Car Repair Cost Guides
All guides are free, and every price is a US national average for 2026 (parts + labor). Need an exact number for your car? Upload photos and get a free AI estimate in ~30 seconds.
Body & Paint Damage
Bumper Repair & Replacement Cost
$300 – $1,500
Bumper repair costs $300–$800 for cracks and scuffs; full bumper replacement runs $700–$1,500+ painted and installed. Front vs rear bumper price table.
Car Dent Repair Cost
$50 – $2,500
Car dent repair costs $50–$150 for small dings (PDR), $300–$800 for medium dents, and up to $2,500 for large or creased damage. Full price breakdown.
Paintless Dent Repair Cost
$75 – $500
Paintless dent repair costs $75–$150 per small dent and $250–$500 for larger dents. See when PDR works, per-dent pricing, and hail damage rates.
Hail Damage Repair Cost
$750 – $10,000
Hail damage repair costs $750–$3,000 for light damage and up to $10,000+ for severe storms. Per-dent pricing, PDR vs traditional repair, and insurance claims explained.
Car Paint Job Cost
$500 – $5,000
A car paint job costs $500–$1,000 (basic), $1,500–$3,500 (standard), and $5,000–$10,000+ (show quality). Panel respray and touch-up pricing included.
Car Scratch Repair Cost
$150 – $1,000
Car scratch repair costs $50–$150 for clear-coat scuffs, $150–$400 for paint-deep scratches, and $500–$1,000+ for deep scratches down to metal. Full breakdown.
Car Frame Repair Cost
$600 – $10,000
Frame damage repair costs $600–$1,500 for minor straightening, $1,000–$5,000 for unibody rail work, and $5,000–$10,000+ when severe. When is a car totaled?
Sunroof Leak Repair Cost
$100 – $800
Sunroof leak repair costs $100–$250 for clogged drain cleaning and $200–$600 for seal replacement. Causes, water damage costs, and prevention tips.
Engine & Mechanical
Head Gasket Repair Cost
$1,500 – $3,500
Head gasket replacement costs $1,500–$3,500 on average in the US. See parts vs labor breakdown, symptoms of a blown head gasket, and when repair is not worth it.
Transmission Repair Cost
$1,800 – $8,000
Transmission repair costs $300–$900 for minor fixes, $1,800–$3,500 for a rebuild, and $4,000–$8,000+ for replacement. Full US price breakdown inside.
Wheel Bearing Replacement Cost
$250 – $500
Wheel bearing replacement costs $250–$500 per wheel in the US (front vs rear, hub assembly vs pressed bearing). Symptoms, safety, and price factors explained.
Car AC Repair Cost
$150 – $1,500
Car AC repair costs $150–$300 for a refrigerant recharge and $800–$1,500 for a compressor replacement. Full US price table by repair type.
Muffler Repair & Replacement Cost
$100 – $800
Muffler repair costs $100–$300 for patching and welding; full muffler replacement runs $300–$800 installed. Exhaust leak and full system pricing included.
Radiator Replacement Cost
$400 – $900
Radiator replacement costs $400–$900 installed in the US ($250–$450 part + 1.5–3 hours labor). Leak repair, hoses, and coolant flush pricing included.
Starter Replacement Cost
$350 – $750
Starter replacement costs $350–$750 installed in the US (part $150–$400 + 1–2 hours labor). Bad starter symptoms, reman vs new, and price factors explained.
Catalytic Converter Replacement Cost
$900 – $2,500
Catalytic converter replacement costs $900–$2,500 in the US. Aftermarket vs OEM, CARB-compliant rules for California, and theft protection explained.
Brake Pad Replacement Cost
$150 – $350
Brake pad replacement costs $150–$350 per axle, or $300–$600 with new rotors. Ceramic vs semi-metallic pricing, symptoms, and when to replace.
Water Pump Replacement Cost
$400 – $800
Water pump replacement costs $400–$800 installed; timing-belt-driven pumps run $600–$1,100. Symptoms of a failing water pump and price factors.
Timing Belt Replacement Cost
$500 – $1,000
Timing belt replacement costs $500–$1,000, or $700–$1,300 with the water pump and tensioners. Belt vs chain, intervals, and interference-engine risk explained.
Clutch Replacement Cost
$800 – $1,500
Clutch replacement costs $800–$1,500 on most cars and $1,200–$2,000 on AWD vehicles. Dual-mass flywheel, symptoms of a worn clutch, and price factors.
CV Joint Replacement Cost
$250 – $650
CV axle replacement costs $250–$650 per side with an aftermarket axle; CV boot replacement alone runs $200–$400. Symptoms and price factors explained.
Suspension Repair Cost
$400 – $2,500
Suspension repair costs $400–$900 for a pair of struts or shocks, $300–$700 per control arm, and $1,500–$2,500 for a full refresh. Full price breakdown.
Electrical
Airbag Replacement Cost
$1,000 – $2,000
Airbag replacement costs $1,000–$2,000 per deployed airbag in the US, plus $400–$1,200 for module resets, sensors, and seatbelt pretensioners. Full breakdown.
Alternator Replacement Cost
$500 – $950
Alternator replacement costs $500–$950 installed in the US; remanufactured units run $350–$600. Bad alternator symptoms, belt add-ons, and price factors inside.
Car Battery Replacement Cost
$150 – $350
12V car battery replacement costs $150–$350 installed; AGM batteries run $250–$450. Prices by battery type, symptoms of a dying battery, and DIY tips.
Spark Plug Replacement Cost
$150 – $350
Spark plug replacement costs $150–$350 on a 4-cylinder and $300–$600 on a V6/V8. Iridium vs copper plugs, symptoms of worn plugs, and intervals.
Glass, Wheels & Mirrors
Windshield Repair & Replacement Cost
$200 – $600
Windshield replacement costs $200–$600 for most cars, or $800–$1,500+ with ADAS camera recalibration. Chip repair runs $50–$150. Full US price guide.
Rim Repair & Replacement Cost
$50 – $500
Rim repair costs $50–$150 for curb rash and $100–$200 for bent rim straightening. Replacement runs $200–$500 per rim (alloy). Full US price guide.
Side Mirror Replacement Cost
$150 – $600
Side mirror replacement costs $150–$450 for a power mirror, $50–$150 for glass only, and $500–$1,000+ for mirrors with cameras or blind-spot radar.
Headlight Replacement Cost
$150 – $1,500
Headlight replacement costs $50–$150 for a bulb, $150–$500 per halogen assembly, and $500–$1,500+ for LED units. Restoration runs $75–$150.
Side Window Replacement Cost
$200 – $450
Side window replacement costs $200–$450 for door glass; quarter glass runs $300–$800. Regulator damage, tint, and mobile service pricing explained.
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