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How much does a starter replacement cost?

A starter replacement costs $400 to $900 in 2026. What changes your price is below.

RepairPal's average for standard cars is about $650, and Kelley Blue Book puts the average at $728 to $820. A Ford F-150 runs about $400. A Porsche Cayenne, with its starter buried deep in the engine bay, runs about $2,000.

A starter replacement costs $400 to $900 in 2026

Estimate your starter replacement cost

Pick what you need and add your ZIP. The price updates as you go. Got a price already? Check it in the last step.

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Is this price fair?

A fair price is $400 to $900.

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Low$650High
Your estimateUS average
$400to$900

Middle of the range: $650

$0$610$1,220
Normal range Middle

What you are paying for

Typical carUS range for this job.$400 to $900
Mainstream car or truckVehicle.Base price
US averageLocal prices not added yet.US price
Middle of rangeHalfway between low and high.$650
How we calculate this

    Prices are for the United States in 2026 from published cost guides, checked September 2026. This is an estimate, not a quote.

    Middle $650$400 to $900

    Real prices by vehicle and option

    Lexus ES300$373 to $456 (RepairPal).
    Toyota Camry$439 to $560.
    Volvo S80$502 to $715.
    Ford F-150About $400.
    Porsche CayenneAbout $2,000.

    What pushes a quote up

    Starter locationSome sit under the intake or behind other parts.
    VehicleLuxury cars often cost double.
    New or rebuiltRebuilt starters cost less.
    DiagnosisShops first rule out the battery and wiring.
    Shop typeDealers charge more.

    Starter replacement cost by region

    Lower cost states$325 to $725. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia and most rural areas.
    Average cost states$400 to $900. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and most mid size cities.
    Higher cost states$525 to $1,175. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, plus big metros such as Chicago, Denver and Washington DC.

    These rows are our estimate. We took the typical national range and adjusted it for local labor costs, which run about 20 percent lower in the cheapest states and about 30 percent higher in the dearest ones. Labor rates vary by region, but the starter's location in the engine bay moves the price more.

    Starter or battery: how to tell

    A single click with a charged battery, or a grinding sound when you turn the key, points to the starter. A slow crank, dim lights and a car that starts with a jump point to the battery. Get the battery tested first, because it is the cheaper fix.

    ConsumerAffairs found estimates from about $400 for a Ford F-150 to about $2,000 for a Porsche Cayenne. The gap is mostly labor: some starters bolt on in an hour, others sit under the intake manifold.

    Factory bumper to bumper warranties usually cover starters, and so do many extended warranties. See our car battery replacement cost page.

    Why this costs more in 2026

    Starters are copper wound electric motors, and parts and labor both cost more this year.

    Two costs moved in 2026. Diesel passed $6 a gallon on September 11 (CBS 8 reporting AAA), and building inputs rose 4.8 percent in a year (Roofing Contractor). Ask if your price can change before work starts.

    How to judge the quote in your hand

    Ways to pay less