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 real 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 in 2026. Where the money goes
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 $1,500–$4,000 diagnosis you should verify twice. 2026 cost breakdown and the total-loss math.
Catalytic converter replacement$310 – $3,590 per converterCatalytic converter replacement in 2026
Serpentine belt replacement$70 – $340 per jobSerpentine belt replacement
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.
Refined by real quotes
Ranges are calibrated against real, reader-submitted repair quotes as they accrue — the estimate model states its date and improves monthly.
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.