How Much It Costs to Replace a Car Motor (Engine or EV Drive Unit) in 2025

Most drivers can expect a motor replacement to cost roughly $3,500 to $12,000 for mainstream gasoline cars, $10,000 to $25,000 or more for luxury/performance models, and $6,000 to $18,000 for an EV drive unit. Prices swing based on parts choice (used, remanufactured, or new), labor hours, shop rates, and vehicle complexity. Below is a detailed breakdown of what drives the cost, real-world ranges by vehicle type, and how to get an accurate quote.

Cost at a Glance

These figures capture typical 2025 U.S. pricing and reflect both parts and labor; your total will vary with location, shop type, and vehicle specifics.

• Economy/compact ICE engine: $3,500–$7,500
• Mainstream midsize/small SUV ICE engine: $6,000–$12,000
• Pickup/large SUV ICE engine: $8,000–$16,000
• Luxury/performance ICE engine: $10,000–$25,000+
• Hybrid engine replacement (ICE portion only): $5,500–$12,000
• Hybrid transaxle/motor unit: $4,500–$10,000
• EV drive unit (motor + gear reduction, often with inverter): $6,000–$18,000

These are common totals seen by independent shops and dealerships; older vehicles with readily available used engines trend lower, while late-model luxury or tight-engine-bay vehicles trend higher.

What Drives the Price

Several factors have an outsized impact on the final bill. Understanding them helps you interpret quotes and spot where costs add up.

• Parts choice: used take-out vs. rebuilt vs. remanufactured vs. brand-new “crate” engine or drive unit
• Labor hours: 10–30+ hours depending on drivetrain layout, AWD packaging, turbo hardware, and age-related corrosion
• Shop rate: about $110–$180/hr independents; $160–$250/hr many dealerships (region-dependent)
• Ancillary parts/fluids: gaskets, seals, mounts, cooling components, plugs/coils, belts, hoses, fluids, filters
• Programming and calibration: ECU/TCU coding, immobilizer alignment, emissions readiness
• Availability: popular engines are cheaper and faster to source; rare or high-performance units command premiums
• Scope creep: damaged turbos, catalytic converters, radiators, or wiring discovered during the swap

If two quotes differ by thousands, they often vary in parts quality, included ancillaries, and whether programming and incidentals are itemized or assumed.

Typical Totals by Vehicle Type

The following examples illustrate real-world totals you might encounter for a full installed replacement, assuming a reputable shop and commonly needed accessories/fluids.

• Compact commuter (e.g., 4-cyl non-turbo): $3,500–$7,500 with a used or reman long block
• Mid-size sedan/crossover (4-cyl turbo or V6): $6,000–$12,000 depending on turbo hardware and AWD
• Half-ton pickup/large SUV (V8): $8,000–$16,000; heavy-duty diesels can exceed $15,000–$25,000
• Luxury/performance (turbo/supercharged or exotic): $10,000–$25,000+, with some European V8/V12 or Porsche units $20,000–$40,000
• EV drive unit: $6,000–$18,000 installed; motor-only swaps are rarer than full drive-unit replacements

Your vehicle’s age helps too: 6–12-year-old mainstream models benefit from plentiful used/reman units, while very new or rare models skew higher due to limited supply and dealer-only parts.

Parts Options and Price Ranges

Choosing the right replacement unit is the biggest lever on cost, warranty, and long-term reliability.

• Used (salvage-yard take-out): $1,500–$4,000 (ICE); $2,000–$8,000 (EV/hybrid components). Warranty typically 30–90 days parts-only; verify mileage and compression.
• Rebuilt (shop-refreshed): $2,500–$6,000 (ICE). Quality varies widely; ask for build sheet and warranty terms.
• Remanufactured (factory-level process with new wear parts): $3,500–$8,000 for common ICE 4/6/8-cyl; $8,000–$15,000 for high-performance/luxury. Often 1–3 years, parts and sometimes labor coverage.
• New “crate” engine/drive unit: $5,000–$15,000+ (ICE mainstream); $10,000–$25,000+ (performance/exotics). EV drive units new from OEM can be $8,000–$20,000+ when available.

For most daily drivers, a reputable remanufactured unit balances cost, availability, and warranty. Used engines are cost-effective if mileage is low and documentation strong.

Labor and Timeline

Labor varies with drivetrain layout and packaging. Here’s what most shops quote in 2025.

• Labor hours: 12–30+ hours for ICE engines; 8–20 hours for many EV drive units
• Shop rates: $110–$180/hr independent; $160–$250/hr dealership
• Total labor cost: roughly $1,200–$4,500+ ICE; $1,000–$3,000 EV
• Turnaround time: 2–5 business days once parts are on hand; longer if machine work, programming, or sourcing delays occur

Expect the upper end of labor if the engine bay is tight, the vehicle is AWD, or there’s rust, seized fasteners, or turbo/aftertreatment complexity.

EV and Hybrid Specifics

Replacing an EV motor often means swapping the entire drive unit (motor, reduction gear, sometimes inverter). Hybrids can require either the gasoline engine, the transaxle/motor unit, or both.

• EV drive unit parts: commonly $5,000–$15,000 (reman/new), with used units $3,000–$8,000 depending on model
• Labor: $1,000–$3,000; less mechanical complexity but strict high-voltage safety and calibration procedures
• Hybrids: gasoline engine costs mirror ICE, while e-CVT/transaxle motor units often run $3,000–$8,000 used or $5,000–$10,000 reman plus labor
• Battery not included: traction battery issues are a separate cost item; confirm diagnostics before committing

For EVs and hybrids, ensure the shop is trained in high-voltage systems and confirm whether software updates, coolant purging procedures, and isolation checks are included.

Extra and Hidden Costs to Budget

Quotes can look similar on paper but differ in what’s included. Ask if the following are itemized or assumed.

• Fluids and filters: oil, coolant, ATF/gear oil, inverter coolant (EV/hybrid)
• Gaskets/seals, hoses, belts, thermostat, water pump, engine mounts
• Spark plugs, coils, sensors (O2, MAF/MAP), timing components (if external)
• Programming/coding fees and emissions readiness testing
• Turbos or catalytic converters if contaminated by failure
• Core charges: $300–$1,500 refunded when old unit is returned in rebuildable condition
• Towing, rental car, shop supplies, hazardous waste and tax

A detailed, line-item estimate helps avoid surprise add-ons and clarifies warranty eligibility (many reman suppliers require new cooling and filtration components).

How to Get an Accurate Quote

Clear information and the right questions typically yield a tighter estimate and better outcome.

1. Provide your VIN so the shop can match the exact engine/drive-unit variant.
2. Ask for two to three parts options (used, reman, new) with warranty length and coverage spelled out.
3. Request line items for labor hours, fluids, gaskets, mounts, programming, and taxes/fees.
4. Confirm whether ancillary components will be inspected or proactively replaced.
5. Verify who handles ECU/immobilizer programming and any emissions compliance steps.
6. Get timelines for parts sourcing and ask what could delay the job.

With comparable, itemized quotes, you can weigh cost against warranty and shop expertise rather than headline price alone.

Replace vs. Repair: Making the Call

Replacing a motor isn’t always the only path. Consider the vehicle’s value, overall condition, and the failure mode.

• Replace the engine when there’s catastrophic damage: thrown rod, cracked block, severe scoring, or pervasive oil starvation
• Repair or overhaul for targeted failures: head gasket, timing chain, valve issues—if the bottom end is healthy
• Consider selling or donating the vehicle if repair exceeds 60–80% of its private-sale value
• For EVs/hybrids, confirm the power source of the fault (battery vs. motor vs. inverter) before deciding

A pre-repair inspection (compression/leak-down for ICE, high-voltage diagnostics for EVs) clarifies whether a full replacement is necessary.

Ways to Save and Avoid Pitfalls

There are legitimate ways to reduce cost without sacrificing reliability—plus a few traps to avoid.

• Choose a quality reman with a strong nationwide warranty; it often costs less than new but lasts similarly
• Source low-mile used engines with documented mileage and run video; insist on warranty terms in writing
• Replace known weak ancillaries while the engine is out (mounts, water pump, belts) to avoid double labor later
• Use an independent specialist for your brand; labor rates and expertise can beat dealerships
• Avoid ultra-cheap “rebuilt” units without documentation or warranty; they can cost more in the long run

Balancing up-front savings with warranty coverage and shop reputation usually yields the lowest total cost of ownership.

Summary

In 2025, replacing a car’s motor typically runs $3,500–$12,000 for mainstream ICE vehicles, $10,000–$25,000+ for luxury/performance models, and $6,000–$18,000 for EV drive units. The biggest determinants are parts choice, labor hours and rates, and vehicle complexity. Get itemized quotes with clear warranty terms, confirm programming and ancillaries, and consider remanufactured units for the best cost-to-reliability balance.