Check Auto Repair Prices & Get an Estimate

It depends. If you drive a newer vehicle, your vehicle warranty will typically cover any car defects at no cost to you. You’re usually responsible for maintenance items like oil changes and tune ups unless you buy a car where the automaker throws in complimentary maintenance for the first few years. Of course, some warranties last longer than others. If you purchased an extended warranty, some repairs are covered for the specified number of years or miles in your contract.

If a warranty doesn’t cover a car repair or if your older vehicle isn’t under warranty any longer, you can always estimate what car repairs cost using our auto repair pricing tool.

Estimating repair costs using our tool is the best and easiest way to know how much you can expect to pay, based on what others have paid. For example, suppose your vehicle’s fuel filter needs replacing. In that case, the tool will pull up pricing in your local area represented as a Fair Repair Range, including parts and labor. The Fair Repair Range is Kelley Blue Book’s estimate of what you can reasonably expect to pay at a dealership.

Most car repairs start as estimates, so you’ll get a sense of the cost before you agree to the repair. Then, in most cases, you don’t pay anything to the auto repair shop or dealership until the work is complete and you see the final bill. However, for major body work some repair shops may require money up front.

If you need to make the repairs but can’t afford it, you’ll want to investigate all your options:

• Find out what other repair shops will charge for the same work and weigh the costs carefully. You can consider getting some repairs done in increments if it will not cause your vehicle any safety issues without the work.
• Consider the financing or payment plans that many car dealerships and repair shops offer for car repairs. Ask lots of questions and be wary of high interest rates that add more to your total repair bill.
• Check into low-income grants or assistance, including from your church or local United Way chapter. Some programs exist to help people pay for transportation, including car repairs.
• Inquire with your bank about a personal loan or use a credit card to finance the repairs. Just know the implications of the interest rates first and shop around to get the best financing deal that meets your needs.
• You can try negotiating any estimates with the car repair shop or dealership.

Bottom line: You don’t want to find yourself owing for an expensive repair and getting stuck with a mechanic’s lien on your vehicle after all the work gets done. A lien means the auto repair or dealership will take a legal claim over your car until you pay what you owe.

Remember, most car repairs start as estimates, so you’ll have an idea of the cost before the work starts. Plus, most reputable auto repair shops or dealerships allow you to wait for the final bill before paying anything.

Sometimes the repair estimate becomes so costly that it costs more than the car is worth! In that case, you might consider the long-term benefits of a different car with fewer (or cheaper) repairs.

Yes. If you need financing for an auto repair, you can discuss the terms with the repair shop or your lender and work out monthly payments to pay for the work on your car. Be sure to ask about the interest rate because sometimes it can be higher than a low-interest credit card. It’s far more likely that a dealership or larger repair shop will offer this option. If you bring your car to “Joe’s Garage” around the corner, Joe probably will not offer a payment plan.

Yes, it’s possible. You can try to negotiate your auto repair costs, but there’s no guarantee. Once you know the estimated range of a typical repair for your vehicle using our car repair tool, you equip yourself with knowledge of the costs. While fixed costs may not be negotiable, such as the price for the car part, dealerships and car repair shops will sometimes offer a break. Keep in mind that even though it might seem like there’s wiggle room in the labor costs, those amounts are usually pretty fixed too. You can also search the internet for available coupons. If it’s a common repair or maintenance item, like an oil change, new brakes or tune up, you can often find a promotion or coupon. And if you’re a regular customer at the same dealer or shop, ask for a loyalty discount. They’ll want to keep you coming back.

The best way to keep your car repair costs low is to keep up with regular maintenance on your vehicle. That includes getting oil changes at regular intervals, rotating your car tires, keeping them properly inflated, and more. Check your owner’s manual to stay on top of your vehicle’s maintenance schedule. You can also reduce expenses for auto repairs by obtaining several quotes for non-emergency repairs and asking about discounts and coupons. That way, you can choose the quote that works best for you and your budget.

According to Kelley Blue Book’s Brand Watch study, reliability is the top concern for car buyers, even above price, safety, or fuel efficiency. Ultimately, consumers want to know that they can count on their car and not have to worry about frequent repairs costing them time, money and aggravation.

Unfortunately, reliability is notoriously hard to measure. Car repairs happen across many different locations – from branded dealerships and independent auto shops to do-it-your-selfers. No one has access to all of that repair data.

You may also often hear about a car’s expected reliability from friends and family. Other websites even use surveys and polls to try to predict reliability.

But word of mouth can have its problems. Public opinion takes a long time to change. Just because a brand has had a reputation for quality, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all of their vehicles are destined for a long life. On the other hand, some lesser-regarded brands may not get their due for more recent improvements in quality and reliability.

Kelley Blue Book always prefers to focus on data. To help you compare, every new vehicle has a Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own, which factors in maintenance costs and repair data, along with larger items like fuel costs and depreciation. Once a year, we even give 5-Year Cost to Own Awards to the top performers in a variety of categories.