📊 AmpAuto Data Report · 2026

The 2026 Car Repair Cost Report

What 25 of the most common car repairs actually cost this year, the hidden labor gap that makes shop bills balloon, and the repairs where doing it yourself saves the most. Free to cite and share.

Based on AmpAuto's cost database of 142 repairs across popular makes · Published July 2026 · Data free to reuse with attribution
$779
Average common repair, at a shop
64%
Of the average bill is labor, not parts
$3,500
Priciest common job: transmission rebuild
83%
Top DIY saving: water pump
Labor, not parts, is where repair bills are won and lost: it accounts for roughly 64% of the average shop total across these 25 repairs.

What each repair costs at a shop

Average of the typical low-to-high national range, parts plus labor. Hover any bar for the full range.
$0$1k$2k$3kTransmission rebuild: $2,500 to $4,500 at a shop (avg $3,500)Transmission rebuild$3,500Head gasket: $1,500 to $3,000 at a shop (avg $2,250)Head gasket$2,250Catalytic converter: $1,000 to $2,500 at a shop (avg $1,750)Catalytic converter$1,750Clutch replacement: $1,000 to $2,500 at a shop (avg $1,750)Clutch replacement$1,750Fuel pump: $600 to $1,200 at a shop (avg $900)Fuel pump$900Struts (pair): $600 to $1,200 at a shop (avg $900)Struts (pair)$900AC compressor: $500 to $1,000 at a shop (avg $750)AC compressor$750Timing belt: $500 to $1,000 at a shop (avg $750)Timing belt$750Radiator: $400 to $900 at a shop (avg $650)Radiator$650Power steering pump: $400 to $800 at a shop (avg $600)Power steering pump$600Water pump: $400 to $800 at a shop (avg $600)Water pump$600CV axle: $300 to $800 at a shop (avg $550)CV axle$550Alternator: $400 to $700 at a shop (avg $550)Alternator$550Control arm: $300 to $700 at a shop (avg $500)Control arm$500Starter: $350 to $600 at a shop (avg $475)Starter$475Brake rotors + pads (axle): $300 to $600 at a shop (avg $450)Brake rotors + pads (axle)$450Wheel bearing: $250 to $600 at a shop (avg $425)Wheel bearing$425EGR valve: $200 to $600 at a shop (avg $400)EGR valve$400Oxygen sensor: $150 to $500 at a shop (avg $325)Oxygen sensor$325Ignition coil: $150 to $400 at a shop (avg $275)Ignition coil$275Thermostat: $150 to $400 at a shop (avg $275)Thermostat$275Battery: $150 to $350 at a shop (avg $250)Battery$250Brake pads (axle): $150 to $300 at a shop (avg $225)Brake pads (axle)$225Spark plugs: $100 to $300 at a shop (avg $200)Spark plugs$200Serpentine belt: $100 to $250 at a shop (avg $175)Serpentine belt$175

The DIY gap: parts vs the shop bill

For repairs a determined owner can tackle, here is the parts-only cost against the full shop total. The difference is almost entirely labor.
Shop total (parts + labor)DIY, parts only
$0$200$400$600Water pumpWater pump at a shop: avg $600$600Water pump DIY parts only: avg $100$100AlternatorAlternator at a shop: avg $550$550Alternator DIY parts only: avg $250$250Serpentine beltSerpentine belt at a shop: avg $175$175Serpentine belt DIY parts only: avg $40$40Spark plugsSpark plugs at a shop: avg $200$200Spark plugs DIY parts only: avg $50$50Brake pads (axle)Brake pads (axle) at a shop: avg $225$225Brake pads (axle) DIY parts only: avg $70$70ThermostatThermostat at a shop: avg $275$275Thermostat DIY parts only: avg $50$50BatteryBattery at a shop: avg $250$250Battery DIY parts only: avg $210$210Oxygen sensorOxygen sensor at a shop: avg $325$325Oxygen sensor DIY parts only: avg $125$125

🚨 The most overcharged repair: catalytic converters

A P0420 code sends thousands of drivers to a shop quote of $1,500 to $2,500 for a new catalytic converter. But the P0420 is frequently caused by a failing downstream oxygen sensor, a $325-range fix. The lesson in the data: the codes with the biggest gap between the cheap real cause and the expensive assumed part are where owners lose the most money. Always diagnose the cause before approving the part.

Where DIY pays off most

The repairs with the largest gap between DIY parts and the shop bill, so the highest savings for the time invested.
Water pump (save ~83%), Thermostat (save ~82%), Serpentine belt (save ~77%). On the low end, a serpentine belt or spark plugs is often a sub-$60 part behind a $200+ shop ticket.

Methodology

Figures are typical U.S. national ranges compiled from AmpAuto's repair-cost database, which covers 142 common repairs across popular makes and model years. Each repair shows the midpoint of a low-to-high range; the DIY figure is parts only (no shop labor), and the shop figure is parts plus typical labor at prevailing national rates. Actual prices vary by region, vehicle, and part quality (OEM vs aftermarket). This report is descriptive of common repairs and is not a quote for any specific vehicle. Data may be reused with attribution to AmpAuto (ampauto.io).
Cite or embed this report (attribution appreciated): Source: AmpAuto 2026 Car Repair Cost Report, https://www.ampauto.io/car-repair-cost-report-2026
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