Where to Buy a Used Transmission?
Consumer Warning: Many of the “low mileage” used transmissions and engines found online for sale have fake mileage. Parts brokers use the same mileage on an engine or transmission today that they advertised and sold to someone else months ago. Brokers do not have these engines or transmissions in stock: Online brokers will wait until you order something they advertised, then find one at a junkyard, and then ship you whatever they can find at that time.
To avoid being scammed:
Avoid online brokers.
Always buy local.
Only buy used transmissions through a local auto repair shop or local licensed salvage yard.
Example of what brokers do from this review
Another example from this review
Best Option For Buying a Used Transmission: Buy through a Local Auto Repair Shop
When you go to your local repair shop, they can order a used transmission from salvage yard (either locally, or out of state, depending on availability).
Pro Tip: If you are having your used transmission installed at a local repair shop, this option is the most recommended way to buy a used transmission.
The major benefit here is that you will typically have some sort of warranty on both the parts and labor through the repair shop if the one they purchased fails.
2nd Best Option for Buying Used Transmissions For Sale: Buy direct from a local or in-state licensed Salvage Yard
If you are installing a used transmission yourself, the search engine most commonly used to find a licensed, legitimate salvage yard transmission by repair shops and insurance companies is www.car-part.com which is connected to almost every licensed salvage yard in the US.
Only licensed salvage yards can list used transmissions on car-part.com so you can be assured that the companies listed are actual salvage yards. This service is free to use for you; the salvage yards pay a fee to list their inventory on this site.
Car-part.com uses the Hollander interchange system for searching the exact used transmission that will interchange with yours.
Pro Tip: Buy From A Salvage Yard That is Within Driving Distance From You Whenever Possible! After you search for your transmission, sort by distance and buy local whenever possible for the matching used transmission to save on the cost of shipping. Because if you have a warranty situation, it is much more difficult to have a warranty claim resolved if you purchase a used transmission from out of state or across the county. Shipping and labor is rarely covered in salvage yard warranty situations.
Worst Option: Buying a used transmission for sale on a website
Buying a used transmission through a website or broker is not recommended and very risky. To avoid being scammed:
Avoid online brokers.
Always buy local.
Only buy used transmissions through a local auto repair shop or local licensed salvage yard.
Broker defined: Any company that is NOT a licensed salvage yard or repair shop that advertises used transmissions for sale online. In a nutshell, they simply purchase used transmissions from salvage yards using the search engine above, increase the price several hundred dollars, and sell them to unwary customers.
Example of a used transmission broker’s BBB profile
Excerpt:
Per above, these online used transmission brokers wait until you order, then typically use the www.car-part.com to find a transmission, then mark up the transmission by several hundred dollars, which is how they make money.
Few online brokers are legitimate or give you the accurate mileage that was on the transmission they are selling: sales reps are generally on commission and will tell you whatever you want to hear.
With a broker, you end up paying several hundred more for the exact same thing you would have bought from a salvage yard–but with the far high risk of having a difficult time if you need warranty support since you paid the broker, not the salvage yard, and you will unlikely get a part with the actual mileage advertised. You will be dealing with a company out of state (usually ran out of a house) who bought from a salvage yard from out of their state, and so on.
Example of a typical used transmission broker’s reviews
Another example of a typical used transmission broker’s reviews
Many “low mileage” transmissions and engines found online have made-up mileage. Brokers use the same mileage on a part # today that they advertised and sold to someone else months ago.
Example: You will be shown a transmission on a broker’s website for 75,000 miles. You will purchase it. The next day, the same one will still be listed online with 75K miles. The next person will purchase it. A week later, it still will be listed online with 75K miles for the same price. And so on. The mileages are the same for that part number no matter what.
Bottom line: The miles these brokers advertise on the website are made-up and the pictures are generic (they do not match the actual product). These transmissions do not exist. Once you order, the company will ship you a used engine or used transmission with whatever mileage they can find at the time that you order–at any junkyard that has it.
Per above, they may pay $325 for a 125,000 mile transmission, and sell it to you for $825 claiming it has 75,000 miles.
Pro Tip: Resist the urge to buy a low priced transmission over the Internet that claims low mileage. Buy from licensed salvage yards or repair shops only. Many brokers do not tell you the actual mileage. They will almost always tell you it is below 100K miles. Once you make the purchase, there is no way for you or anyone else to verify the mileage. The higher risk of a warranty situation is generally not worth any savings. You will have little or no recourse if the transmission does not work properly. If you end up having a problem with the transmission (roughly 20-25% chance), you will be dealing with a third party from out of state who is trying to get a warranty replacement from another salvage yard in another state. From reading the many reviews online of used transmission sellers, this is a very difficult process that almost always will end with you losing money in shipping costs and repeat labor for the installation. In addition, many of these companies selling transmissions online are operating out of their house.
How do I know whether a used transmission seller is legit?
It is highly recommended to avoid online brokers selling used transmissions. Always buy local. Only buy used transmissions through a local auto repair shop or local licensed salvage yard.
Pro Tip: Many listings who have fancy websites selling used transmissions on the Internet are running the company out of their house and “brokering”. By buying a used transmission through your local repair shop or salvage yard, you will receive much better service. Find licensed salvage yards listing transmissions at the industry standard salvage yard search engine www.car-part.com and save yourself money and headaches later.
Legitimate used transmission suppliers:
-Have a street address listed on their website, and that address is not a residence or mail forwarding address. Google the full street address to know for sure. If there is no full street address listed on the website, or or if the address appears to be a mail forwarding address, or an address with no automotive company on premises, this is a red flag.
-Have a local telephone number and not just a toll-free 800 number. Legitimate companies have both toll-free and local numbers, not just an 800 number.
-Have no pattern of 1 star reviews on their Google Business listing, Yelp, Better Business Bureau profile. Google the name of the company.
-Handle warranty claims promptly and have a straightforward warranty policy.
In a nutshell: Buying outside of a salvage yard or repair shop carries a high risk of having to spend additional money and time to replace the transmission when it fails.
The Gamble of used transmissions vs. remanufactured transmissions
You have roughly an 80% chance of success when going with a used transmission — However, used transmissions have roughly a 20% chance of failure or problem in the first 90 days, so it is important to have a plan if the unit fails.
Here is an example of how you can end up paying more for a used transmission than a remanufactured transmission:
You find a used transmission at your local salvage yard that costs $850 with a 30 day warranty.
A remanufactured transmission of the same model with a 3 year warranty costs $1370.
You purchase the used transmission for $850 and pay your repair shop $600 to install it for a total of $1450.
The used transmission fails during the 30 day warranty period. The salvage yard gives you another used transmission under warranty.
You have to pay the repair shop again to swap them. The repair shop will typically charge the same amount for labor, $600, for now a total of $2050.
Result:
You are now on your 2nd used transmission. You paid $2050, and have a 30 day warranty.
The remanufactured transmission would have cost $1970 installed and you would have had a 3 year warranty.
You paid more and received less.
This is a common situation where you can end up paying more for a used transmission, and getting less of a product and a warranty.
This situation is also a great reason why that if you are planning on buying a used transmission for sale, buy it through the repair shop who is installing it since they are more likely to back up their work and help you with the labor if it needs to be swapped again.
Used transmission warranty – What is covered?
One of the biggest disadvantages to buying a used transmission is the short warranty. Most used transmissions have a 30, 60, 90 day warranty, with some going 6 months to a year. Now this may sound good on the surface, but most of these used transmission warrantees don’t offer the kind of protection that you would expect since a used transmission is not typically a long-term solution. If there an issue, most used transmission suppliers rarely pay additional labor charges for the unit to be re-installed if it fails.
In other words, if the used transmission breaks or has issues during the warranty period, most of these policies will only get you a replacement used transmission. You will have to pay the labor charges for your mechanic to remove the second broken transmission and install the next used transmission, typically between $400 – $800. The chances of failure on another used transmission are the same as the 1st, making it a gamble.
How Much Does a Used Transmission Cost?
On average, a used transmission can cost between $800 and $1400 pending on the make and model of your vehicle. The cost of labor to install it is in addition to the price of the unit and will typically run between $400 and $800.
| Repair Type | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Minor Repairs (Clutch, Solenoids) | $300 to $1400 |
| Replacement Labor (R+R) | $500 to $1200 |
| - Used / Salvage Yard | $800 to $1500 |
| - Rebuilt / Local Rebuild | $1100 to $2800 |
| - Remanufactured | $1300 to $3400 |
| Transmission Repair Warranties | |
|---|---|
| Salvage Yard (Used) | 90 day to 6 months |
| Rebuilt | 12-month, 12,000 mile |
| Remanufactured | 3 year, Unlimited miles or 100K miles |
Where does a used transmission come from?
As the name would suggest, a used transmission was previously “used” in another vehicle. These typically come from a salvage yard, which can acquire them in several different ways. The most common way for a junkyard to buy inventory is through auction. This is where insurance companies and car dealers will auction off vehicles that are too damaged to sell on the retail/wholesale market. In the case of an insurance company’s vehicles, the problem could have been an accident or flood damage. And for car dealers, many of them will dispose of trade-ins that have excessively high mileage, or other issues that would exceed the value of the car to fix.
Junkyards can also acquire inventory by buying cars directly from the public, and tow companies or mechanics that are looking to sell abandoned vehicles. These vehicles often have many usable parts. However you don’t know how the owners maintained their vehicle, which can have a huge impact on the lifespan of the used transmission.
What used transmission do I need?
The nationwide search engine most commonly used to find a salvage yard transmission by repair shops and insurance companies is www.car-part.com
What Transmission Do I Have?
Verifying the condition
When a donor vehicle arrives the salvage yard, many of them will attempt to make the car run so they can determine what works and what doesn’t. If the car is not drivable, it will be difficult for them to test any working condition of the transmission. Most large salvage yards will then dismantle the vehicle and put all of the usable parts in their inventory. While smaller operations will simply park the car somewhere on their lot, and remove individual parts when they are ordered.
Two things you can check:
-Pull dipstick, check fluid condition.
-Pull pan, check for metal shavings and fluid condition.
Once the transmission has been removed from the donor vehicle, a visual inspection will be made, and most will remove the transmission pan so they can assess the condition of the internal components. They may also be looking for metal shavings in the bottom of the pan, or dark/burnt fluid conditions, which can signal serious internal problems. However a visual inspection alone, will not be enough to assess the actual condition of the internal components. The way the transmission was maintained will also have an impact on the lifespan of the transmission. Unfortunately, you won’t know the answer to any of these variables until you install that transmission and get it out on the road.
Rebuilt vs Used Transmission Cost
The table below shows what a fair price is for a replacement remanufactured transmission for a number of makes & models.
You can estimate what your cost will be based on the prices shown for the type of transmission in your vehicle.
Not sure what transmission your vehicle has? Use our lookup tool below or one of these 5 other ways to find out.
Reman Transmission Pricing Table
| Transmission | Street Smart Transmission |
|---|---|
| 4L60E / 4L65E | 2100 |
| 4L80E | 2256 |
| 4T45E / 4T40E | 1935 |
| 4T65E | 1935 |
| 5L40E (Exc. BMW) | 2453 |
| 6T40 / 6T45 | 2432 |
| 6T75E / 6T70 | 2432 |
| 6L80 / 6L90 | 2559 |
| Allison 1000 | 2478 |
| 4R75E/W 4R70W | 2025 |
| 4R100 / E4OD | 2226 |
| 4F27E | 1856 |
| 5R55S/N/W/E | 2203 |
| 5R110W | 2432 |
| AX4N / AX4S | 2037 |
| CD4E | 1947 |
| FNR5 / AWTF-80 | 2148 |
| 6F50 / 6F35 | 2480 |
| 6R60 | 2559 |
| 6R80 | 2559 |
| AWF21 | 2233 |
| 6R140 | 3864 |
| 41TE (A604) | 1905 |
| 46RE (A518) | 2053 |
| 47RE (A618) | 2204 |
| 48RE | 2712 |
| 42RLE | 2152 |
| 545RFE | 2348 |
| 62TE | 2409 |
| 65RFE | 2478 |
| 68RFE | 3543 |
| W5A580 / NAG1 | 2589 |
| Nissan RE5R05A | 2583 |
| Nissan CVT | Call |
| 722.6 | Call |
More Information by Transmission Type
Pitfalls of a used transmission
When a donor vehicle arrives the salvage yard, many of them will attempt to make the car run so they can determine what works and what doesn’t.
If the car is not drivable, it will be difficult for them to test the working condition of the transmission. Most large salvage yards will then dismantle the vehicle and put all of the usable parts in their inventory. While smaller operations will simply park the car somewhere in the yard, and remove individual parts when the orders come in.
- Unknown condition of the internal components
- Unknown service life
- OE design flaws may not have been corrected
- Mileage listed by salvage yards is not always accurate
- The warranty only replaces the transmission, leaving you to pay labor charges
Is a used transmission right for me?
Before buying a used transmission, the main question that you have to ask is:
How long do you want to keep your vehicle?
If it has over 200,000 miles, and isn’t worth fixing with a remanufactured transmission, or if you only plan to keep the vehicle for another year or less, then maybe a used transmission would be the right solution for you.
However, if you plan to keep your vehicle on the road for more than a year, then you might want to consider getting an estimate first a remanufactured transmission. Here’s why:
• The entire transmission is taken back to the original OE specification
• Modifications and upgrades are performed to correct OE design flaws and extended service life
• Each remanufactured transmission is dyno tested to ensure proper function, tuning, and to break-in all of the new parts
• Backed by a 3-year/Unlimited Mile Nationwide Warranty
• Shipping is free
• No core charge
• Financing is available through PayPal Credit
It is less expensive to replace your transmission with a used transmission than to have your transmission rebuilt or replaced with a remanufactured transmission for almost all makes & models.
However, if the used transmission does not work after install, there can be additional labor costs (and warranty/shipping costs) to install a 2nd or 3rd used transmission, causing the price to be higher than a rebuilt transmission or reman transmission install. This makes it a gamble in many cases to install a used transmission: On one hand, you can save money. On another, if there is a problem initially, it can cost more overall.
To view our latest remanufactured transmission pricing guides, click here.
Why do you no longer carry remanufactured 41TE or the old name A604 transaxles?
Makes cluncking noises when shifting in low gears and accelerating/decelerating, and sometimes while idling. Mechanic says internal gear lash is damaged and the transmission needs to be replaced.
The AT came the shop order not a shift solenoid and call something else and put another part it was the wrong solenoid for the car it’s has the same problem. I call and he that’s not his problem AT light
The connection to the shift sensor is different. The new connector is rectangle the old one is rounded. I have a 95 Ford ranger splash 4R55E transmission. Trans I remove and installed was 01 ranger.
Already checked need reman
my 2019 ford 150 XLT Supercrew 4×4 will jump to neutral-like then power into drive with a loud bang….will stall then start. Dealer says its completely out