Car ownership decision tool

Repair vs Replace Car Calculator

Compare repair costs against replacement costs so you can decide whether fixing your car still makes financial sense.

Compare the next few years

Estimate whether paying for the repair is cheaper than replacing the car.

Current car

Repair estimate$Current car value$Expected extra repairs$Monthly operating cost$Compare periodmo

Replacement car

Replacement price$Down payment$Trade-in value$Replacement APR%Loan termmoMonthly operating cost$

Recommendation

Repair likely wins

Repairing looks cheaper by about $14,131 over 36 months.

Repair scenario: $14,300
Replace scenario: $28,431
New monthly payment: $356
Amount financed: $18,000

Scenario cost comparison

Repair scenario$14,300

Replace scenario$28,431

Cost difference$14,131

Before replacing, get a second repair estimate and compare insurance costs. A cheaper payment can still be a more expensive car.

How this calculator works

The repair scenario adds the repair estimate, expected extra repairs, and your current monthly operating costs over the comparison period. The replacement scenario estimates a new car payment, adds the down payment, and includes monthly operating costs for the same period.

When repair can still be smart

A large repair can still be cheaper than replacing the car if it keeps you out of a new loan for long enough. The decision gets riskier when the repair is close to the car's value, more repairs are likely, or the car no longer fits your needs.