Realistic Auto Repair Costs: Here's How To Tell What It'll Cost To Fix Your Car

Vehicle ownership is an expensive undertaking, from the initial purchase price to the rising cost of gasoline and ongoing expenses like oil changes, tire replacement, and repairs, which are also getting more expensive. Whether you need a simple air filter replacement, or your engine and transmission need to be completely torn down and rebuilt, it's helpful to be forearmed with some knowledge about how much that repair should cost you, even if all you have is a ballpark figure.

Fortunately, there are several online tools available to provide estimates for common repairs for most passenger vehicles at locations across the United States and Canada, all of which  can provide you with some helpful information when your vehicle starts to give you trouble. Let's take a look at some of the websites that can help you estimate vehicle repair expenses, as well as some other ways to find out how much a repair might potentially cost.

One site that provides estimates for a wide range of common vehicle repairs is RepairPal. The site will connect you with local shops that can perform necessary repairs, and also has a troubleshooting guide that can help answer questions about what might be wrong with your car before you even consult a mechanic. RepairPal also has a comprehensive index of reliability ratings for most vehicles currently on the market, including estimates of the yearly maintenance and repair cost for each model.

The American Automobile Association also has a repair cost estimator, which is available whether or not you are an AAA member, although some of the estimates will include discounts for club members. The AAA site also has a driving cost calculator that can help you compare the relative expense involved in operating different models if you are shopping for a new or used vehicle.

Napa Auto Parts also provides an online repair cost estimator tool which, like the previous two, will then link you to its network of repair facilities. Napa's site also provides a detailed breakdown of the parts required for your repair, as well as an explanation of the symptoms you might be experiencing and best practices for the anticipated repair.

Another useful repair estimate website is Kelley Blue Book. The Kelley Blue Book site breaks down repair estimates into parts and labor cost, provides an explanation of the repair, and alerts you if there are any open recalls on your vehicle.

Online tools aren't the only way to get an estimate for vehicle repair costs. Most auto parts stores sell repair manuals from Haynes and Chilton, which can tell you approximately how many hours of labor each repair will take for your particular vehicle. Many public libraries also have these manuals on their shelves. You can also check parts suppliers such as RockAuto, Amazon, or any local auto parts store to get an idea of how much that portion of the repair will cost you.

While all of these are helpful ways to get an approximation of what a repair could cost, the only truly accurate method to estimate repair costs is to shop around among local repair facilities and get written estimates from them. You can then compare the estimates and read online reviews of each shop, and decide which one you feel most comfortable with.