By Karlis Elmanis · 16 June 2026
Short answer: a standard repair callout for a domestic electric gate runs £180 to £270+VAT in 2026, depending on where you are and who you call. Across Sussex, Surrey and Kent we charge £225+VAT for a standard callout, which covers diagnosis and the fix on the same visit for most common faults.
The longer answer matters more — because "callout" and "repair" aren't always the same thing, parts are usually separate, and a suspiciously low quote often hides a second visit or a second fee. Here's what's actually included, what parts typically cost, and how to read a quote so you don't get caught out.
What the callout fee actually covers
A repair callout is labour + diagnosis + the fix for most common faults, usually in a single ~1 hour visit. A trained engineer arriving for a callout should be:
- Diagnosing the fault properly — not just guessing at the most expensive part.
- Carrying common spares for the major brands, so the everyday faults are fixed there and then.
- Testing safety devices after the repair — photocells, force settings, manual release — not just getting the gate moving and leaving.
- Telling you the honest cause — if a £30 capacitor fixes it, that's the recommendation, not a £600 motor.
What the callout fee does not automatically include is the cost of any non-standard parts that need ordering. A fair engineer quotes for those *before* fitting them.
Typical repair pricing in 2026
Here's the real-world band for a single domestic gate:
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Standard repair callout (weekday) | £180–£270+VAT |
| Emergency / same-day callout | £250–£380+VAT |
| Saturday repair | +20% on standard |
| Sunday repair | +50% on standard |
| Add a full service to a repair visit | +£100–£150+VAT |
For reference, our own pricing across Sussex, Surrey and Kent is £225+VAT for a standard weekday callout, £270+VAT for an emergency same-day visit, and +£125+VAT to fold a full service into the same trip. Planned weekend visits carry the usual out-of-hours uplift (+20% Saturday, +50% Sunday) — that's a separate thing from the same-day emergency rate, which is about getting an engineer to you fast rather than which day it is.
What common parts cost
Most gate faults come down to a handful of parts. Rough 2026 prices, fitted:
| Part | What it does | Typical fitted cost |
|---|---|---|
| Capacitor | Gives the motor its starting torque | £30–£80+VAT |
| Photocells (pair) | Stop the gate closing on a car or person | £80–£160+VAT |
| Remote / fob | Reprogrammed or replaced | £25–£70+VAT each |
| Control board | The "brain" of the system | £150–£400+VAT |
| Limit switches | Tell the gate where to stop | £40–£120+VAT |
| Motor / ram (one leaf) | The unit that drives the gate | £300–£700+VAT |
A blown capacitor is the single most common fault and the cheapest to fix — which is exactly why an honest engineer will check it before quoting you a new motor. If the first thing you're told is "you need a new motor" without a proper diagnosis, get a second opinion.
Why two quotes can be so different
| Factor | Cheaper end | Pricier end |
|---|---|---|
| Region | North England, Wales | Greater London, Surrey |
| Gate type | Single swing | Double sliding with safety edges |
| Motor brand parts | CAME, Nice (common parts) | FAAC, commercial systems (specialist parts) |
| Access | Driveway gate, easy reach | Underground motor, removed pavers |
| Parts return visit | Included in the callout | Billed separately |
That last row is the one to watch. A low headline callout can turn into two charges if the return visit to fit an ordered part is billed as a second callout. It's worth checking before you book — see the question below.
The one question to ask before booking
*"If you need to order a part, is the return visit to fit it included — or is that a second callout fee?"*
This single question separates fair operators from the rest. A reasonable engineer diagnoses the fault on the first visit, quotes for the part, and fits it on return without charging a second callout for the labour. We don't charge a second callout fee for fitting ordered parts — you pay once for the labour, plus the part.
Repair or replace?
Not every gate is worth repairing, and a straight engineer will tell you when. As a rough guide:
- Repair if it's a capacitor, photocell, board, remote, limit switch, or a single worn part on an otherwise sound motor.
- Consider replacing if the motor is corroded through, the gears are stripped, or the cost of parts is creeping close to the price of a new motor.
A callout plus a modest part that buys you another five years is good value. Pouring £400 of parts into a 20-year-old motor that's failing in three places usually isn't — and you should expect that to be said plainly, not glossed over to win the job.
How to get an accurate quote first time
Before the engineer arrives, have ready:
- The motor brand and model (there's usually a sticker on the housing).
- A short description of the fault — won't open, opens then stops, grinding noise, remote dead, beeping.
- The approximate age of the installation.
- Whether you have the manual release key and any remote spares.
A 30-second message with a photo of the motor housing and the fault often means the engineer arrives with the right part already on the van — which is the difference between one visit and two.