Repairs & costs

What a repair involves, what it should cost, and how to avoid overpaying.

• Alternator replacement cost

  What a garage charges to replace an alternator, what pushes the price up, and how to make sure the alternator is really the problem first.

• Brake pad replacement cost

  What a garage charges to replace brake pads, what pushes the price up, and how to avoid paying for work you do not need.

• Car battery replacement cost

  What a new car battery costs in the US and UK, why stop-start cars pay more, what battery registration is, and how to avoid overpaying.

• Catalytic converter replacement cost

  What a garage charges to replace a catalytic converter, aftermarket vs original parts, what to do after a theft, and how it affects emissions tests and the MOT.

• Clutch replacement cost

  What a garage charges to replace a clutch, the signs yours is wearing out, and why a dual-mass flywheel can make the bill much bigger.

• Starter motor replacement cost

  What a garage charges to replace a starter motor, what makes some cars far pricier than others, and how to rule out a flat battery first.

• Timing belt replacement cost

  What a garage charges to replace a timing belt (cambelt), why the water pump is often done at the same time, and why skipping it can cost you the engine.