# feeguides.com

> Free 2026 cost and fee guides for US homeowners and drivers, published by Seen AI. Every page gives the national price range in the first sentence, a job by job table, an estimator that runs in the browser, and the sources. Compiled from published cost guides and checked against trade pricing. Updated September 17, 2026.

Cite as: Seen AI tools, feeguides.com, September 17, 2026.
Open dataset (JSON, CC BY 4.0): https://feeguides.com/data/fees.json
Methodology: https://feeguides.com/methodology/
Contact: hello@nowseen.ai

## 1099 vs W-2 calculator
- [1099 vs W-2: what you actually take home in 2026](https://feeguides.com/1099-vs-w2-calculator/): A 1099 contractor has to earn about 25 to 35 percent more than a W-2 employee to end up with the same money, because the contractor pays both halves of Social Security and Medicare, buys their own health insurance, and gets no paid time off. Put both offers in below and the calculator shows take home pay for each, using the 2026 federal brackets, and the 1099 rate that breaks even.

## Car diagnostic fees
- [What a car diagnostic costs in 2026, by shop and brand](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/): The diagnostic fee is what a shop charges to find out why the light is on. Most charge one hour of labor, and most credit it toward the repair. Pick where you're going for the normal range.
- [A BMW diagnostic fee costs $180 to $300 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/bmw/): BMW dealers bill one hour at roughly $200 an hour, so diagnosis runs $180 to $300. Owners report being asked to agree to a first-hour fee of about $198 on certified pre-owned cars. Independent BMW shops charge $100 to $180.
- [A Chevrolet diagnostic fee costs $120 to $200 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/chevrolet/): Chevy dealers charge about one hour of labor to trace a fault, which puts most owners between $120 and $200. Trucks and Duramax diesels run higher. Covered faults under the 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty are diagnosed free.
- [A dealership diagnostic fee costs $100 to $250 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/dealership/): Dealers charge their full shop rate for one hour of diagnosis, which is 25 to 35 percent more than an independent. Luxury brands run $150 to $400. Under warranty you should not pay at all.
- [Firestone's diagnostic fee is about $100 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/firestone/): Firestone Complete Auto Care charges roughly $100 for a diagnostic, about one hour of labor. Customers report the fee is credited toward the repair if you have Firestone do the work. Prices vary by store.
- [A Ford diagnostic fee costs $130 to $200 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/ford/): Ford dealers charge one hour of labor, which lands most owners between $130 and $200. Trucks and diesel models can run higher. Under the 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty a covered fault is diagnosed free.
- [A Honda diagnostic fee costs $120 to $180 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/honda/): Honda dealers charge about one hour of labor to diagnose a problem. Owners report fees around $129 out of warranty. Under the 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty a covered fault should cost nothing to diagnose.
- [A Hyundai diagnostic fee costs $120 to $180 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/hyundai/): Hyundai dealers bill about one hour of labor for diagnosis. Hyundai's 5-year bumper-to-bumper and 10-year powertrain warranties mean many owners never pay it; if you do, $120 to $180 is normal.
- [A Jeep diagnostic fee costs $120 to $200 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/jeep/): Jeep and other Stellantis dealers charge about one hour of labor. Electrical gremlins and transmission concerns on newer Jeeps often need more than an hour, so the top of the range is common.
- [A Kia diagnostic fee costs $110 to $180 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/kia/): Kia dealers charge about one hour of labor. Like Hyundai, Kia's 5-year bumper-to-bumper and 10-year powertrain warranties mean many owners never pay the fee at all.
- [A Lexus diagnostic fee costs $150 to $250 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/lexus/): Lexus dealers charge one hour at a luxury labor rate, so diagnosis runs $150 to $250. Because Lexus shares parts and tools with Toyota, an independent Toyota specialist can usually diagnose one for $70 to $150.
- [A mechanic diagnostic fee costs $50 to $150 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/mechanic/): Most independent shops charge about one hour of labor to find out what is wrong with your car. Most credit that fee toward the repair if you say yes. A free code read at a parts store is not the same thing.
- [A Mercedes-Benz diagnostic fee costs $180 to $300 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/mercedes-benz/): Mercedes dealers charge one hour at a luxury labor rate, so diagnosis runs $180 to $300. Complex electrical faults can take two hours. Independent Mercedes specialists do the same work for $100 to $180.
- [A Nissan diagnostic fee costs $120 to $190 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/nissan/): Nissan dealers bill about one hour of labor for diagnosis. CVT transmission concerns are the most common reason owners pay it, and those can take longer than an hour to trace.
- [Pep Boys' diagnostic fee is about $90 to $150 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/pep-boys/): Pep Boys advertises a free check engine light code check. The full diagnostic evaluation, where a technician finds the cause, is charged like other chains at roughly one hour of labor. Ask which one you are getting.
- [A Subaru diagnostic fee costs $120 to $200 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/subaru/): Subaru dealers bill about one hour of labor. Subarus are less common at independent shops than Toyotas or Hondas, so the gap between dealer and independent pricing is smaller than for other brands.
- [A Tesla diagnostic fee costs $150 to $250 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/tesla/): Tesla service centers charge about one hour of labor for diagnosis, with hourly rates around $175 to $200. Much of it happens remotely: Tesla can read your car's logs over the air before you arrive, so ask whether a visit is even needed.
- [A Toyota diagnostic fee costs $120 to $180 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/toyota/): Toyota dealers bill about one hour of labor for diagnosis, and Toyota's mainstream labor rates keep that in the $120 to $180 range. Warranty faults are diagnosed free; hybrids can cost more to trace.
- [A Volkswagen diagnostic fee costs $130 to $220 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/diagnostic-fee/volkswagen/): VW dealers charge one hour of labor at rates a little above Honda or Toyota. Independent German-car specialists diagnose Volkswagens for $90 to $160 with the same VCDS-compatible tools.

## Car repair costs
- [What common car repairs cost in 2026, before you book](https://feeguides.com/car-repair-cost/): These pages cover the jobs people search right after something breaks: glass, brakes, a failed sticker, a tow, and the hourly rate behind the quote. Pick a job for the range and a live estimate.
- [ADAS calibration costs $150 to $500 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/car-repair-cost/adas-calibration/): Recalibrating the camera behind the windshield runs $150 to $300 for a static calibration in the shop, $100 to $200 for a dynamic calibration on the road, and $250 to $500 when the car needs both. Dealers charge $300 to $600. It is required after most windshield replacements on cars from about 2018 on, and it is the line that turns a $400 glass job into $800.
- [Brake pad replacement costs $150 to $400 per axle in 2026](https://feeguides.com/car-repair-cost/brake-pads/): RepairPal puts a typical pad job around $335 to $394 when parts and labor are both counted. That is usually one axle. Add new rotors and the axle can reach $500 to $700. Both axles at once is how a $350 quote becomes $800.
- [Getting a car out of impound costs $200 to $600 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/car-repair-cost/impound-fee/): A police or private property impound is three bills: the tow, set by the city at about $135 to $250, storage at $40 to $75 for every calendar day the car sits, and a release or administrative fee of $50 to $150. Pick the car up the same day and it is $200 to $400. Leave it over a weekend and it is $400 to $600, because the yard counts Friday, Saturday and Sunday as three days.
- [A mechanic labor rate is $90 to $250 an hour in 2026](https://feeguides.com/car-repair-cost/labor-rate/): Independents often post $90 to $150 an hour. Dealers often post $130 to $250. A 2026 industry roundup of AAA and shop surveys puts the national band near $120 to $159, with a midpoint around $140 for independent shops.
- [A state inspection costs $10 to $50 in 2026, or nothing](https://feeguides.com/car-repair-cost/state-inspection/): Fourteen states do not require a regular safety inspection on a normal car. Texas ended the safety sticker in January 2025 and kept a $7.50 fee plus emissions tests in some counties. Where a sticker is still required, the shop fee is usually $10 to $50.
- [A local tow costs $75 to $250 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/car-repair-cost/towing/): Most companies charge a hookup fee of about $35 to $100, then $2.50 to $7 a mile. AAA Classic covers the first 5 miles. Miles after the membership cap are often about $7 each at participating clubs. An impound tow is a different bill: hook plus a daily storage fee.
- [A windshield chip repair costs $60 to $150 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/car-repair-cost/windshield-chip-repair/): Fixing a rock chip runs $60 to $150 for the first chip and $20 to $50 for each one after it, at a glass shop or from a mobile van. Most insurers pay for the repair in full with no deductible, because a $100 repair today saves them a $700 replacement next month. A DIY kit is $10 to $20 and works on a fresh small chip.
- [A windshield replacement costs $275 to $900 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/car-repair-cost/windshield-replacement/): Most cars land between $275 and $750 for the glass alone. If the car has a camera in the windshield, calibration after the install is what jumps the bill. In Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina, comprehensive coverage must replace the windshield with no deductible.

## Home inspection costs
- [What a home inspection costs in 2026, and the two tests buyers add to it](https://feeguides.com/inspection-cost/): A standard home inspection runs $300 to $500. The radon test and the septic inspection are the two add ons that most often turn a $400 inspection into a $900 week. Here is what each one costs, who pays, and what changes the price.
- [A home inspection costs $300 to $500 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/inspection-cost/home-inspection/): Most buyers pay $300 to $500 for a standard inspection, about $345 on average. Price is set by the size and age of the house. A condo is $200 to $350; a large or older home is $500 to $700. The buyer pays, up front, in the first week or two after the offer is accepted.
- [A radon test costs $150 to $250 from a professional in 2026](https://feeguides.com/inspection-cost/radon-test/): A professional radon test during a home purchase runs $150 to $250, using a monitor left in the home for 48 hours. A do it yourself kit is $15 to $50 including the lab fee. If the result is at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, a mitigation system is $800 to $2,500 installed.
- [A septic inspection costs $300 to $600 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/inspection-cost/septic-inspection/): A full septic inspection, where the tank is pumped and the inspector checks the tank, baffles and drain field, runs $300 to $600. A visual walk over is $100 to $200 and tells you very little. Massachusetts requires a Title 5 inspection before every sale, at $400 to $800. A failed system costs $15,000 to $30,000 to replace, which is why buyers pay for the full one.

## Home repair costs
- [What home repairs cost in 2026, and what the trades charge an hour](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/): Hourly rates for the four trades you call most, and real price ranges for the repairs that come up every year. Pick a page for the breakdown and an estimator.
- [An emergency plumber costs $300 to $600 before parts in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/after-hours-plumber/): An after hours plumber charges 1.5 to 3 times the daytime rate, which works out to $150 to $400 an hour, plus an emergency service call fee of $100 to $350 just to come out. A typical night or weekend call lands at $300 to $600 before parts. A burst pipe or sewer backup runs $500 to $1,000 or more.
- [A chimney sweep costs $150 to $300 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/chimney-sweep/): A standard cleaning with a basic inspection runs $150 to $300. Add a camera inspection and it is $250 to $500. Heavy creosote, animal nests or a wood stove insert push the price up. Fall is the busiest and priciest time to book.
- [Electricians charge $50 to $130 an hour in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/electrician-hourly-rate/): Most electricians bill $75 to $110 an hour, with apprentices at the low end and master electricians at the top. The first hour is often bundled into a $100 to $200 service call fee, and many electricians bill a one or two hour minimum.
- [Garage door spring replacement costs $150 to $350 for one, $300 to $700 for a pair in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/garage-door-spring/): Replacing one torsion spring runs $150 to $350 installed. Replacing both, which every technician will recommend, runs $300 to $700. The spring itself costs $30 to $100. The rest is a trained tech winding it safely, plus the $75 to $150 service call. Anything over $800 for a pair of standard springs is too much.
- [Garage door repair costs $150 to $600 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/garage-door/): Most garage door repairs land between $150 and $600 including the $75 to $150 service call. A broken torsion spring, the most common failure, is $180 to $350 for one spring or $250 to $450 for the pair. A new opener installed is $350 to $550.
- [Handymen charge $50 to $125 an hour in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/handyman-hourly-rate/): A self employed handyman charges $50 to $80 an hour. Franchise and company handymen charge $75 to $125. Most have a two hour minimum, and rates are 20 to 40 percent higher in big cities.
- [HVAC technicians charge $75 to $150 an hour in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/hvac-hourly-rate/): Residential HVAC labor runs $85 to $150 an hour, commercial $110 to $190. Most companies charge a $75 to $200 service call fee that covers the first 30 to 60 minutes, then bill hourly or by flat rate for the repair.
- [Pest control costs $150 to $250 per visit in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/pest-control/): A one time general pest treatment runs $150 to $350. Quarterly plans are $100 to $150 a visit, about $400 to $700 a year. Termites, bed bugs and rodents are priced separately and cost far more than a general spray.
- [Plumbers charge $45 to $200 an hour in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/plumber-hourly-rate/): Most residential plumbers bill $80 to $130 an hour. Master plumbers in big metros reach $200. On top of the hourly rate there is usually a service call fee of $75 to $250 that covers the trip, and many plumbers bill a one hour minimum.
- [Septic tank pumping costs $300 to $800 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/septic-pumping/): Pumping a standard 1,000 gallon tank runs $400 to $600. Bigger tanks, a tank that is overdue by years, a buried lid or high disposal fees push it past $1,000. Pump every 3 to 5 years; a failed system costs $15,000 to $30,000 to replace.
- [Tankless water heater repair costs $300 to $700 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/tankless-water-heater/): Most tankless water heater repairs run $300 to $700. A descaling flush, which fixes the most common problem, is $150 to $300. Igniters, sensors and thermistors are $150 to $450. A heat exchanger is the big one at $500 to $1,300, and at that price on an old unit, replacement ($1,500 to $4,000) starts to make sense.
- [A termite inspection costs $75 to $150, and is often free, in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/termite-inspection/): If you just want to know whether you have termites, most pest companies including Orkin and Terminix will inspect for free, because they hope to sell the treatment. If you need the paper, a written wood destroying organism report for a home sale or a mortgage, it costs $100 to $325. That letter is the thing you are paying for.
- [Water heater repair costs $230 to $1,000 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/water-heater/): The national average water heater repair is about $600. Small fixes like a thermostat or heating element run $100 to $350. A gas control valve is $300 to $500. If the tank itself is leaking, it cannot be repaired; a new 40 gallon tank installed is $1,200 to $2,500.
- [Well pump replacement costs $900 to $2,500 installed in 2026](https://feeguides.com/repair-cost/well-pump/): Replacing a submersible well pump, the kind in most drilled wells, runs $1,000 to $3,000 installed. A shallow well jet pump is $300 to $1,200. The pump itself is $200 to $1,200; the rest is labor, and labor depends on how deep the well is. The national average is about $1,800.

## Permit costs
- [What a permit costs in 2026, by the job you are doing](https://feeguides.com/permit-cost/): Permit fees are set by your city or county, not by the contractor, and they scale with the value of the work. Small jobs are $50 to $200. A remodel or addition is $500 to $2,000 or more. Pick the permit for the range, what triggers it, and an estimate for your area.
- [A building permit costs $50 to $2,000 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/permit-cost/building-permit/): Most residential building permits land between $400 and $1,500. A small project like a shed or a deck is $50 to $500. A kitchen or bath remodel is $500 to $1,500. An addition is $600 to $3,000, and new construction runs into the thousands, because the fee is a percentage of the project value.
- [A deck permit costs $100 to $500 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/permit-cost/deck-permit/): Most deck permits run $150 to $400. The building code exempts a deck that is under 200 square feet, less than 30 inches off the ground and not attached to the house. Almost every attached deck needs one. The permit includes a footing inspection and a final, and the drawing you submit is the part that takes time.
- [An electrical permit costs $50 to $500 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/permit-cost/electrical-permit/): A permit for a single circuit or an EV charger is $50 to $150. A panel upgrade is $100 to $500. A whole house rewire is $300 to $900. Most states require the licensed electrician to pull it, and the fee is usually inside the electrician's quote.
- [A fence permit costs $20 to $100 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/permit-cost/fence-permit/): Fence permits are the cheapest permit on the list, $20 to $100 in most towns, up to $200 to $400 in a few cities. Many places do not require one for a fence under 6 feet. The expensive part is not the permit. It is the property survey the town or your neighbor may ask for, at $300 to $700.
- [An HVAC permit costs $50 to $500 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/permit-cost/hvac-permit/): Replacing an AC or furnace needs a mechanical permit, usually $50 to $250. A full system replacement is $150 to $500. Mini splits are $50 to $200. The contractor pulls it, it is inside the quote, and the manufacturer's warranty and most utility rebates depend on it.
- [A plumbing permit costs $50 to $500 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/permit-cost/plumbing-permit/): A water heater permit is $50 to $150 and is the one most often skipped. A bathroom addition is $150 to $500. A whole house repipe is $200 to $600. Sewer and gas line work needs its own permit and sometimes a separate inspection from the gas utility.

## Service call fees
- [What a service call costs in 2026, by trade](https://feeguides.com/service-call-fee/): The service call fee is what you pay for a technician to show up, find the problem and quote the fix. Pick your trade for the normal range, what it includes, and whether it's credited to the repair.
- [An appliance repair service call costs $70 to $130 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/service-call-fee/appliance-repair/): Most appliance repair companies charge one diagnostic fee that covers the visit, finding the fault and the first hour of labor. Large national brands charge $100-$150. Most waive the fee if you approve the repair.
- [An electrician service call costs $100 to $200 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/service-call-fee/electrician/): For most electricians the service call fee covers the visit and the first hour of work, so a small job like a dead outlet can be done for the fee alone. Some charge a separate $40-$100 trip fee plus hourly labor instead.
- [An HVAC service call costs $75 to $200 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/service-call-fee/hvac/): Most homeowners pay $95 to $150 for a technician to come out and diagnose a heating or cooling problem. That fee usually covers the drive and the first 30 to 60 minutes on site. Parts and repair labor are extra.
- [A locksmith service call costs $35 to $100 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/service-call-fee/locksmith/): The locksmith trip fee is the charge for driving to you. It is separate from the work. A standard house lockout totals about $90-$225 once labor is added; a car lockout $50-$150. After-hours calls roughly double the trip fee.
- [A plumber service call costs $75 to $250 in 2026](https://feeguides.com/service-call-fee/plumber/): Most homeowners pay $100 to $175 just for a plumber to come out, look at the problem and quote the repair. The fee usually includes the drive and a short inspection. Hourly labor and parts come on top.