebook) plus a flat-fee trust listing cover the same ground for a fraction of it. Whatever you choose, never sign a 12-month contract on a sales call without written pricing.