How Much Does It Cost to Change an Air Filter in a Car?

When it comes to replacing the air filter in your car, doing it yourself is often the most economical option. The price range for this job is based on national averages for all vehicles and does not take into account taxes, fees, or your particular make and model. The air filter is typically located in a rectangular housing at the front of the engine, which is easy to find and reach. It is usually made of paper or foam suspended in a plastic frame, and its purpose is to trap dirt and debris entering through the air inlet.

The owner's manual should show the location of the air filter and how to open its housing to remove it. If you have started to notice a reduction in fuel consumption or if your engine is idling roughly and the engine light has come on, it's time to replace the air filter. If the filter is covered with dirt or is full of insects, leaves, or other debris, it's time to use a new one. Whatever your maintenance interval, you probably have a warning that the filter needs to be changed more frequently if you drive most of the time in dusty or dirty environments.

To access it, simply release the box by pressing a tab on each side and remove the old filter. The type of vehicle and the size of the air filter determine how much money someone would spend on the replacement. A Department of Energy study found that the electronic engine controls of modern vehicles are “sophisticated enough to prevent a clogged air filter from affecting the vehicle's fuel economy. Decreased fuel efficiency, tripping, or rough running can be observed with a heavily clogged air filter. When it comes time to replace the cabin filter in your car, doing it yourself is often the most economical option. The cabin air filter is usually located under the dashboard and behind the glove compartment, and air passing through it enters through the base of the windshield and bypasses the engine.

While paying someone else to do the cabin filter replacement is certainly convenient, if you consider the wait time and cost associated with labor, you should see a solid reason to replace the cabin filter yourself.