8 Car Essentials That Have Skyrocketed in Price — and How To Find Cheaper Alternatives

Are you noticing your trips to the car repair shop are much more expensive than they used to be? You’re not seeing things. Car parts are getting pricey.

Inflation, theft and other factors have caused many car essentials to go up dramatically in price. Luckily, there are cheaper alternatives you can purchase so you don’t have to break the bank on every replacement.

Here is the advice automotive and financial experts gave for when you need to bring your car repair costs down a bit. 

Also don’t waste your money on these unreliable car products.

Left your lights on and now you need a new battery? You might be surprised at how much car batteries cost these days. The cost can range from $100 to $200. Of course, an electric car battery will cost much more. Prices to replace an EV’s battery can be as much as $25,000. 

“Car batteries have become significantly more expensive, and there are a few reasons for this,” said Ben Michael, director of auto at Michael & Associates. “One is because the parts that are needed to construct these batteries have become more expensive themselves. Issues like inflation and supply shortages over the past few years have made many battery parts and materials more costly, which in turn makes batteries themselves significantly more expensive. Also, with the increasing production of electric vehicles, that only increases the demand for such products, which leads to even further price hikes.”

Next time you need a battery, Shawn Miller, a senior writer at Modified Rides, said you might want to opt for refurbished ones to lower the cost. “[Look for] refurbished batteries or lesser-known brands that still offer good warranties. These can be sourced from local auto shops or online retailers like Amazon.” 

Replacing your tires is not a cheap fix. They can range anywhere from $50 to $1,000 per tire. “Tires have increased in price by about 20-30%, driven by higher raw material and transportation costs, as well as tariffs,” Alex Lirette, the founder Of Orbital Seo, said. 

Miller said tires have gone up in price due to rising raw material costs and supply chain disruptions. To get a better deal, he recommended looking off the beaten path.

“Consider purchasing high-quality used tires or opting for off-brand tires that meet safety standards,” Miller said. “These can be found at local tire shops or online marketplaces like eBay.” 

To keep your engine in good shape, you might have needed to buy some engine oil, only to be blown away by how much it costs. You could spend anywhere from $30 to $40 a bottle.

Miller said the jump in price is due to inflation and the rising cost of crude oil. Miller said one way to save money is to skip the name brands of engine oil.

“Generic or store-brand oils often provide the same protection at a lower cost,” Miller said. “Look for deals at big-box retailers like Walmart or auto parts stores like AutoZone.”

It’s recommended that you change out your brake pads every 25,000 to 65,000 miles. For most drivers, that’s about every two to five years. Unfortunately, Miller said brake pads have gone up in price due to higher manufacturing and material costs. Brake pads cost anywhere from $20 to $150 a wheel.

Miller said the way to save some money is to look into aftermarket options.

“Opt for aftermarket brake pads, which can be found at significant savings without compromising safety,” Miller said. “Websites like RockAuto offer a variety of affordable options.” 

Depending on the climate where you drive, you might be replacing your windshield wipers pretty frequently. Miller said they’ve gotten more expensive to replace due to material shortages. Once again, he said you can save money on this by looking beyond the name brands.

“Generic or store-brand wipers are often just as effective,” he said. “Check out stores like Costco or Target for budget-friendly options.”

If you’ve had your catalytic converter stolen, then you know the pain–and the cost–of having to replace it.

“Catalytic converters have gone up by as much as 200% due to the rising cost of precious metals like palladium and rhodium, along with an increase in thefts,” Lirette said.

It can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $2,500 to replace your catalytic converter. To get a lower price when you need it replaced, Lirette recommends looking into aftermarket catalytic converters. 

However, there is even more that you should be doing to prevent your catalytic converter from being stolen. After all, it’s a pretty expensive fix.

Anthony Kane, the director of AutohausAZ, recommended installing a part for theft prevention: “The best advice I can give is to get an anti-theft device. These can be found on Amazon, or a number of independent seller’s sites such as Cat Strap or Cat Shield and are definitely worth the investment. These devices come in the form of either a cover, strap or cable and act as a deterrent to any would-be thieves.”

“Semiconductors and chips, crucial for modern vehicles, have seen price hikes of 50-100% due to a global shortage exacerbated by the pandemic,” Lirette said. In 2022, the average price of a semiconductor for a car was $540.

Lirette said you can save some cash by looking into the used market. “Opting for refurbished or used electronic control units (ECUs) can be a cost-effective solution.” 

Kane agreed, but said to shop around to make sure you’re getting a good part for a good deal. “Make sure that the part works with your make, model, and year and you’re buying from a reputable seller with some sort of warranty or easy return policy. Control units can get expensive so it is important to do a little price shopping before purchasing. Most auto parts sellers online will have multiple options for the same part number so you should have your pick of brand, quality, and price.”

More and more car owners are looking to upgrade their lighting to LED and HID options, which have gotten quite costly.

Kane said it might be worth looking into a different type of lighting so you can save some money. “While both of these options provide better visibility and, frankly, look cooler, you can save money by using traditional halogen bulbs instead. Similar to ECUs, headlights and headlight assemblies can also be very expensive.

Fortunately, with a little shopping around you can often find headlights for a third of the price of genuine parts. Reputable brands such as DEPO, TYC, and Dorman all offer relatively affordable headlight assemblies.”