What should it cost to fix your car?
Real-world cost ranges by vehicle type and state, plus symptoms, urgency, and how to save. Written by mechanics, not marketers.
AC Compressor Replacement
The compressor is the heart of the air conditioning system — it pumps refrigerant through the loop that pulls heat out of the cabin. When it
See full cost guide →Alternator Replacement
The alternator charges the battery and powers everything electrical while the engine is running. When it fails, the car runs off the battery
See full cost guide →Ball Joint Replacement
Ball joints are the pivots that connect your control arms to the steering knuckles — carrying the vehicle's weight while letting the wheel s
See full cost guide →Brake Caliper Replacement
The caliper is the hydraulic clamp that squeezes brake pads against the rotor — pistons, seals, and slides doing precise work in the dirties
See full cost guide →Brake Pad Replacement
Brake pads are the friction blocks that clamp your rotors every time you press the pedal, and they are the most common brake repair on the r
See full cost guide →Brake Rotor Replacement
Brake rotors are the metal discs your brake pads clamp against to stop the car. Replacement is a per-axle job — both rotors on the front or
See full cost guide →Brake Shoe Replacement
Brake shoes are the friction linings inside drum brakes — found on the rear axle of many economy cars, older vehicles, and some trucks. Repl
See full cost guide →CV Axle Replacement
The CV axle carries engine power to a wheel while letting that wheel steer and travel over bumps — its constant-velocity joints flex through
See full cost guide →Car Battery Replacement
The 12V battery starts the engine and powers everything electronic when the engine is off. Every vehicle has one — gas, hybrid, and EV alike
See full cost guide →Catalytic Converter Replacement
The catalytic converter scrubs the worst pollutants out of your exhaust using a honeycomb coated in precious metals — which is why it's both
See full cost guide →Clutch Replacement
The clutch is the friction link between engine and manual transmission — a wear item by design, like brake pads that handle launches instead
See full cost guide →Fuel Pump Replacement
The fuel pump lives inside the gas tank, pushing pressurized fuel to the engine every second it runs. It's an electric motor cooled and lubr
See full cost guide →Head Gasket Replacement
The head gasket seals the joint between the engine block and cylinder head — holding back combustion pressure, coolant, and oil all at once,
See full cost guide →Ignition Coil Replacement
Ignition coils transform the battery's 12 volts into the tens of thousands a spark plug needs — one coil per cylinder on most modern engines
See full cost guide →Oil Change
An oil change is the cheapest engine insurance you can buy: fresh full-synthetic oil, a new filter, and a quick underhood check. Done on sch
See full cost guide →Oxygen Sensor Replacement
Oxygen sensors are the engine computer's taste buds — screwed into the exhaust, reporting how rich or lean the engine is running dozens of t
See full cost guide →Power Steering Pump Replacement
On hydraulically assisted cars, the power steering pump is the belt-driven heart of the system — pressurizing fluid so the wheel turns with
See full cost guide →Radiator Replacement
The radiator is where your engine dumps its heat — coolant runs through its thin tubes while air carries the heat away. Modern radiators fai
See full cost guide →Serpentine Belt Replacement
The serpentine belt is the single long belt that snakes around the front of the engine and drives the alternator, air conditioning compresso
See full cost guide →Shock Absorber Replacement
Shock absorbers are the standalone dampers at wheels where the spring is mounted separately — most commonly the rear axle of trucks, SUVs, a
See full cost guide →Spark Plug Replacement
Spark plugs ignite the fuel-air mix in every gas engine, and they wear out on a predictable schedule. Replacement means a full set — one plu
See full cost guide →Starter Replacement
The starter is the electric motor that cranks the engine when you turn the key or press the start button. When it fails, the car simply won'
See full cost guide →Strut Replacement
Struts are the structural shock absorbers that control how your car rides, steers, and stops. They wear out so gradually you adapt without n
See full cost guide →Thermostat Replacement
The thermostat is a simple temperature-controlled valve that decides when coolant flows to the radiator — closed for fast warm-up, open to p
See full cost guide →Tie Rod Replacement
Tie rods are the last link between your steering rack and the front wheels — small ball-and-socket joints that translate every input at the
See full cost guide →Timing Belt Replacement
The timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshafts spinning in perfect sync so the valves and pistons never meet. It's pure preventive maint
See full cost guide →Transmission Replacement
The transmission multiplies engine power and delivers it at road speed — and it's the most expensive single component most owners will ever
See full cost guide →Water Pump Replacement
The water pump circulates coolant through the engine, radiator, and heater core. When it fails, coolant stops moving, the engine overheats w
See full cost guide →Wheel Alignment
A wheel alignment sets your car's camber, caster, and toe angles back to factory spec so the tires roll straight and wear evenly. It's a mea
See full cost guide →Wheel Bearing Replacement
Wheel bearings let each wheel spin freely while carrying the full weight of the vehicle. Replacement is priced per wheel — the ranges on thi
See full cost guide →Get a real quote from a local mechanic.
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