Quote checker · free
Is your garage quote fair?
Pick the repair, enter the price you’ve been quoted. We’ll tell you where it sits against typical UK ranges — and the one question to ask before you say yes.
17 repairs coveredIndependent garage rangesNo sign-up
50%
is roughly what a main dealer adds to the same job — labour rate, not deceit
£100+
is how much the same repair on the same car routinely varies between local garages
17
common repairs with a fair range you can check a quote against in seconds
Fair price cheat sheet
These are the ranges the checker judges against: typical prices at independent garages, parts and labour included. A quote up to about 50% above the top of a range is normal main-dealer pricing. Beyond that, get a second opinion before you book.
| Repair | Fair range, fitted | Priced per |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pads and discs | £160–£420 | axle |
| Clutch replacement | £450–£1,200 | job |
| Clutch and flywheel | £650–£1,090 | job |
| Cambelt change | £300–£880 | job |
| Wet belt replacement | £450–£1,000 | job |
| Water pump | £180–£450 | job |
| Wheel bearing | £120–£300 | corner |
| Coil spring | £130–£320 | spring |
| Brake caliper | £150–£340 | caliper |
| Exhaust, box to full system | £90–£650 | section |
| Catalytic converter | £250–£700 | job |
| Gearbox repair | £500–£2,500 | job |
| Fuel injector | £150–£350 | injector |
| Glow plugs | £80–£200 | set |
| Car battery | £100–£300 | battery |
| Air-con regas | £50–£170 | service |
| Full service | £140–£280 | service |
Independent garage estimates, parts and labour. Final quotes come from garages — see each guide for prices by make and model, or all repair costs. Bigger, heavier and premium cars sit at the top of every range.
A high quote isn’t always a rip-off
Above the range has three honest explanations before you get to the dishonest one. Knowing them is what lets you tell the difference.
The labour rate
Main dealers charge £95–£140 an hour against £55–£75 at independents. On the same job that is roughly 50% more, and it is a business model rather than deceit.
The parts
Genuine manufacturer parts cost more than the quality aftermarket our ranges assume. Worth paying for on some jobs, worth questioning on others — ask which brand is being fitted.
What was found on the ramp
A seized bolt, a corroded pipe, discs worse than the advisory suggested. Extra work legitimately grows a bill — but it should be itemised, not absorbed into a round number.
The test is the breakdown, not the total. Ask for parts, labour hours and rate as separate lines. An honest garage volunteers them; a quote that resists being itemised is telling you something. And if the number is more than half what the car is worth, price the bigger question first — whether it is worth fixing at all.
Below the range deserves a question too. A suspiciously cheap quote can mean used or economy parts, diagnosis billed separately, or a job scoped thinner than you think — pads quoted when the discs are lipped, one caliper when a slider service is what’s needed. Cheap that has to be done twice is the most expensive option on the list.
Enter your reg — we’ll price this repair for your exact model, and read your MOT history while we’re at it.
Quote questions, answered straight
How much should a car repair cost in the UK?
It depends on the job: brakes run £160–£420 per axle, a clutch £450–£1,200, a cambelt £300–£880 at independent garages, parts and labour included. The cheat sheet above covers the seventeen most common repairs, and the checker tells you where your specific quote sits against them.
Why do main dealers charge more than independent garages?
About 50% more on average, driven mostly by hourly labour rates — £95–£140 at dealers against £55–£75 at independents — plus genuine manufacturer parts. The work itself is often identical; on an out-of-warranty car the premium mainly buys the badge on the invoice.
Should I get more than one quote?
Yes, for anything over about £200. The same job on the same car regularly varies by £100 or more between local garages, and a written quote from one is the strongest negotiating tool you can take to another.
What should a repair quote include?
Parts named with the brand where it matters, labour hours, the hourly rate, VAT status and any diagnosis fee — all as separate lines. A single unexplained total is where padding hides. If the breakdown resists being itemised, treat that as information in itself.
Can I negotiate a garage quote?
Often, especially with a competing written quote in hand. Realistic asks: matching a rival price, bundling an alignment or MOT at a combined rate, or fitting quality aftermarket parts instead of manufacturer ones. Haggling on labour hours rarely works; comparing garages does.
Is a cheap quote a red flag?
Sometimes. Well below the range usually means economy parts, a thinner scope than you assume, or a teaser price that grows once the car is on the ramp. Ask exactly what is included and which parts brand is being fitted — a fair cheap quote survives both questions easily.
Do I have to pay more than the quote if extra work is found?
Only if you approve it. A reputable garage stops and calls before exceeding an agreed quote, and you are entitled to say no to the extra work or to ask for the old parts back as evidence it was needed. Agree in writing that any increase needs your consent first.
What if the repair costs more than the car is worth?
The rule of thumb: when one repair passes half the car’s value, price the decision rather than just the job. A £900 clutch on a £1,400 car deserves a walk-away calculation, which is exactly what our worth-fixing calculator does with real repair and value figures.