Know what the repair should cost
before the shop tells you what it does.
Fair-price ranges for the most common car repairs, computed transparently: published labor times × your state's going shop rates + honest parts bands. Free, no sign-up, no shop referrals — the estimate is the product.
Car repair cost calculator
Transparent math: labor hours × your state's shop rate + realistic parts range. See exactly how this is computed →
A quote inside this range is ordinary. Above it isn't automatically a rip-off — but every dollar above should map to an itemized line you can question. Below the range: ask what parts brand is being used.
Repair guides, priced
Every guide shows the fair range for your vehicle type, the lines shops add to quotes (and when they're legitimate), and the questions that keep an estimate honest.
What brake pad replacement really costs in 2026
Brake pads and rotors$250 – $1,360 per axleFair 2026 pricing for a full pads-and-rotors brake job, by vehicle and state
Alternator replacement$250 – $1,490 per jobAlternator replacement cost in 2026
AC compressor replacement$470 – $2,250 per jobAC compressor replacement runs $800–$1,800 for most cars in 2026; economy jobs and luxury vehicles land outside that. Compressor, refrigerant, and the flush, decoded.
Transmission replacement$2,060 – $10,320 per jobThe $4,000–$8,000 question: 2026 transmission replacement costs, rebuilt vs used vs reman, and the checks that keep you from paying for one you don't need.
Timing belt replacement$420 – $1,400 per jobTiming belt replacement cost in 2026
Water pump replacement$230 – $1,100 per jobWater pump replacement pricing for 2026
Starter replacement$210 – $1,200 per jobStarter replacement cost in 2026, and the free checks (battery, connections, relay) that rule out the cheap causes first.
Radiator replacement$290 – $1,600 per jobRadiator replacement pricing for 2026
Struts / shocks replacement$370 – $2,240 per pair (front or rear)Strut and shock replacement costs for 2026
Wheel bearing replacement$190 – $980 per wheelWheel bearing replacement cost in 2026
Spark plug replacement$100 – $650 per job (all cylinders)Spark plug replacement pricing in 2026
Head gasket repair$1,130 – $3,260 per jobHead gasket repair: the quote most owners see runs $1,500–$4,000 by engine
Catalytic converter replacement$310 – $3,590 per converterCatalytic converter replacement in 2026
Serpentine belt replacement$70 – $340 per jobSerpentine belt replacement
Car diagnostic$90 – $220 per visitA proper car diagnostic costs $100–$180 at most shops, and many credit the fee toward the repair. What that hour buys, and how to keep the findings yours.
Clutch replacement$800 – $3,250 per jobClutch replacement runs $1,000–$1,700 for most cars, and labor is most of the bill. The kit, the flywheel decision, and the while-it's-open items, explained.
CV axle replacement$170 – $830 per axleCV axle replacement runs $250–$600 per side depending on parts tier. What clicking on turns means, and when one axle, not both, is the honest fix.
Wheel alignment$90 – $200 per alignmentA four-wheel alignment costs $100–$165 at independent shops, and it's pure labor: no parts to mark up. What the printout shows, and when hardware is fair.
Brake fluid flush$70 – $210 per jobA brake fluid flush costs $70–$135 at most shops. Fluid age and a moisture test decide when it's due
Fuel pump replacement$280 – $1,500 per jobFuel pump replacement runs $350–$800 on most vehicles. Access sets the labor: a service panel is an hour, a tank drop is three. Get the pressure test first.
Oxygen sensor replacement$110 – $550 per sensorOxygen sensor replacement costs $150–$300 per sensor at independent shops. Which sensor your code names, and why P0420 deserves scrutiny before any cat.
Engine replacement$2,290 – $14,700 per jobEngine replacement runs $2,600–$6,500 on a midsize car, used swap versus reman. The 50% rule, the warranty math, and what a complete quote must itemize.
Repair costs by vehicle
Fair-price ranges for the most common repairs on the vehicles Americans actually drive.
Repair costs & fair prices
Toyota CorollaRepair costs & fair prices
Honda AccordRepair costs & fair prices
Toyota CamryRepair costs & fair prices
Nissan AltimaRepair costs & fair prices
Toyota RAV4Repair costs & fair prices
Honda CR-VRepair costs & fair prices
Ford ExplorerRepair costs & fair prices
Jeep Grand CherokeeRepair costs & fair prices
Ford F-150Repair costs & fair prices
Chevrolet SilveradoRepair costs & fair prices
Ram 1500Repair costs & fair prices
Math you can check
Every estimate shows its work: labor hours, your state's rate, parts band. No black box, no "call for pricing." Read the methodology.
Nothing to sell you
We don't take referral fees from shops or gate estimates behind lead forms — incentives shape numbers, so we removed the incentives.
Built to be refined
Estimates come from the published sources in our methodology, dated and reviewed monthly. We're also gathering anonymous reader-submitted quotes — as each repair's sample grows, its range gets recalibrated against what shops actually charged.
Anatomy of a repair quote
Every honest quote breaks into the same three parts. Padding hides in the totals; it can't hide once you separate them.
Reading a repair quote: the 60-second version
- Ask for itemization. Parts (with brand), labor hours, and fees on separate lines. A single-number quote can't be evaluated — and shops that itemize price more carefully.
- Compare labor hours, not totals. Rates vary by region legitimately; hours shouldn't vary much for the same job. Our per-job pages show the honest hour ranges.
- Question add-ons against their trigger. Fluid flushes, "while we're in there" parts, shop supplies over ~10% — each has a legitimate trigger, listed on every guide here.
- Get the measurement. Rotors have a stamped minimum thickness; pads have millimeters left; batteries have load-test numbers. Good shops volunteer them.
- A second quote costs 20 minutes. On anything over $500, it's the highest-paid 20 minutes of your month.