Transmission Fluid Service Cost

Drain and refill (or flush) the automatic transmission fluid.

$150 – $400

Typical labor: 30 minutes to 1.5 hours

Parts vs Labor

45% / 55%

Typical share of total cost

Labor Time

30 minutes to 1.5 hours

At a typical shop

Difficulty

Confident DIY

2 of 5

Prices are national averages. Your exact cost depends on your vehicle, location, and shop. Get a free personalized AI estimate above.

Common Symptoms

Hard or delayed shifts

Burnt smell from transmission fluid

Reached manufacturer service interval (usually 60,000 to 100,000 miles)

Fluid is dark brown instead of red

Transmission fluid lubricates, cools, and provides hydraulic pressure for shifting. It breaks down over time and miles.

Old fluid causes wear inside the transmission. A $200 service is much cheaper than a $4,000 rebuild.

A drain-and-fill (not a power flush) is usually safer for high-mileage transmissions
Always use the exact fluid type your manufacturer specifies, the wrong fluid can destroy a transmission

Shops commonly pair transmission fluid service with these jobs to save on overlapping labor:

Check if your shop quote is fair before paying. Get a free line-by-line AI estimate for your year, make, and model in under a minute, then compare.

Drain and fill or full flush?

Drain and fill replaces about 40 percent of the fluid. Flush replaces nearly all. Many shops now avoid flushes on transmissions over 100,000 miles.

Does my CVT need fluid changes?

Yes. CVTs are very picky about fluid type and intervals. Follow the manufacturer's schedule exactly.