Suspension and steering · Car

Front shock absorbers cost

£220 – £475Independent garage · Family car, SUV · United Kingdom
Book time 1.5 – 2.5 hMain dealer £300 – £750Difficulty Hard

By vehicle type

PartsLabourIndependent garageMain dealer
City car£90 – £185£90 – £225£180 – £410£255 – £665
Family car, SUV£130 – £250£90 – £225£220 – £475£300 – £750
Premium£230 – £515£90 – £225£320 – £740£415 – £1,095

Total incl. VAT · United Kingdom

By country

CountryHourly rateIndependent garageMain dealer
France€65 – €140€240 – €495€305 – €700
Belgium€60 – €125€235 – €490€290 – €670
SwitzerlandCHF 110 – CHF 210CHF 355 – CHF 740CHF 440 – CHF 1,000
Germany€80 – €190€260 – €570€340 – €825
Austria€85 – €185€270 – €590€355 – €825
Spain€45 – €90€205 – €425€245 – €565
Italy€40 – €80€195 – €415€240 – €545
Portugal€35 – €75€190 – €385€230 – €530
Netherlands€75 – €150€255 – €540€320 – €735
United Kingdom£60 – £170£220 – £475£300 – £750

Family car, SUV. Method

What changes the price

Price for the pair. Shocks are always replaced in pairs on the same axle, ideally with top mounts. A wheel alignment is recommended afterwards.

  • 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

Clunking over bumpsClicking when turning

Cost by model

Renault Clio£180 – £400Renault Mégane£220 – £475Renault Captur£220 – £475Renault Scénic£225 – £485Renault Twingo£180 – £400Peugeot 208£180 – £400Peugeot 308£220 – £475Peugeot 2008£220 – £475Peugeot 3008£225 – £485Peugeot 5008£225 – £485Citroën C3£180 – £400Citroën C4£220 – £475Citroën C5 Aircross£225 – £485Opel Corsa£180 – £400Dacia Sandero£175 – £385Dacia Duster£215 – £460Volkswagen Polo£180 – £400Volkswagen Golf£220 – £475Volkswagen Tiguan£230 – £495Volkswagen Passat£230 – £495Seat Ibiza£180 – £400Seat Leon£220 – £475Skoda Octavia£220 – £475Toyota Yaris£180 – £400Toyota Corolla£220 – £475Ford Fiesta£180 – £400Ford Focus£220 – £475Nissan Qashqai£225 – £485Fiat 500£175 – £385Fiat Panda£175 – £385Hyundai Tucson£225 – £485Kia Sportage£225 – £485Audi A3£330 – £765Audi A4£340 – £785BMW 1 Series£335 – £775BMW 3 Series£345 – £795Mercedes A-Class£335 – £775Mercedes C-Class£345 – £795

Frequently asked questions

How much does a front shock absorbers cost?

At an independent garage, expect £220 to £475, parts and labour included. Main dealer: £300 – £750.

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: 1.5 – 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.