Used engine prices

Across 90 vehicle-specific guides with current pricing, used engine guide medians run from $293 to $7,000, with a typical median of $2,389. Condition grade, mileage, and fitment move the price within that range.

Usually, yes. Buying a used engine from a salvage yard or auto recycler typically costs a fraction of the new engine replacement cost at a dealership. Compare the grade-level medians above against any replacement quote you've received, and remember our figures exclude shipping and installation labor.

Salvage yards, junkyards, pick-and-pull lots, and online used parts marketplaces all sell used engines. Our index tracks asking prices nationally, so you can benchmark a local quote against the market range before you buy.

Expect to pay toward the upper half of the $293–$7,000 range for a grade-A engine with low mileage. Check the grade table above for the current grade-level medians, and confirm whether shipping and any core charge are included in the quote.

They can be — condition grade is the key. Grade A parts come off low-mileage vehicles with little to no damage, grade B is average, and grade C or ungraded parts are the gamble. Buy grade A or B from a yard that offers a return window or warranty, and confirm the mileage of the donor vehicle before paying. The grade-level medians above show what each tier should cost.

Yes. A motor is another name for a engine. Other common names include engine assembly. The prices on this page apply regardless of what it's called in your region or by your mechanic.

The engine block is the core structural casting that holds the cylinders, pistons, and crankshaft — it's what typically needs replacing after a bottom-end failure like a spun bearing or a cracked case. But most shops and salvage buyers prefer a complete used engine (a "long block" or full assembly) because it already has the head, timing components, and accessories fitted and known to run together. Buy just a bare block only if you or your machinist are doing a full rebuild with everything re-assembled to spec.

A used engine is pulled from a donor vehicle and sold with its original mileage and wear history; a crate engine is a new or professionally remanufactured unit built to spec and sold in a crate, with a warranty and known zero (or near-zero) hours. Crate engines cost significantly more than a salvage-yard used engine but carry far less risk since there's no unknown accident or maintenance history. Choose a used engine to save money on a running vehicle; choose a crate engine when reliability and warranty coverage matter more than price.