ShopBaseComplete shop management for auto repair shops · $249/mo
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About Open Labor Project

Open Labor Project (OLP) is a free automotive data platform providing labor times, torque specifications, fluid specs, OBD-II diagnostic trouble codes (DTC), battery specs, and NHTSA recall data for thousands of vehicles spanning 1955 to the present. The platform contains over 700,000 labor time entries and serves more than 25,000 monthly active users including independent repair shops, parts retailers, fleet managers, and DIY mechanics. All vehicle data pages on openlaborproject.com are free to view forever — no paywall, no signup, no ads. OLP is funded by paid developer API subscriptions; the website remains free for all end users.

Pricing

Web access is free for all end users. The OLP API offers a free Hobbyist tier (50 requests per day, attribution required) and three paid tiers: Builder at $49 per month (1,000 requests/day), Business at $149 per month (10,000 requests/day, includes webhooks and bulk export), and Enterprise at $499 per month (50,000+ requests/day, custom integrations, 99.9% SLA). Annual plans receive two months free.

Get started — select your vehicle

NEW

The full dashboard for any car — 700K+ labor times, torque specs, fluids, DTC codes, battery specs, recalls across thousands of vehicles, 1955 to present. Free for every vehicle, with a free public API (paid tiers from $49/mo) for 25,000+ shops, mechanics & developers. Want a specific car's full step-by-step procedures unlocked? $30 sponsors it — 111 vehicles fully sponsored so far.

Or browse all 111 vehicles with procedures →
🧙
NewAsk Me Anything
Free repair help — torque specs, oil capacities, DTC codes, recalls, and step-by-step diagnostics. If we don't already have the answer, our experts will follow up.
Try it →
🚗
New · Optional · Free

My Garage

Create a free account to save the vehicles you own (or work on) for quick access — your own private fleet view. Completely optional. The whole site works the same way without one.

🔑VIN decoder
Paste a 17-digit VIN — we look it up at NHTSA and pre-fill the right year/make/model/engine.
⚠️Active recall alerts
NHTSA recalls flagged the moment you save the vehicle. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
🔧Common jobs & cost
Estimated labor cost for every common repair on your exact vehicle, sourced from our database.
📝Repair journal
Log work you do — title, date, mileage, cost, notes. Build a service history you actually own.
Privacy promise
Your garage is yours. We don't sell your data, share it, or use it for ads. Your email is only used to sign you in — never for marketing. No upsell, no premium tier, no asterisks. Free forever, same as the rest of the site.

ShopBase — Complete Shop Management

The complete shop management system. $249/month per shop, all features included. Built by techs, for techs.

💬Two-Way Texting
🤖AI-Assisted Diagnostics
📋Invoicing & Payments
🏢Multi-Site Capable
🔧Open Labor Integration
MVI / Inspections
👥Personnel Management
📥Customer Import/Export

$249/month • All features included • Integrated payments • Cancel anytime • No hidden fees

Most Wanted Vehicles

These vehicles have the most people waiting for repair procedures. Sponsor one and your name goes on every procedure — permanently.

Kia K5

1 request

2022 · 1.6L Turbo I4

Sponsor — $30

Chevrolet Avalanche

1 request

2009 · 5.3L V8 Vortec

Sponsor — $30

BMW 330i

1 request

2020 · 2.0L I4 Turbo B48

Sponsor — $30

BMW 335i

1 request

2011 · 3.0L I6 Turbo N54

Sponsor — $30

Popular Vehicles

Common Repairs

Brake Pads - Front

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Spark Plugs

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Water Pump

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Alternator

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Timing Chain

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AC Compressor

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Starter

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Wheel Bearing Hub - Front

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Browse by Make

Why Open Labor Project?

For Customers

Know what a repair should cost before you visit the shop. Compare estimates with confidence.

For Technicians

Reference realistic job times from fellow techs. Submit your own times to help the community.

For Shop Owners

Build trust with transparent pricing. Show customers you're charging fair rates.

Can't Find Your Vehicle?

Request a vehicle to be added to our database. We're constantly expanding coverage.

The Story Behind This Project

I'm Chris, a shop owner and lifelong technician. For years, I've dealt with the same frustration you probably have—paying hundreds or thousands of dollars a year just to look up labor times. These guides aren't some luxury. They're a basic necessity for running a shop, writing estimates, and getting paid fairly for your work.

But the industry has decided this essential information should cost a fortune. Small shops, independent techs, mobile mechanics—we're all stuck paying the same prices as massive dealership networks, or we're left guessing.

I built the Open Labor Project because I believe labor times should be accessible to everyone. Not locked behind a paywall. Not bundled into expensive software you don't need. Just free, searchable data that helps you do your job.

This project is a work in progress, built by a working tech for working techs. If you find it useful, spread the word. If you spot something wrong, let me know. We're building this together.

❤️ Support This Project

Open Labor Project is 100% free and always will be. Your donations help cover server costs, development time, and data accuracy improvements. Every dollar helps us stay independent and ad-free.

Free Data, Forever

Open Labor Project is committed to keeping automotive repair data free and accessible. Our data comes from industry guides and community submissions from real technicians.

What is an Automotive Labor Guide?

An automotive labor guide provides standard repair times for specific vehicle services. Mechanics use these "book times" to calculate labor costs. Open Labor Project is a free labor guide that helps DIYers and independent shops access this essential data without expensive subscriptions.

How are Flat Rate Times Calculated?

Flat rate time is the estimated time a repair should take an average technician. If a job pays 2.0 flat rate hours, the mechanic is paid for 2 hours regardless of whether it takes 1 hour or 3 hours. Our database aggregates these flat rate times to give you a realistic estimate.

Why are Torque Specs Important?

Torque specifications ensure bolts are tightened to the exact tension required by engineers. Incorrect torque can lead to leaks, warped parts, or catastrophic failure. We provide factory-verified torque specs for critical components like head gaskets, rod bearings, and suspension parts.

Is this really a free labor guide?

Yes. Traditional labor guides cost shops thousands per year. We believe this data should be open. Our free mechanic labor guide is community-supported and constantly updated with new vehicles, including popular models from Ford, Chevy, Toyota, and Honda.

Why Look Up Fluid Specs?

Using the wrong oil type, coolant, or transmission fluid can void warranties and damage your engine. Our free fluid specs database covers oil weight, fluid capacity in quarts and liters, OEM specifications, and all 10 major fluid systems—from engine oil to brake fluid—for thousands of vehicles.

What are DTC Codes?

Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are standardized OBD-II codes that tell you why your check engine light is on. Codes like P0301 (cylinder misfire) or P0420 (catalytic converter) each have specific symptoms, causes, and fixes. Our free DTC code database covers 1,900+ codes with manufacturer-specific codes for 30+ makes.

Why Look Up Battery Specs?

Installing the wrong battery group size can damage your vehicle or leave you stranded. Our free battery specs database includes BCI group sizes, CCA ratings, reserve capacity, and cross-references to major brands like Interstate, NAPA, AutoZone, and O'Reilly. Find OEM battery specs and compatible replacements for any vehicle.