Get help with Under The Hood
Tap "Scan a quote" on the home screen, then either take a photo of your mechanic's quote or choose one from your camera roll. Make sure the text is clearly visible and in frame. You can also type line items directly using the "Type it in" tab.
Under The Hood works with printed quotes, handwritten estimates, digital PDFs photographed on screen, and typed text. For best results, ensure the image is well-lit and the text isn't cut off.
Yes. Tap "Diagnose a problem" on the home screen and enter your OBD-II code (e.g. P0420) or describe the symptom in plain English. The app will explain what it means and what typically causes it.
Yes. Under The Hood supports both the United States and Canada. Canadian quotes are analyzed in Canadian dollars against Canadian labour rates — not converted from US figures.
Whichever you have. The location field accepts a 5-digit US ZIP code or a Canadian postal code (for example M5V 2T6). The app works out which country you're in from the code itself — there's no country to pick.
Yes, and they're labelled. A Canadian quote displays as $1,200 CAD (or CA$1,200 where space is tight) so a dollar figure is never ambiguous. Nothing is converted at an exchange rate — Canadian quotes are compared against Canadian price data throughout.
Canadian repair invoices are often tax-inclusive, and the rate varies by province. The app separates tax out before judging any price, so a tax-inclusive Ontario invoice isn't unfairly flagged as overpriced. The total shown still matches the paper in your hand — the tax is identified and labelled rather than removed.
Labour rates are derived from Government of Canada Job Bank wage data for automotive service technicians, mapped to your area using Statistics Canada geography. Parts and repair benchmarks improve over time as more Canadian quotes are submitted, the same way the US data does.
Totals are never mixed across currencies — adding Canadian dollars to US dollars would produce a number that isn't money. If you've scanned quotes in both countries, the running total reflects the currency of your most recent quote.
Parts comparisons come from live marketplace listings, which occasionally report in a different currency than your quote. When that happens the app says so and skips the overcharge comparison rather than comparing two currencies as if they were one.
Under The Hood offers two options: a single-scan purchase ($2.99) or an annual unlimited subscription ($19.99/year). Each scan or subscription unlocks full access to the line-item breakdown, pricing data, and negotiation tips.
Prices shown in Canadian dollars are approximate. Your App Store shows the exact amount before you buy.
Prices listed here are in US dollars. Your App Store shows the amount in your local currency before you buy.
Tap "Restore purchases" on the paywall screen. Your purchase is tied to your Apple ID, so restoring will re-activate access on any device signed in with the same Apple ID.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone → tap your name → Subscriptions → Under The Hood → Cancel Subscription. Alternatively, visit apple.com/account/subscriptions.
Quote data is stored anonymously — we never collect your name, email, or any personally identifying information. Anonymous pricing data helps improve fair-price estimates over time. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
No account is required. Under The Hood uses anonymous sessions so you can use the app immediately without signing up.
Try retaking the photo in better lighting with the quote flat on a surface. Alternatively, use the "Type it in" tab to manually enter the line items. If the problem persists, contact us below.
Fair price ranges are estimated from regional labour-rate data and improve over time as more quotes are submitted. Prices vary significantly by area, so treat the range as a guide rather than an exact figure. Make sure the ZIP or postal code you entered is correct — that's what drives the local rate.