Electrical · Car

Alternator cost

£255 – £640Independent garage · Family car, SUV · United Kingdom
Book time 1 – 2.5 hMain dealer £330 – £965Difficulty Hard

By vehicle type

PartsLabourIndependent garageMain dealer
City car£140 – £320£70 – £225£210 – £545£280 – £845
Family car, SUV£185 – £415£70 – £225£255 – £640£330 – £965
Premium£320 – £780£70 – £225£395 – £1,005£490 – £1,440

Total incl. VAT · United Kingdom

By country

CountryHourly rateIndependent garageMain dealer
France€65 – €140€280 – €675€345 – €935
Belgium€60 – €125€275 – €670€335 – €910
SwitzerlandCHF 110 – CHF 210CHF 400 – CHF 985CHF 490 – CHF 1,315
Germany€80 – €190€295 – €750€375 – €1,060
Austria€85 – €185€310 – €775€385 – €1,065
Spain€45 – €90€250 – €600€295 – €790
Italy€40 – €80€245 – €590€290 – €775
Portugal€35 – €75€235 – €560€285 – €755
Netherlands€75 – €150€295 – €720€360 – €970
United Kingdom£60 – £170£255 – £640£330 – £965

Family car, SUV. Method

What changes the price

  • The hourly rate: it can double between a small-town independent and a city-centre dealer.

  • Parts quality: genuine, original-equipment brand or aftermarket.

  • Access: on some engines other parts must come off before the mechanic can reach the job.

Related problems

Car won't start, just clicksBelt squeal on start-upBattery keeps going flatP0562 System voltage lowP0563 System voltage high

Cost by model

Renault Clio£205 – £535Renault Mégane£255 – £640Renault Captur£255 – £640Renault Scénic£260 – £650Renault Twingo£205 – £535Peugeot 208£205 – £535Peugeot 308£255 – £640Peugeot 2008£255 – £640Peugeot 3008£260 – £650Peugeot 5008£260 – £650Citroën C3£205 – £535Citroën C4£255 – £640Citroën C5 Aircross£260 – £650Opel Corsa£205 – £535Dacia Sandero£205 – £525Dacia Duster£250 – £630Volkswagen Polo£205 – £535Volkswagen Golf£255 – £640Volkswagen Tiguan£265 – £660Volkswagen Passat£265 – £660Seat Ibiza£205 – £535Seat Leon£255 – £640Skoda Octavia£255 – £640Toyota Yaris£205 – £535Toyota Corolla£255 – £640Ford Fiesta£205 – £535Ford Focus£255 – £640Nissan Qashqai£260 – £650Fiat 500£205 – £525Fiat Panda£205 – £525Hyundai Tucson£260 – £650Kia Sportage£260 – £650Audi A3£400 – £1,030Audi A4£410 – £1,050BMW 1 Series£405 – £1,040BMW 3 Series£410 – £1,065Mercedes A-Class£405 – £1,040Mercedes C-Class£410 – £1,065

Frequently asked questions

How much does a alternator cost?

At an independent garage, expect £255 to £640, parts and labour included. Main dealer: £330 – £965.

Why is the dealer more expensive?

Dealer hourly rates run 40 to 60% higher on average, and genuine parts cost more than their original-equipment equivalents. Under EU rules, servicing outside the dealer network does not void the manufacturer warranty.

What is book time?

It is the reference time set for a given job. Garages bill that time even if they work faster. If a quote shows far more hours than book time, ask why. Book time: 1 – 2.5 h.

Data updated October 2026. Indicative estimate. MecaScan cannot see your vehicle: always have a diagnosis confirmed by a professional, and never work on brakes, steering or airbags without the skills.