Used starter prices

Across 87 vehicle-specific guides with current pricing, used starter guide medians run from $50 to $161, with a typical median of $86. Condition grade, mileage, and fitment move the price within that range.

Usually, yes. Buying a used starter from a salvage yard or auto recycler typically costs a fraction of the new starter 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 starters. 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 $50–$161 range for a grade-A starter 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 starter motor is another name for a starter. The prices on this page apply regardless of what it's called in your region or by your mechanic.

The starter solenoid is a small electromagnetic switch mounted on (or built into) the starter motor that engages the starter drive gear and completes the high-current circuit when you turn the key. If your starter clicks but doesn't turn the engine over, the solenoid alone may be at fault and can sometimes be replaced separately. But if the starter motor itself is worn, drags, or spins weakly, you need the whole starter assembly — a used solenoid alone won't fix a bad motor.