Mobile exhaust fitter

Fit and repair exhausts and silencers at customers' homes and workplaces from a fully equipped van.

Mechanic fitting an exhaust silencer under a car in a garage.
Startup cost£6k to £25k
Monthly revenue£2k to £8k
Time needed20+ h/week
First incomeWeeks
  • £6k-25k
  • Part-time
  • Out and about

Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.

What it is

A van-based service that replaces or repairs exhaust sections, silencers, flexi joints and brackets on cars and vans at the customer's address, with no garage needed.

Your first three steps

  1. Check your training and get qualified or work under an experienced fitter first if you are new to exhaust work
  2. Price up a van, portable lifting or ramp kit, welding gear and a starter stock of common parts from trade suppliers
  3. Set up a Google Business Profile and offer garages and van owners a fast on-site repair service
Who pays

Car and van owners, small trades with work vans, fleet owners and local garages that need extra capacity.

How it makes money

Charge for the part plus labour on each job, with a call-out fee. Fast jobs like patch repairs and single sections can be done several times a day.

Skills that help
  • Vehicle mechanical knowledge
  • Safe use of tools and welding equipment
  • Clear quotes and customer service
Watch out for
  • Public liability insurance and motor trade insurance, check cover for working on customers' vehicles
  • Working under vehicles and welding carry real safety risks, check proper support and fire precautions
  • Disposing of old exhausts and catalytic converters, check waste carrier registration rules
  • Working on private driveways or roadsides may be restricted, check council rules and landlord permission
  • Selling or fitting catalytic converters has legal and theft-related considerations, keep clear records

Deep research report · UK

Everything you need to start: mobile exhaust fitter

Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a mobile exhaust fitting business?

Startup costs are typically around £6,000 to £25,000, depending on the van, tools, welding equipment and parts stock you buy. These are estimates, so get quotes and decide whether to buy new or used.

How much can a mobile exhaust fitter earn?

Monthly revenue is typically around £2,000 to £8,000, depending on how many jobs you complete, your pricing and whether you also take work from local garages. Treat this as an estimate, not a promise.

What rules should a mobile exhaust fitter check?

Check public liability and motor trade insurance, safety when working under vehicles and welding, and waste carrier rules for old exhausts and catalytic converters. Also check council rules and landlord permission for driveways and roadsides.

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Photo: Dewesoft on Pixabay

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