What makes this industry different
Auto repair shops share a few things that change which card fees matter:
- Large bills. One repair can run to hundreds or thousands of dollars.
- Business and fleet cards. Some customers are companies paying with business, corporate or fleet cards.
- Deposits. Some shops take money up front for parts.
- Phone payments. A customer may call in a card number when the car is ready.
A merchant category code (MCC) is a four-digit number that says what kind of business a shop is. Card networks use it to decide which rates apply.
Fees to know about in this industry
Visa Canada: no auto repair program. Visa Canada’s Industry Program lists four groups: Everyday Needs, Grocery and Food Retail, Gas, and Utilities. Auto repair is not on those lists. Car washes (MCC 7542) are on the Everyday Needs list.
| Visa Canada consumer card | In person (“Electronic”) | Card not present |
|---|---|---|
| Classic, Gold, Platinum | 1.25% | 1.40% |
| Infinite | 1.57% | 1.65% |
| Infinite Privilege | 2.08% | 2.40% |
Interchange is the fee the processor pays the customer’s bank. Card not present means the card is not in front of the shop, such as a number read out over the phone.
Business and fleet cards (Canada). Visa Canada’s rate sheet lists:
| Visa Canada card | Rate |
|---|---|
| Business, Standard | 2.00% (2.15% from Oct 22, 2026, per TD) |
| Visa Infinite Business, Standard | 2.35% |
| Corporate or Purchasing, in person (“Electronic”) | 1.90% |
| Corporate or Purchasing, “Enhanced Data – Fuel” | 1.80% |
TD’s Fee Change Summary says “CDN BUS STANDARD” went up from 2.00% to 2.15% on October 22, 2026. Visa’s own sheet still showed 2.00% when we checked on October 22, 2026.
United States. Visa’s US sheet lists purchasing and corporate cards, with a note that they include “Fleet cards”:
| Visa US commercial program | Rate |
|---|---|
| Commercial Card Present | 2.50% + $0.10 |
| Commercial Level II – Fuel | 2.20% + $0.10 |
| Commercial Product 3 | 1.75% + $0.10 |
Visa’s US sheet also has “Services” rows for consumer credit sales of $100 or more: 1.70% + $0.10 in person on a Traditional Rewards card, and 1.55% + $0.10 on “All Other Products.” The criteria on Visa’s sheet decide which businesses qualify.
Debit and large bills
Interac lists flat tap fees by tier. Its lowest tier, $0.020 on tap sales up to $100, includes “Auto Store, Home Supply Stores (MCC 5531),” “Car Washes (MCC 7542)” and “Automobile Parking Lots and Garages (MCC 7523).” From $100.01 to $250, the tap fee is $0.055 for all merchants.
Interac’s business page says tap payments are “often for amounts up to $250,” and that chip and PIN provides “high transaction limits.”
What the shop pays is its processor’s debit price. Published examples: Square Canada 0.75% + 7¢; Helcim 9.0¢ chip and PIN and 12.5¢ tap at Tier 1.
Average ticket and why it matters
Your average ticket is your average sale: card sales divided by the number of card sales. A published average repair bill for Canada or the US was not found on the pages we could open.
With large bills, the percentage matters far more than the cents. See Per-Transaction Fees.
Deposits on parts
Visa’s rules (18 April 2026) say only some merchant categories may process an advance payment “representing the entire purchase amount before the goods or services are delivered.” The list includes “Custom goods or services” and a “Face-to-Face Environment, where not all items purchased in the Transaction are immediately available but will be shipped or provided at a later date.”
Square Invoices lists a deposit plus “up to 12 milestone payments on an invoice,” not counting the first deposit. Square says “Paying the deposit won’t change the item counts.”
Equipment and software options
Payments can be taken on a counter terminal, a phone, or by invoice. Each provider lists its own hardware and software prices. See Equipment Leases.
Contract terms to read closely
- Disputes on large repairs. See Chargebacks.
- Holds and reserves. See When You Get Paid.
- Surcharges in Canada. See Surcharging Credit Cards in Canada.
Questions to ask a processor
- Which merchant category code is the shop set up under?
- How are business, corporate and fleet cards priced on the statement?
- What rate applies to a card number taken over the phone?
- Is there a limit on the size of a single sale?
Where to go from here
Similar businesses: Card Processing for Trades and Contractors and Card Processing for Gas Stations. The card fee calculator works out a month’s fees from published rates.
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