Electrical · Car

Car battery cost

£115 – £245Independent garage · Family car, SUV · United Kingdom
Book time 0.2 – 0.5 hMain dealer £135 – £355Difficulty Easy

By vehicle type

PartsLabourIndependent garageMain dealer
City car£75 – £140£10 – £55£85 – £190£105 – £280
Family car, SUV£100 – £195£10 – £55£115 – £245£135 – £355
Premium£165 – £330£10 – £55£180 – £385£210 – £535

Total incl. VAT · United Kingdom

By country

CountryHourly rateIndependent garageMain dealer
France€65 – €140€125 – €265€145 – €355
Belgium€60 – €125€125 – €265€145 – €355
SwitzerlandCHF 110 – CHF 210CHF 170 – CHF 375CHF 200 – CHF 495
Germany€80 – €190€125 – €280€150 – €385
Austria€85 – €185€130 – €290€155 – €390
Spain€45 – €90€115 – €245€135 – €320
Italy€40 – €80€115 – €240€135 – €315
Portugal€35 – €75€115 – €235€135 – €310
Netherlands€75 – €150€125 – €275€150 – €370
United Kingdom£60 – £170£115 – £245£135 – £355

Family car, SUV. Method

What changes the price

Stop-start cars need an EFB or AGM battery, which costs more. On many recent models (BMW, Audi, Mercedes) the new battery must be registered with the control unit.

  • 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 clicksBattery keeps going flatP0562 System voltage lowU0100 Lost communication with ECM/PCM

Cost by model

Renault Clio£85 – £190Renault Mégane£115 – £245Renault Captur£115 – £245Renault Scénic£115 – £250Renault Twingo£85 – £190Peugeot 208£85 – £190Peugeot 308£115 – £245Peugeot 2008£115 – £245Peugeot 3008£115 – £250Peugeot 5008£115 – £250Citroën C3£85 – £190Citroën C4£115 – £245Citroën C5 Aircross£115 – £250Opel Corsa£85 – £190Dacia Sandero£85 – £185Dacia Duster£115 – £245Volkswagen Polo£85 – £190Volkswagen Golf£115 – £245Volkswagen Tiguan£115 – £255Volkswagen Passat£115 – £255Seat Ibiza£85 – £190Seat Leon£115 – £245Skoda Octavia£115 – £245Toyota Yaris£85 – £190Toyota Corolla£115 – £245Ford Fiesta£85 – £190Ford Focus£115 – £245Nissan Qashqai£115 – £250Fiat 500£85 – £185Fiat Panda£85 – £185Hyundai Tucson£115 – £250Kia Sportage£115 – £250Audi A3£180 – £390Audi A4£180 – £395BMW 1 Series£180 – £395BMW 3 Series£180 – £400Mercedes A-Class£180 – £395Mercedes C-Class£180 – £400

Frequently asked questions

How much does a car battery cost?

At an independent garage, expect £115 to £245, parts and labour included. Main dealer: £135 – £355.

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: 0.2 – 0.5 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.