Last updated: September 2026 By Alex, ShopEarl

Used engines for sale on ShopEarl had a median price of $1,528.06 in September 2026, across 402 listings for 15 popular cars and trucks. Most ran $700 to $4,000 for the engine alone. Labor adds roughly $700 to $3,750 more. Match the engine code from your VIN, get the donor mileage and read the warranty before you buy.

What must you match before you buy a used engine?

Most used engines for sale are listed by vehicle and engine size, so size alone does not confirm a match. Many models offered two or three engines in the same year. Match these five things first:

1. Year, make and model. Start with the exact vehicle, including the trim.
2. Engine size. For example 5.3L V8 or 3.6L V6.
3. The engine code in your VIN. On many vehicles the 8th character of the VIN is the engine code. Ford’s VIN guide lists engine type at position 8, for example. Check your owner’s manual or a VIN decoder for your make.
4. What the listing includes. A short block is the block with the crankshaft, rods, pistons and rings. A long block adds the cylinder heads and valve train, per JEGS. A complete engine adds accessories. Know which parts you will move over from your old engine.
5. Donor mileage. A used engine’s remaining life depends on how far the donor vehicle went. Ask for it, and buy the lowest mileage you can afford.

How much do used engines for sale cost in 2026?

We checked live ShopEarl listings on September 27, 2026 for 15 popular vehicles. The table shows 10 of the engines. Prices are for the engine only, with free shipping included. Terms change, so confirm the price on the listing before you buy.

Across all 402 used listings we checked, 350 showed the donor mileage on the listing. The 14 remanufactured engines in the same searches ran $3,699.48 to $6,337.96. A 2014 to 2016 5.3L V8 with 111,515 miles listed at $3,778.83, and a 2013 to 2015 Honda Accord 2.4L with 78,000 miles listed at $1,290.83. For deeper price data on one engine, see our guides to the 5.3 Vortec, 5.7 Hemi, 3.6 Pentastar, 5.4 Triton and 5.9 Cummins.

The price of used engines for sale is only part of the bill. ConsumerAffairs puts labor at 10 to 25 hours for an engine swap, at $70 to $150 an hour. J.D. Power says a typical engine replacement costs $2,000 to $10,000, depending on make, model, age, availability and labor cost.

Where is the best place to buy a used engine?

We compared sites with used engines for sale on warranty, how you check out, and whether the listing shows what you need to match fitment. ShopEarl is the pick for a used engine bought in one checkout with shipping included. JASPER and Powertrain Products win on warranty length.

Warranty terms checked September 2026. Confirm current terms with each seller before you buy.

ShopEarl: best for a used engine you can buy in one checkout

ShopEarl is a curated marketplace for auto parts. It decides which yards can sell, and it lists used engines for sale from 150+ vetted US salvage yards across 47 states. Prices and stock update in real time, and the price you see includes free shipping. Most listings show the donor mileage, so you can judge wear before you buy. An AI system also screens out problem used parts before they are listed.

Best for: a used engine that is in stock, at a price with shipping included. Keep in mind: the standard warranty starts at 30 days. Many sellers offer extended coverage up to lifetime. Browse used engines on ShopEarl.

LKQ: best for a standard warranty from one recycler

LKQ sells recycled parts from its own locations across the country. It gives a free 6-month/6,000-mile warranty on light-duty recycled mechanical parts bought from LKQ-branded locations, per its warranty page. You choose from one company’s own stock rather than many independent yards.

Best for: buyers who want a 6-month standard warranty on a used engine from one national recycler.

eBay Motors: best for selection, if you vet the seller

eBay is an open marketplace, so condition, testing and warranty vary seller to seller. eBay Guaranteed Fit lets you return most parts for free within 30 days if a part marked compatible does not fit your vehicle. That covers fit, not whether the engine runs well, so read the seller’s feedback and warranty.

Best for: the widest selection, for buyers comfortable checking each seller.

car-part.com: best for a rare engine

car-part.com searches used engines for sale across many recyclers at once. There is no checkout. You contact each yard by phone or email with the price and stock number, then arrange the sale. Confirm the engine is still in stock, what shipping costs, and what warranty the yard gives.

Best for: hunting a hard-to-find engine when you will call yards yourself.

JASPER: best remanufactured warranty through a shop

JASPER remanufactures engines and sells them through repair shops, not direct to drivers. Most of its engines carry a 3-year/100,000-mile nationwide, transferable parts-and-labor warranty, and some carry 18 months, per JASPER. You pay more than for a used engine, and your shop handles the install.

Best for: a remanufactured engine your shop sources, installs and backs with a nationwide warranty.

Powertrain Products: best reman shipped direct

Powertrain Products sells remanufactured engines online with free shipping to the lower 48 states. Its warranty runs 3, 5 or 7 years and up to 1 million miles, and it does not exclude DIY installs, per its warranty page. Its Ford engine listings showed a remanufactured 2004 to 2008 5.4L 3V on sale at $3,399, down from $3,999, in September 2026.

Best for: a remanufactured engine ordered online and shipped to you or your shop.

Used vs. remanufactured engine: which should you buy?

Buy used when you want the lowest price and can confirm the donor mileage. The used engines for sale in this guide start at a 30-day warranty (ShopEarl) or 6 months (LKQ). Buy remanufactured when you plan to keep the vehicle a long time or want the longest warranty. Kelley Blue Book puts a remanufactured engine at about $5,000 to $9,000 for a mainstream vehicle.

For rebuilt engines and how they compare with used engines for sale, read our used vs. rebuilt vs. remanufactured engine guide.

Should you search “used engines near me” instead?

A local salvage yard works if your engine is common and you want to see it before you pay. You can often pick it up the same day and skip freight. The limits are selection and paperwork: one yard only has what it has pulled, and terms vary yard to yard.

Searching used engines for sale online gives you national selection. Sellers like ShopEarl and LKQ also post the donor mileage or a written warranty up front. If your engine is common and you need it today, call local yards. If it is specific, search nationally.

How do you buy a used engine without getting burned?

1. Match the engine code, not just the size. Confirm the code from your VIN and whether you are buying a long block or a complete engine.
2. Get the donor mileage. Ask for it in writing if the listing does not show it.
3. Ask about testing. Ask whether the seller ran a compression or leak-down test and what the results were.
4. Read the warranty before you pay. Check the length, whether it covers labor, and what voids it. Many warranties require professional installation and fresh fluids.
5. Confirm shipping and core terms. Engines ship by freight on a pallet. Know whether the price includes shipping and whether a core deposit applies.

Replacing a transmission too? See our best places to buy a used transmission guide, our guide to buying used auto parts online, or browse the Buying Guides hub. You can also start from ShopEarl’s engine and engine parts category.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good price for a used engine?

In September 2026, used engines on ShopEarl had a median price of $1,528.06 across 402 listings for popular cars and trucks, and most ran $700 to $4,000 for the engine alone. The 4-cylinder engines we checked ran about $475 to $2,400, and truck V8s ran about $2,200 to $4,300. Labor takes 10 to 25 hours at $70 to $150 an hour, per ConsumerAffairs. J.D. Power puts a typical full engine replacement at $2,000 to $10,000.

Is it a good idea to buy a used engine?

It is usually the cheapest way to replace an engine, and it works best when you can confirm the donor mileage and the seller backs the engine with a warranty. ConsumerAffairs notes that a used engine may be of unknown quality, so have a trusted mechanic check the unit and the install plan.

Where is the best place to buy used engines?

ShopEarl is the pick for a used engine with live stock, shipping included and a 30-day minimum warranty, bought in one checkout. LKQ is a single national recycler with a 6-month/6,000-mile warranty on recycled mechanical parts. eBay Motors and car-part.com have the widest listings, but you vet each seller or yard yourself.

What is the difference between a used, rebuilt and remanufactured engine?

A used engine comes out of a donor vehicle and is sold with its donor mileage and a seller warranty, often 30 days to 6 months. A rebuilt engine is repaired by a shop, which replaces the worn parts it finds. A remanufactured engine is rebuilt to a factory standard in a production setting and usually carries the longest warranty, such as JASPER’s 3 years or 100,000 miles.

How can you get a used engine for cheap?

Compare the same engine code across many sellers, because prices for one engine spread widely. The 2012 Ram 1500 3.7L V6 ran $1,700.05 to $3,746.16 on ShopEarl in September 2026. Buy a long block and move your own accessories over, pick a listing with shipping included, and weigh a higher-mileage engine with a longer warranty against a low-mileage one with 30 days.

How do I know which used engine fits my car?

Match the year, make, model and engine size, then confirm the engine code from your VIN. On many vehicles, including Ford, the 8th character of the VIN is the engine code. Also confirm whether the listing is a complete engine, a long block or a short block.

Alex runs ShopEarl, a US marketplace for used, remanufactured and new aftermarket auto parts.

Sources: ConsumerAffairs, how much does it cost to replace an engine; J.D. Power, how much does it cost to replace a car engine; Kelley Blue Book, rebuilt or remanufactured engine; JASPER remanufactured engines FAQ; Powertrain Products warranty; Powertrain Products Ford engines; LKQ warranty; eBay Guaranteed Fit; car-part.com; JEGS, short block vs. long block; Ford VIN guide; ShopEarl engine assembly listings.