In this paper, we present a new optimization method to estimate the parameters and torques of an induction motor (IM). The proposed method is known as the Vortex Search Algorithm (VSA), whose performance is based on the behavior of the vortices created by stirred fluids. This algorithm was compared with other four optimization methods reported in the specialized literature (grasshopper optimization algorithm, particle swarm optimization, salp swarm algorithm and sine cosine algorithm), and its solution quality, precision, and robustness were validated using two test motors. During the tests, we analyzed the minimum error between the estimated values and the values provided by the manufacturer, as well as the global error of each method and their required processing time. The results show that the VSA is an excellent alternative to estimate the parameters of an IM, as it exhibited the best performance when compared to the other optimization methods.