Car Repair Costs, Honestly

Honest ranges from people who used to write the repair orders: what each job typically costs, why quotes vary so much, when DIY genuinely makes sense, and how to spot a fair price.

• How Much Does a Brake Job Cost?

  A front brake job typically costs $150–$300 per axle for pads at a shop, or $300–$550 per axle for pads and rotors.

• How Much Does Alternator Replacement Cost?

  Alternator replacement typically runs $400–$800 at a shop in the US: $150–$350 for a quality part plus 1–2.5 hours of labor.

• How Much Does Catalytic Converter Replacement Cost?

  Catalytic converter replacement runs $900–$2,500 at a shop for most vehicles with an OEM or certified direct-fit unit; quality aftermarket on common cars can land $500–$1,200 installed.

• How Much Does Head Gasket Replacement Cost?

  Head gasket replacement typically costs $1,500–$3,000 on a four-cylinder and $2,000–$4,500+ on V6/V8 engines — the gasket is $50–$150; the rest is 8–15+ hours of labor plus machine-shop work if the head warped.

• How Much Does Starter Replacement Cost?

  Starter replacement typically costs $300–$700 at a shop: $80–$250 for the part plus 1–2 hours of labor on accessible designs.

• How Much Does Water Pump Replacement Cost?

  Water pump replacement costs $300–$750 at a shop when the pump is belt-accessible: $50–$200 for the part plus 1.5–3 hours of labor and fresh coolant.

• How Much Does Wheel Bearing Replacement Cost?

  Wheel bearing replacement typically costs $250–$500 per wheel at a shop when the vehicle uses a bolt-on hub assembly ($80–$250 part, 1–1.5 hours labor).