Automotive Merchant Services
Repair tickets add up fast. A rate that looks fine on a small sale can get expensive on a big repair. CMS compares Flat Rate, Surcharge, and Cash Discount for service-desk payments.
What usually changes what you pay
In automotive, ticket size, how customers pay, and debit versus credit mix can move your real cost more than a advertised “flat” plan admits. Use the points below as a checklist when you compare options.
- Larger average tickets
- Business cards from fleet customers
- In-person vs phone payments
- Service vs parts patterns
Good to know
These notes are written for business owners. They explain what CMS looks at before recommending Flat Rate, Surcharge, or Cash Discount for this industry.
- Bigger tickets amplify a high all-card percentage—Surcharge on eligible credit (where allowed) or a clear Flat Rate can be easier to explain.
- Fleet and business cards often price differently than everyday consumer cards.
- Surcharge never applies to debit or prepaid. Cash Discount is a separate posted-price program.
- CMS confirms state rules before showing Surcharge or Cash Discount as available.
Flat Rate · Surcharge · Cash Discount
A flat percentage that feels okay on a $40 sale can sting on a $900 repair. CMS builds a comparable Flat Rate, Surcharge, or Cash Discount offer around larger tickets—with modest savings, not a race to the bottom.
- CMS Flat Rate
- CMS Surcharge Program
- CMS Cash Discount Program
CMS estimated competitor cost includes percentage plus transaction fees plus any required monthly/plan fee—never percentage alone.
Pricing only. CMS does not recommend a terminal, POS, gateway, or partner platform on this page.
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