Repair or replace your car
Should you pay for this repair or get another car? Enter the quote and what the car is worth. You will see how big the repair is next to the car's value, and what keeping the car costs each month against a replacement.
Your car
These are example numbers. Replace them with yours.
Get a second quote for anything large.
What it would sell for in good running order.
Tires, brakes, anything the mechanic mentioned.
After this repair, how long would you keep it?
Payment plus any rise in insurance. Leave at 0 to skip.
Find out what your car is worth as it is
Pick your car and we show what the same model and year is listed for. A car that needs a repair sells for less than the typical, so we fill in the low end of the usual range.
What the numbers say
A close call
Look at the car's age, its other problems and your plans.
How it works out
- The repair, as a share of the car's value
- 32%
- Keeping it costs, per month
- $107
- A replacement costs, per month
- $620
- Cheaper each month
- Keeping the car
A common rule of thumb: a repair under about a quarter of the car's value is usually worth doing, over half usually is not, and in between depends on its age, its reliability and what else is likely to go.
This is a guide, not a diagnosis. Safety problems, rust in the frame and repeated breakdowns can tip the answer even when the numbers say repair.
Keep going with Uobo
Uobo is your personal car agent. Text it what you need and it does the research and the checks, asks dealerships about availability, condition and price for you, and helps you decide. This is the text you would send:
You can edit this text before you send it.
On a computer? Text (289) 819-4586 from your phone and paste what you copied. Standard message rates apply. Reply STOP any time to stop.
How it works
The first check is the repair as a share of the car's value. A common rule of thumb is that under about a quarter of the value is usually worth repairing, over half usually is not, and in between is a close call.
The second check spreads the repair, and any other repairs you expect, over the months you think the car will last, and compares that with what a replacement would cost each month. The cheaper per month is shown.
Your privacy comes first. What you enter stays on your device unless you choose to text it to Uobo.
Example: a $2,400 repair on a car worth $7,500
The repair is 32% of the car's value, which is a close call. Spread over 30 months with $800 of other repairs, keeping the car costs about $107 a month, against $620 a month for a replacement.
What this does not cover
- It is a guide, not a diagnosis. Safety problems, rust in the frame and repeated breakdowns can tip the answer even when the numbers say repair.
- The answer depends on your guesses: what the car is worth, how long it will last, and what else will break. Get a second quote for any large repair.
- A replacement has costs the monthly figure may miss, such as higher insurance, tax and a down payment. The car payment calculator shows the monthly cost of a replacement.
Common questions
When is a car not worth repairing?
A common rule of thumb is when one repair costs more than about half of what the car is worth, or when you expect several more large repairs soon. An older car with rust in the frame or repeated problems is rarely worth a big repair.
How do I know what my car is worth?
Look at similar cars for sale near you with similar kilometres and condition, and ask a dealer what they would offer. Use the lower, realistic figure, not the best you can imagine.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a car?
Repairing is usually cheaper in the short term, since you avoid a purchase, tax and a new payment. Replacing is cheaper when the repairs are large, frequent and likely to keep coming.
Should I get a second opinion on a repair quote?
For anything large, yes. Prices and diagnoses differ between shops, and a second quote can change the answer.