Checkatrade vs AutoFixFair for garages
Both platforms can surface your garage to potential customers, but they work very differently. Here is a clear comparison so you can decide which one (or both) is worth your time and money.
How each platform works
Checkatrade
Checkatrade is a UK trade directory spanning hundreds of categories. Garages pay a monthly membership fee to appear in search results. Customers browse profiles, read reviews, and then contact the tradesperson directly. Checkatrade does not handle payment or bookings.
AutoFixFair
AutoFixFair is a car-specific marketplace. Car owners post a job with their vehicle registration, fault details, and service history. You receive the job request, send a quote, and if the customer accepts, they pay through the platform. You get a fast Stripe payout when the job is done.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Checkatrade | AutoFixFair |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | All trades (builders, electricians, plumbers, garages, and more) | Car repair only (garages and mobile mechanics) |
| Cost to garages | Monthly subscription (paid whether you get jobs or not) | 0% on first 10 bookings, then 12.5% + VAT on confirmed jobs only |
| Lead type | Directory enquiries, generic | Job requests with reg, fault details, and payment intent |
| Customer payment | Arranged directly between customer and trade | Secure card payment via Stripe through AutoFixFair |
| No-show / tyre-kicker risk | Yes, directory enquiries do not pre-qualify buyers | Reduced: customers commit to platform before quoting |
| Garage profile | Generic trade profile with reviews | Car-specific profile with ratings, services, and coverage |
| Reviews | Broad review system across all trades | Verified reviews from completed AutoFixFair bookings |
| Mobile mechanics | Listed, but not specialist search | Coverage-radius search built in for mobile mechanics |
| Founding partner offer | No | Yes: 0% commission on first 10 bookings |
The key difference: subscription vs commission
Checkatrade charges a monthly subscription fee whether or not you get bookings. If your listing sits quiet for a month, you still pay. For a busy garage with strong word-of-mouth, a directory subscription may not be the best use of budget.
AutoFixFair charges nothing upfront. You pay a commission only when you complete a booking that came through the platform. If a month is quiet, you pay nothing. This makes it a lower-risk way to test a new source of jobs.
As a Founding Partner, the commission on your first 10 bookings is 0%. After that, the standard rate is 12.5% + VAT on jobs we bring you. There is no monthly fee, ever.
Lead quality: what you actually receive
On Checkatrade, a customer enquiry is typically a name, phone number, and a brief description of the job. You then ring back, qualify the enquiry, give a verbal quote, and hope they book. If three other garages also rang them, you have no idea where you stand.
On AutoFixFair, job requests include the vehicle registration (so you can look up the make, model, engine, and MOT history), a description of what is needed, and the customer is actively waiting for quotes through the platform. You quote, they compare, they book and pay. No phone-tag, no verbal haggling.
Which is better for mobile mechanics?
Checkatrade lists mobile mechanics in the same directory as every other trade. AutoFixFair is built with mobile mechanics in mind: you set a coverage radius, car owners posting jobs in your area see you as an option, and the marketplace highlights mobile as a distinct service type. Car owners actively searching for a mobile mechanic can filter for you specifically.
See why AutoFixFair works for mobile mechanicsCommon questions from garages
- Is Checkatrade worth it for a garage or mechanic?
- Checkatrade charges garages a monthly membership fee to appear in its directory. The platform is broad (covering builders, plumbers, electricians, and hundreds of other trades) rather than specialist. If you are a car repair business, a car-specific marketplace like AutoFixFair may bring more relevant enquiries for a lower upfront cost.
- How does Checkatrade make money from garages?
- Checkatrade charges a recurring subscription fee for directory membership, regardless of whether you receive any bookings. The fee varies by trade, location, and plan. You pay whether or not the leads convert.
- How does AutoFixFair make money from garages?
- AutoFixFair charges zero subscription fee. Instead, it takes a commission only on bookings paid through AutoFixFair (0% on your first 10 completed bookings as a Founding Partner (up to £2,500 of total booking value), then 12.5% + VAT on confirmed jobs we bring you). You pay nothing unless you earn.
- Does Checkatrade list car garages?
- Yes, Checkatrade does list garages and mobile mechanics among its many trade categories. However, its review system and job enquiries are not designed specifically for car repair. AutoFixFair is built specifically for the UK car repair market, with job requests that include vehicle registration, MOT history, and specific fault details.
- Can I be on both Checkatrade and AutoFixFair?
- Yes. There is no exclusivity on either platform. Some garages use Checkatrade for general trade visibility and AutoFixFair specifically for confirmed car repair bookings where the customer has already committed to paying through the platform.
- What makes AutoFixFair different for mechanics and garages?
- AutoFixFair sends you job requests from car owners who have already entered their vehicle details, described the fault, and are ready to compare and book. There is no cold lead chasing. Customers pay by card through the platform (Stripe) when they book, and you are paid through Stripe. No invoice chasing, no no-shows from tyre-kickers.
Join AutoFixFair as a Founding Partner
Set up your garage or mobile mechanic profile in under 10 minutes. 0% commission on your first 10 bookings. No subscription, no setup fee.