Brakes · Car

Front brake pads cost

£80 – £175Independent garage · Family car, SUV · United Kingdom
Book time 0.5 – 1 hMain dealer £110 – £290Difficulty Manageable

By vehicle type

PartsLabourIndependent garageMain dealer
City car£30 – £55£40 – £100£70 – £155£100 – £260
Family car, SUV£35 – £80£40 – £100£80 – £175£110 – £290
Premium£65 – £145£40 – £100£105 – £245£145 – £380

Total incl. VAT · United Kingdom

By country

CountryHourly rateIndependent garageMain dealer
France€65 – €140€85 – €185€115 – €265
Belgium€60 – €125€85 – €180€105 – €250
SwitzerlandCHF 110 – CHF 210CHF 130 – CHF 280CHF 165 – CHF 380
Germany€80 – €190€95 – €215€130 – €320
Austria€85 – €185€100 – €225€135 – €315
Spain€45 – €90€70 – €155€85 – €205
Italy€40 – €80€65 – €150€85 – €195
Portugal€35 – €75€65 – €135€80 – €190
Netherlands€75 – €150€95 – €200€120 – €280
United Kingdom£60 – £170£80 – £175£110 – £290

Family car, SUV. Method

What changes the price

Pads are always replaced per full axle. If the discs are below the minimum thickness stamped on their edge, they must be replaced at the same time.

  • 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.

Safety-critical part: have the work checked by a professional.

Related problems

Brakes squealing or grinding

Cost by model

Renault Clio£70 – £150Renault Mégane£80 – £175Renault Captur£80 – £175Renault Scénic£80 – £180Renault Twingo£70 – £150Peugeot 208£70 – £150Peugeot 308£80 – £175Peugeot 2008£80 – £175Peugeot 3008£80 – £180Peugeot 5008£80 – £180Citroën C3£70 – £150Citroën C4£80 – £175Citroën C5 Aircross£80 – £180Opel Corsa£70 – £150Dacia Sandero£65 – £145Dacia Duster£75 – £170Volkswagen Polo£70 – £150Volkswagen Golf£80 – £175Volkswagen Tiguan£85 – £185Volkswagen Passat£85 – £185Seat Ibiza£70 – £150Seat Leon£80 – £175Skoda Octavia£80 – £175Toyota Yaris£70 – £150Toyota Corolla£80 – £175Ford Fiesta£70 – £150Ford Focus£80 – £175Nissan Qashqai£80 – £180Fiat 500£65 – £145Fiat Panda£65 – £145Hyundai Tucson£80 – £180Kia Sportage£80 – £180Audi A3£110 – £255Audi A4£115 – £265BMW 1 Series£115 – £260BMW 3 Series£115 – £270Mercedes A-Class£115 – £260Mercedes C-Class£115 – £270

Frequently asked questions

How much does a front brake pads cost?

At an independent garage, expect £80 to £175, parts and labour included. Main dealer: £110 – £290.

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: 0.5 – 1 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.