Set Your Emergency Callout Price

Set the attendance charge before you leave and agree repair costs before you do the repair. There is no single national callout tariff that fits every trade, location and hour.

Decide what attendance includes

• Travel: the journey, parking and any access costs.
• Assessment: inspection, fault-finding or a defined initial period.
• Timing: any evening, overnight or weekend rate.
• Exclusions: parts, specialist access and work beyond the initial visit.

Some businesses charge a separate callout fee; others include attendance in a minimum charge. Either way, explain the total clearly, including the VAT position.

Build the price from your costs

Allow for billable time, travel, materials, overhead and a margin. Use the job-pricing guide to work out your own minimum.

A short repair still uses a diary slot. Conversely, an emergency is not a reason to hide charges or promise work you cannot safely complete.

Use a plain confirmation

“Attendance is £[amount], including [scope and VAT position]. If a repair or parts are needed, I will explain the cost and ask you to agree before going ahead.”

Send that by text with the address and arrival window. Explain any parts delay or temporary make-safe work before the customer assumes the visit includes a permanent repair.

Review the jobs that lose money

Think of the last callout that took much longer than expected. Was it the drive, diagnosis or a parts run? Allow for that when pricing a similar visit, rather than copying someone else's advertised “from” price.

Updated 27 October 2026 · Report a factual error