Cost of an Alternator Replacement

What is an alternator?

Your car’s alternator is a device that converts mechanical energy from the engine into electrical energy for the car's electrical systems. Basically, your alternator works with your battery to power the electrical components of your vehicle.

While the battery is essential for starting your car when it's off, the alternator keeps your car alive when the engine is running. While you're driving around or idling, the alternator powers most of the car's electronic components with direct current (DC) energy and charges your car’s battery.

Alternators can last the life of your vehicle, but that doesn't always happen. General wear and tear, heat, overuse, exposure to water, faulty parts and frayed wires can put your alternator out of commission well before your car heads to the scrapyard.

Symptoms of a bad alternator

A broken alternator — not to be confused with a failing alternator belt — can be hard to diagnose because many of the symptoms are the same as the symptoms of a faulty battery, and both can be debilitating enough that diagnostic tests are impossible to run without getting a charge first.

Put simply: It’s hard to know what’s wrong with your car’s electrical system when there’s no power.

Still, here are a few common symptoms of a bad alternator:

• Battery light on dash: If your dashboard is showing the word “CHARGE” or a battery symbol after the battery is turned on, that means there’s a problem with your charging system, not necessarily your actual battery.
• Dead battery: A faulty alternator won’t properly charge your battery while the engine is running, so a dead battery could be a sign of an alternator problem. The best way to tell if it's your battery or alternator is to install a new battery. If it dies shortly after the installation, your alternator is most likely to blame.
• Difficulty starting: If your car has a hard time starting, it might be caused by your alternator. If the alternator is bad, your battery won’t have the necessary power to start your car.
• Grinding or whirring: If you’re hearing some unexpected noises, like grinding or whirring, it might be due to broken pieces within an alternator. For example, if the bearings in your alternator are starting to fail, the noise produced is usually pretty hard to miss.
• Weakened power supply: Because your electrical components are powered by your alternator, a weakened power supply could be a sign of a bad alternator. Look for things like slow-rolling windows, dimmed headlights or slow windshield wipers.

Regardless of the cause, if you’re experiencing issues with your vehicle, it’s important to schedule an inspection with a licensed mechanic. They can test different components of your vehicle and use OBD-II readings to determine what the issue is. You may have to pay for these tests, but they should help you avoid paying for a repair that’s not needed.

How much does it cost to replace an alternator?

In our experience, the cost to replace an alternator can vary from $450 to $2,000-plus, depending on what type of car you drive.

That’s based on quotes we collected from RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book and several independent local shops in the Atlanta area for alternator swaps in different vehicles.

“To replace an alternator, the bare minimum cost is around $450 plus tax,” according to Sean Kim, an experienced mechanic in the Greater Atlanta area. “It usually takes between one-and-a-half to two hours, so you’re spending $200 to $300 for labor plus at least $200 for a good aftermarket part.”

But, as with most car problems, the cost can quickly rise depending on what kind of car you drive.

"The make and model of the vehicle can change the price considerably," Devin Purcell, an automotive service technology professor at Fanshawe College in Ontario, Canada, told us. "There are replacement alternators that cost $100 and there are also some that cost $900 to purchase. These are just the parts; labor is another component. Labor ranges from one to eight hours, depending on the model."

Parts costs and labor rates vary, so don’t overreact if your mechanic’s quote is slightly different from our estimates.

The main reason why some alternators can be replaced in an hour — while others take a whole day — is placement. Some alternators live right at the top of the engine bay, making them easy to access and, therefore, simple and straightforward to replace.

But others — like on many BMWs — are buried deep inside the engine compartment, requiring the careful removal of several other components in order to access them. This drives up the cost of labor to replace what might otherwise be considered a relatively simple part.

That’s also why taking your vehicle to a specialty shop may drive down your overall cost. Compared with a general shop, a specialty shop may be able to access your alternator faster and charge you fewer labor hours in the process.

Factors that affect alternator replacement cost

Several factors influence the overall cost of an alternator replacement:

• Vehicle make and model: Luxury or performance vehicles often have more expensive parts and labor requirements.
• Type of alternator: Choosing between OEM, remanufactured and aftermarket alternators significantly impacts the price.
• Labor complexity: Alternators that are hard to reach require more labor hours, driving up costs.
• Location: Repair costs can vary by region, especially between rural and urban areas.
• Mechanic or shop: Prices may differ based on whether you go to a dealership, a local independent shop or a specialty repair center.
• Availability of parts: If a specific alternator model is rare or on backorder, prices may increase due to supply constraints.

How to save money on an alternator replacement

If you want to save money on an alternator replacement, shop around with different mechanics and compare the cost of OEM, remanufactured and aftermarket alternators and decide which is right for you:

• OEM (original equipment manufacturer) alternators are built by your vehicle’s manufacturer and will usually be the most reliable option. However, they also tend to be the most expensive by far. Case in point: One local shop quoted us $620 for an aftermarket BMW alternator, while another quoted us $1,300 for an OEM one.
• Remanufactured alternators are alternators that have been returned to the factory, inspected and rebuilt to factory standards. They’re around 25% cheaper than brand-new ones and are generally considered the go-to option for replacing dead alternators. “Virtually all ‘new’ alternators are remanufactured ones,” said Kim. “Nothing wrong with that. That’s the industry standard. Very few alternators come 100% factory new.”
• Aftermarket alternators are built by a third-party company to fit your car. Alternators from big, established parts makers are generally considered pretty trustworthy, but you shouldn’t trust whatever cheap, generic parts that you find online since they may be built to looser specifications or with less quality control.

When it comes to these three options, there’s no guaranteed correct choice. It’s often best to simply notify your mechanic that you’re looking for a cost-effective option and let them make a professional recommendation.

Some DIY mechanics say that you can get away with using a salvage or recycled alternator from a donor vehicle, but Kim recommended against this. “Sure, you can buy a recycled one, but they don’t come with good warranties and they may fail within two months. Recycled parts are NOT something that should often be recommended,” he said.

DIY vs. professional replacement

While it may be tempting to replace your alternator yourself to save money, there are several considerations before opting for a DIY approach.

DIY replacement can save you hundreds of dollars in labor, especially if your vehicle’s alternator is easy to access and you're comfortable working under the hood. You’ll need the right tools, a reliable repair manual or guide and a replacement alternator that fits your vehicle specifications.

However, professional replacement is typically the safer and more reliable route. Certified mechanics have access to diagnostic tools and experience with complex engine layouts. Their work often comes with warranties, reducing the risk of errors that could lead to more expensive repairs down the line.

If you’re unsure of your abilities or your car has a complicated engine bay (like many luxury vehicles), it’s usually best to leave the job to the pros.

Should I repair or replace an alternator?

Repairing your vehicle's alternator generally isn’t a cost-effective option compared with replacing it. There are a few reasons for this, but the main one is that repairing something can cost a lot more in terms of labor. For example, your mechanic would have to:

1. Diagnose the malfunction
2. Remove your existing alternator
3. Install new components
4. Test those new components
5. Reinstall the alternator
6. Test it again

By that point, the cost of labor to repair your alternator would closely match the cost of replacing it. Plus, a repair might be less reliable and probably wouldn’t come with a warranty.

Basically, the bad news is that you shouldn’t expect to save any money by fixing your broken alternator. The good news, however, is that you may not have to pay for your alternator replacement at all.

Do warranties cover alternators?

If your car is new enough to have some factory warranty coverage remaining, the cost of replacing your alternator may be covered.

We say “may” because it depends on what kind of warranty you have left:

• A bumper-to-bumper warranty should cover your alternator.
• A powertrain warranty likely won’t cover your alternator.

If you’re not sure whether your vehicle has any of its original warranty left, you can check using your VIN or our guide to every manufacturer’s factory warranties.

Most bumper-to-bumper auto warranties cover alternators because they’re not considered wear-and-tear parts. (Wear-and-tear parts, like windshield wiper blades, are made to wear out over time.)

The caveat to virtually all auto warranties is that they only cover manufacturing defects (parts that fail for no clear reason). That means your warranty won’t help if your alternator goes bad due to:

• Damage from a collision, weather event, theft or vandalism
• Abuse or misuse, such as driving off-road, towing beyond the rated capacity or unauthorized racing
• Negligence, such as leaving the car unattended for months at a time or not sticking to the routine maintenance items listed in your owners manual

The good news is that alternators typically don’t require any regular maintenance, so you’re less likely to have your claim denied on the basis that you missed a recommended service interval.

» MORE: What does a car warranty cover?

If you want to avoid paying for a new alternator again in the future, an extended auto warranty may be a good call.

Extended warranties, also called vehicle service contracts, cover the cost of unexpected repairs due to malfunctioning or broken parts. On average, bumper-to-bumper extended auto warranties cost around $1,000 per year of coverage, but they can cover anything from a $1,000 alternator replacement to a $4,000 engine replacement.

As long as your plan covers your alternator, the next time it goes bad, you should only have to pay your deductible to get it fixed. Your warranty provider will cover the rest.

“It really came in handy,” a reviewer from Georgia told us. “My car shut off on my way to work. I ended up needing a new alternator. … I had to pay my deductible, which is only $100. And I got a brand-new alternator out of the box. My car was back on the road within the day.

“Most people think that when you have an older car that's when you need stuff like a warranty and that the dealer coverage is just enough. But then it always seems like as soon as that coverage runs out, something breaks, and then you're left with the whole bag.”

Just be aware that extended warranties usually don’t cover preexisting conditions, so you’ll need to buy one before your car starts having problems if you want them covered.

» MORE: Best Extended Car Warranty Companies