Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
The average cost of a car alternator replacement is between $300 and $450, including parts and labor.
If you go to a dealership: Your bill will probably be closer to $500 or more. That’s because they typically use OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts, not aftermarket parts. Plus, they generally charge more for services than your local auto shop.
to replace an alternator. Depending on the mechanic’s hourly fee, that’s about $200 in labor costs.
If you use OEM parts: You can expect to pay between $200 and $350 for a new alternator before labor costs. If you don’t mind using aftermarket parts, you could pay between $100 to $200 for a new part.
Alternator problems usually come with other problems: Your mechanic may discover other parts that need to be replaced during the service, such as the serpentine belt or the battery. This could add another $50 to $150 to your fee.
You can save money by choosing aftermarket parts, but be wary of poor quality brands.
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.