How to Save Money:

We try to recommend repair shops more likely to install a remanufactured transmission that you purchase on your own for cost savings. When buying a transmission through a repair shop or dealership, you generally will pay $300 – $800 more.

Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model.

What Transmission Do I Have?

When buying factory direct, you can save $300 – $800 from what the shop will add as their markup on the transmission. Get a factory direct estimate by text message + email by clicking here.

Questions to ask when calling local repair shops:

Note: Before calling, have your 17-digit VIN# number (from the vehicle dash, door or an insurance card, registration or title) handy.

–Do you install transmissions? Can you quote me a price for installation?
(Check the guide table below for fair labor prices. Labor costs can differ by area.)

–What is your hourly labor rate?
(Typical rates average $75 – $115 per hour)

–Can I have the transmission shipped to your shop for install?
(If you are purchasing directly from a company selling a remanufactured transmission)

Transmission Installation Shop Locator:

Below is a searchable map of repair shops that may install used or remanufactured transmissions at fair labor prices.

Reliable Repair Shop Criteria:

The following are recommended criteria to look for when calling around to find the most fair and reliable local repair shop for transmission installation:

• Has been in business for 2 years or more.
• Has a 4.0 or higher Google Reviews and/or Yelp Reviews rating, with no patterns of 1-star reviews.
• Has a Better Business Bureau “B” or higher rating.
• Is willing to install customer supplied transmissions purchased through reputable suppliers.
• Charges a maximum $95/hour labor rate for initial transmission installation and has a warranty hourly rate that is less than retail for warranty repair work.
• Offers transmission replacement labor using established hourly book times (Mitchell, Alldata, Chilton, Motor, etc).
• Has ability to reflash/reprogram using OEM subscriptions for late model 2006+ vehicles (shop equipped with Snap-On Pass-Through Pro II/III, Drewtech CarDAQ-Plus 2, Drewtech RAP, or similar J2534 device)
• Have a repair shop that does excellent transmission diagnostics and installation and want to be recommended? Visit our For Shops page

Fair Replacement Transmission Cost and Labor by Model

Find your transmission model in the table below for fair prices from reputable suppliers. Also fair labor cost for local installation at a local auto repair shop.

Get a free estimate on a remanufactured transmission factory direct by email.

More Information by Transmission Type

Where to Buy a Used Transmission

Option 1: Buying through a Local Repair Shop

When you go to your local repair shop, they’ll order a used transmission from a local or out-of-state salvage yard, 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.

Option 2: Buying direct through a Salvage Yard

If you are installing a used transmission yourself, the nationwide search engine most commonly used to find a salvage yard transmission by repair shops and insurance companies is www.car-part.com which is connected to almost every salvage yard in the US.

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 When Possible! Always sort by distance and buy in your local area for the matching used transmission to save on the cost of shipping, if the matching unit is available locally. Also, 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.

Only licensed salvage yards can list auto parts on car-part.com so you can be assured that the companies listed are actual salvage yards.

Option 3: Buying online through a broker or website

Buying a used transmission through a broker / website is not recommended. Most brokers / websites typically use the above www.car-part.com to find you a transmission, then mark up the part by several hundred dollars–charge a brokering fee–and not all online brokers are legitimate or give you the accurate mileage that was on the transmission they are selling. So in the end, you end up paying more for the same thing, at a higher risk of having difficulty if you need a warranty claim.

Pro Tip: Resist the urge to buy a low priced transmission over the Internet that claims low mileage. The risk of a warranty situation is generally not worth any savings of buying a cheap transmission from out of state. You will have little or no recourse if the transmission does not work right. If you prefer to not deal with a salvage yard, buy a used transmission for sale through your local repair shop. Because if you end up having a problem with the transmission (roughly 20-25% chance), buying through your local repair shop will save you the potential headaches of dealing with a third party from out of state who is trying to get a warranty unit from another salvage yard in another state. The repair shop you are buying through typically will already have an established relationship with that salvage yard and will get your situation resolved far easier than through an online broker.

Our Recommendation

We recommend Street Smart Transmission. Their transmissions carry a 3 year / unlimited miles warranty that covers both parts and labor. Their warranty is nationwide and attached to the VIN so it is transferable with ownership if you decide to sell the vehicle. It also covers both parts and labor for the installation of the replacement transmission.

Finding a Shop to Install the Remanufactured Transmission

If your transmission has failed, you’re going to need a skilled mechanic to replace it. You can find a shop using our shop locator map.

For warranty purposes, you need to find a reliable repair shop. That way, if the replacement transmission doesn’t work properly, the warranty will cover it.

Warranty

Each step in the remanufacturing process has to be verified by quality control managers before the build can continue. This guarantees uniform, properly functioning transmissions that will exceed the original manufacturer’s specifications. It also allows for a generous warranty that will protect you from transmission repair costs for up to three years.

• Standard coverage: 3 Years / Unlimited Mileage
• Commercial applications: 18 Months / 100,000 Miles
• Warranty is attached to the VIN number and can be transferred if the vehicle is sold
• Coverage is good at any licensed repair shop, anywhere in the United States
• Pays for parts & labor
• Replacement transmission will be shipped immediately upon receipt of a claim

In addition to the exceptional warranty coverage, every transmission is shipped to any business address for free, and core returns are shipped free as well. Between the build quality and the warranty, a our transmissions are literally better than new.

More Information by Make & Model

City Heights Auto Repair

(619) 282-2400
3877 42nd St, San Diego
CA 92105

Website: http://www.autorepairofsandiego.com/

City Heights Auto Repair & Auto Collision Center specializes in complete automotive repair of all vehicles including cars and trucks. We also do collision repair, restorations, fiberglass and plastic repair. We provide outstanding customer service and high quality work. Whether it’s an insurance claim or customer paid claim,

Ken’s Auto Center

(858) 578-8200
9555 Black Mountain Rd
San Diego, CA 92126

Website: http://kensautocenter.com/

The maintenance experts of Ken’s Auto Center have been honored to serve San Diego and Mira Mesa for the past 16 years. While we focus on Auto Service, Engine Service, Transmission Service, Brake Repair and Auto Electrical Service, we also provide a long range of other auto repair services listed on our services page

ATS Transmissions & Auto Service

(619) 458-3900
3141 India St
San Diego, CA 92103

Website: http://www.atstransmissionspecialists.com/

At ATS Transmissions & Auto Service you can be confident that you will receive the high-quality auto services that you deserve. For nearly 30 years, our San Diego transmission specialists have been providing clients with a wide variety auto services. We provide each of our clients with honest, ethical and professional services.

Dr. Trans

(858) 292-4300
4855 Ruffner St
San Diego, CA 92111

Website: http://drtrans.com/

Locally owned and operated since our establishment, Dr. Trans knows how important your vehicle is to you. We understand that its performance and safety is paramount to you and your family

Soto’s Transmissions

(619) 425-5341
2278 Palm Ave
San Diego, CA 92154

Sotos Transmission is a full service auto repair shop where the mechanics are transmission specialists. Their staff is certified, experienced, knowledgeable, and honest. They are also …

Transmasters Auto Care

(858) 693-8282
8008 Miramar Rd
San Diego, CA 92126

Website: http://www.transmasters.com/

At Transmasters Auto Care, our number one goal is complete customer satisfaction. Every day, with every customer, we focus on providing high-quality transmission repair services coupled with top-notch customer service.

Magic Lube and Auto Repair

(619) 266-4931
1759 Euclid Ave
San Diego, CA 92105

Website: http://cheaptransmissionrepairsandiego.com/

As part of Magic Lube and Auto Repair, our certified Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) mechanics possess years of transmission repair experience. We use only quality automotive parts supplied from reputable vendors that are guaranteed to get you safely back on the road as quickly as possible.

Rapid Transmissions

(858) 560-4074
3905 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

Website: http://rapidtransmission.com/

At Rapid Transmissions, we repair, replace and rebuild all components of your vehicles driveline including the Transmission, Clutch, Transfer Case, Driveshaft, Differential and Axles.

Luis Transmissions

(858) 565-7239
4191 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

Website: http://luistransmission.com/

Southern California Transmissions

(619) 523-1222
3320 Kurtz St
San Diego, CA 92110

Website: http://scatransmissionrepair.com/

SCA Transmission repair is proud to be affiliated with the non-profit organization known as the Automatic Transmission Rebuilder Association (ATRA). As an ATRA member our automatic transmission repair shop adheres to the service and repair definitions which are a part of the ATRA bylaws and code of ethics.

Transmission Shops in Nearby Areas

• Anaheim
• Bakersfield
• Carlsbad
• Corona
• Chula Vista
• Elk Grove
• Escondido
• Fontana
• Fremont
• Fresno
• Fullerton
• Garden Grove
• Hayward
• Huntington Beach
• Irvine
• Long Beach
• Los Angeles County
• Modesto
• Moreno Valley
• Oakland
• Oceanside
• Ontario
• Orange
• Oxnard
• Palmdale
• Pomona
• Rancho Cucamonga
• Riverside
• Sacramento
• Salinas
• San Bernardino
• San Francisco
• San Jose
• Santa Ana
• Santa Clara
• Santa Rosa
• Stockton
• Sunnyvale
• Torrance

California State Licensing Requirements

California does not require transmission shops in San Diego, CA to qualify for a state license, so there is no state standard for competency among transmission repair services. They require only a registration, for which there is no inspection or testing of ability in transmission repair.

Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model.

What Transmission Do I Have?

Likewise, California has no legal requirement that services for transmission repair in San Diego, CA first show proof of liability insurance to reimburse you in the event of any damages that might occur during servicing.