How Much Does A Starter Motor Replacement Cost in the UK?

The starter motor is a critical component of starting the car. It’s an electric motor that turns over the engine to start it and is usually located at the front of the engine and is connected to the battery. The starter motor is turned on when the key is turned to the ignition. Over time this can fail or wear out and will need to be replaced by a trained mechanic.

How much does it cost to replace a starter motor?

The average cost of replacing a starter motor is £225, with prices ranging from £160 to £325. Depending on the vehicle type, the starter motor’s location is not always easily accessible and can take a couple of hours to remove the old starter motor, install the new starter motor and assemble everything back together. Hence, the exact price of a starter motor replacement depends largely on your car and the parts your car's manufacturer recommends.

Your location can also be a key factor in determining the price of a starter motor replacement. For example, average hourly labour rates and demand in cities like London is around £50-£100 while in towns with lower demand, the labour rates can range from £35-£50. The type of mechanic, for example, a mobile mechanic vs a dealership garage technician can also affect the total cost of a starter motor replacement.

Average cost of a starter motor replacement by location

The most common cause is a problem with the starter solenoid. Other causes can include a faulty starter motor itself, a problem with the starter circuit, or a problem with the battery.

To avoid having car owners overpaying and get a fair price for a starter motor replacement, we use real-time data of thousands of car makes and model data, local labour prices for starter motor repairs and replacements and starter motor part prices to provide an instant fair quote. Simply enter your vehicle registration number and postcode to get an instant price for a starter motor replacement for your car.

Average cost of a starter motor replacement by manufacturer

Signs your starter motor needs a replacement

• Clicking sound when starting car
• Slow or no crank when starting engine
• Smoke or burning smell coming from engine
• Dashboard lights up but engine won’t start
• Dimming cabin lights when starting engine
• Starter motor won’t stop even after engine is on
• Freewheeling - whining noise without the engine cranking
• Starter motor covered in oil due to a leak

Engine will not crank

As the starter motor is responsible for turning the engine over when the ignition key is turned, a faulty starter motor will mean that the engine will not crank.

Loud clicking sound at the start

When you turn the key in the ignition or hit the start button in the more modern cars, you would expect to hear your engine turn before starting up. With a faulty starter motor, this will be replaced with a loud clicking sound. A single click sound will likely mean the solenoid element of the starter motor has failed. Whereas multiple clicking sounds would indicate low current from the battery

Grinding noises

Although a grinding or a buzzing noise from under the bonnet can point out various different issues, one of the common reasons for this noise occurring could be a problem with the starter motor. It could indicate an issue with gears in the motor or even some sort of damage to the flywheel. In either case, with a sound like this, it’s best to get it checked as soon as possible to avoid further damage.

Frequently asked questions about starter motor replacement cost

What does a starter motor replacement involve?

The mechanic may perform some or all of the following depending on the vehicle and the
circumstances
Mechanic will inspect the starter motor terminals and electrics of the ignition system to diagnose what’s the issue
Mechanic will subject the starter motor to a voltage test using a voltmeter
Once the issue has been properly diagnosed and if deemed necessary the mechanic will replace the starter motor.
Sometimes there could be damage to the wiring as well. The mechanic will thoroughly check the associated parts and will advise if anything else needs to be repaired or replaced.
The mechanic will start up the engine to check whether the starter motor is functioning properly.

Is it safe to drive with a faulty starter motor?

Even with a faulty starter motor, many times drivers will find they are able to start the car and drive. It’s not extremely dangerous once you start driving but if you stall or stop the engine with a faulty starter, it is quite likely that you will not be able to crank up the engine again and run the risk of getting stuck on the road. If you notice any symptoms of a failing starter motor or just general issues with starting up the engine, it’s highly recommended that you get it checked by a mechanic as continuing to drive can lead to further damage and is often more expensive than just spending the initial money on a starter motor replacement.

How long does a starter motor replacement take?

On average a starter motor replacement will usually take around 1 hour, but can take anywhere from under 1 to 2.5 hours. The time that the job takes will depend on a range of factors. For example, your vehicle's make and model, year, as well as other factors. Select your car at the top of this page for information on job time and cost for your vehicle through ClickMechanic.

Can I carry out a starter motor repair myself?

The starter motor is connected with electrical components including the battery and other high-voltage parts which can not only lead to shocks but also short circuits and damage the car’s electrical system. Unless you are a qualified mechanic with the required skills, training and equipment to do the job, we strongly recommend a starter motor replacement is only carried out by a professional mechanic.

ClickMechanic can help get you a vetted and local mechanic to carry out the work. Just enter your postcode and your car's registration number at the top of this page and select the work needed to get an instant fixed price upfront.

What else could be the problem if my starter motor isn’t broken?

If it’s not the starter motor that is faulty then difficulty starting the car could be caused due to a number of different factors, some common ones include:

• Weak or flat battery - the most common source of this symptom is a weak battery
• Alternator - a faulty alternator will not be able to effectively charge the battery which can prevent the engine from cranking
• Faulty MAF - if the Mass Airflow Sensor is failing then it will not be able to determine and control the air-fuel ratio which can mean trouble starting the car
• Spark plugs - spark plugs are crucial to the ignition process, if they are damaged then you will likely experience starting issues
• Clogged fuel filter - fuel filters get clogged over time as they filter out the contaminants in the fuel. If they are not replaced in intervals as recommended by the manufacturer then the clogged filters could lead to non-starting issues.