Repair cost guides
National averages help you spot a quote that’s wildly high or suspiciously low — they do not replace diagnosis, and they don’t include tax, shop fees, or your city’s labor rate. Use them with a written estimate: see how to read a repair estimate.
Start here
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I have a quote
Open the Fair Quote Checker — compare a written total to the cited national range for that repair. Also useful: how to read a repair estimate and questions before you authorize.
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I have a check-engine light
Start at check-engine codes — then jump to the related cost guide once you know the code family.
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I hear or feel something
Common symptoms mapped to guides we already publish (full symptom index next):
- Grinding or squealing when braking → brake pads (also pads + rotors, rotors)
- Car won’t start / weak crank → battery (also see alternator)
- AC blowing warm → AC recharge
- Squealing belt from the engine bay → serpentine belt
- Humming/growling that changes with speed → wheel bearing
- EVAP / loose-cap smell after fill-up → gas cap
- Steering pulls / uneven tire wear → alignment (also tire rotation)
- Oil-life / maintenance light → oil change
- Worn tread / need new tires installed → new tires (mount & balance)
Jump to: Brakes & wheels · Engine & ignition · Sensors & emissions (check-engine related) · Cooling & A/C · Electrical & charging · Belts & timing · Maintenance & tires
No repairs match that search. Try a synonym like “pads,” “cat,” or “O2.”
Brakes & wheels
- Brake pad replacement$335–$394Brakes & wheels · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- Wheel bearing replacement$346–$504Brakes & wheels · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- Brake pads and rotors (combined)$901–$1,084Brakes & wheels · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- Brake rotor replacement$574–$698Brakes & wheels · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- Brake fluid flush$173–$205Brakes & wheels · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
Engine & ignition
- Spark plug replacement$288–$399Engine & ignition · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- Catalytic converter replacement$2,280–$2,480Engine & ignition · Upsell High · DIY No
- Ignition coil replacement$238–$320Engine & ignition · Upsell Med · DIY Yes
Sensors & emissions (check-engine related)
- Oxygen (O2) sensor replacement$440–$523Sensors & emissions · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- EGR valve replacement$489–$632Sensors & emissions · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- Gas cap replacement$138–$150Sensors & emissions · Upsell Low · DIY Yes
- EVAP purge valve replacement$210–$251Sensors & emissions · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- Mass airflow (MAF) sensor replacement$274–$381Sensors & emissions · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- Camshaft position sensor replacement$224–$326Sensors & emissions · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- Crankshaft position sensor replacement$230–$335Sensors & emissions · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- Knock sensor replacement$417–$589Sensors & emissions · Upsell High · DIY No
Cooling & A/C
- Water pump replacement$891–$1,135Cooling & A/C · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- AC recharge$285–$369Cooling & A/C · Upsell Med · DIY No
- Thermostat replacement$616–$716Cooling & A/C · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
Electrical & charging
- Alternator replacement$809–$1,088Electrical & charging · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- Car battery replacement$456–$493Electrical & charging · Upsell Low · DIY Yes
Belts & timing
- Timing belt replacement$918–$1,338Belts & timing · Upsell High · DIY No
- Serpentine belt replacement$154–$212Belts & timing · Upsell Low · DIY Yes
Maintenance & tires
- Oil change (conventional vs synthetic)$160–$188Maintenance & tires · Upsell Med · DIY Yes
- Tire rotation / wheel alignment$186–$273Maintenance & tires · Upsell Med · DIY Maybe
- New tires (installed)$60–$300Maintenance & tires · Upsell Med · DIY No
| Repair | Typical range | Labor | Parts | Upsell risk | DIY-able? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas cap replacement | $138–$150 | $24–$36 | about $114 | Low | Yes |
| Oil change (conventional vs synthetic) | $160–$188 | $58–$86 | $101–$103 | Med | Yes |
| New tires (installed) | $60–$300 | $15–$50 per tire ($60–$300 per set of 4) | tires priced separately — vary by size/brand | Med | No |
| Serpentine belt replacement | $154–$212 | $89–$130 | $65–$82 | Low | Yes |
| Brake fluid flush | $173–$205 | most of the bill (fluid is inexpensive) | brake fluid (DOT type per vehicle) | Med | Maybe |
| Tire rotation / wheel alignment | $186–$273 | $186–$273 | none (labor-only service) | Med | Maybe |
| EVAP purge valve replacement | $210–$251 | $65–$95 | $146–$156 | Med | Maybe |
| Camshaft position sensor replacement | $224–$326 | $107–$157 | $117–$169 | Med | Maybe |
| Ignition coil replacement | $238–$320 | $74–$109 | $164–$211 | Med | Yes |
| Crankshaft position sensor replacement | $230–$335 | $144–$211 | $86–$124 | Med | Maybe |
| AC recharge | $285–$369 | $179–$262 | about $106 | Med | No |
| Mass airflow (MAF) sensor replacement | $274–$381 | $51–$75 | $223–$306 | Med | Maybe |
| Spark plug replacement | $288–$399 | $184–$270 | $104–$129 | Med | Maybe |
| Brake pad replacement | $335–$394 | $122–$179 | $213–$215 | Med | Maybe |
| Wheel bearing replacement | $346–$504 | $226–$331 | $121–$172 | Med | Maybe |
| Car battery replacement | $456–$493 | $61–$90 | $394–$403 | Low | Yes |
| Oxygen (O2) sensor replacement | $440–$523 | $93–$136 | $347–$387 | Med | Maybe |
| Knock sensor replacement | $417–$589 | $291–$427 | $126–$161 | High | No |
| EGR valve replacement | $489–$632 | $181–$265 | $308–$367 | Med | Maybe |
| Brake rotor replacement | $574–$698 | $168–$247 | $406–$452 | Med | Maybe |
| Thermostat replacement | $616–$716 | $195–$286 | $421–$429 | Med | Maybe |
| Alternator replacement | $809–$1,088 | $196–$288 | $613–$800 | Med | Maybe |
| Brake pads and rotors (combined) | $901–$1,084 | combined job (not itemized on cited source) | pads + rotors (combined) | Med | Maybe |
| Water pump replacement | $891–$1,135 | $366–$536 | $525–$598 | Med | Maybe |
| Timing belt replacement | $918–$1,338 | $603–$885 | $315–$453 | High | No |
| Catalytic converter replacement | $2,280–$2,480 | $236–$347 | $2,044–$2,133 | High | No |
Most ranges on this hub are RepairPal U.S. national averages (price data as of September 3, 2026); a few cite other dated sources noted on the detail page. All exclude taxes, fees, diagnostics, and your location.
Sources / methodology
Ranges primarily cite RepairPal national averages for independent-shop style estimates; where RepairPal was unavailable or incomplete, the detail page names the alternate dated source (for example Kelley Blue Book, ConsumerAffairs citing RepairPal, or AAA). Every detail page links the source URL and shows Price data as of separately from Page reviewed.
What the numbers are: U.S. national averages meant as a sanity check against a written estimate — not a bid for your vehicle.
What they exclude: sales tax, shop fees, diagnostic time, towing, and regional labor-rate differences. Related parts (rotors with pads, sensors with converters, etc.) are often extra — see each guide’s “what’s usually included.”
Refresh cadence: We intend to re-check cited source URLs about monthly with tools/check_cost_sources.py. That script logs fetch status and flags proposed range changes over 15% for human review; it does not auto-publish new numbers. We bump “Price data as of” only when cited figures actually change after review. Hub price-data label above reflects the primary RepairPal batch date (September 3, 2026); detail pages may show a different date for non-RepairPal cites.
Page reviewed: Oct 26, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles) — bumped when hub/guide content is checked or changed.
Pair with how to read a repair estimate, spotting upselling, questions before you authorize, and the Fair Quote Checker.
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