Engine · Car

Head gasket cost

£590 – £1,560Independent garage · Family car, SUV · United Kingdom
Book time 6 – 12 hMain dealer £865 – £2,660Difficulty Professionals only

By vehicle type

PartsLabourIndependent garageMain dealer
City car£165 – £370£360 – £1,080£525 – £1,450£790 – £2,520
Family car, SUV£230 – £480£360 – £1,080£590 – £1,560£865 – £2,660
Premium£370 – £875£360 – £1,080£730 – £1,955£1,025 – £3,175

Total incl. VAT · United Kingdom

By country

CountryHourly rateIndependent garageMain dealer
France€65 – €140€640 – €1,600€860 – €2,355
Belgium€60 – €125€615 – €1,550€805 – €2,190
SwitzerlandCHF 110 – CHF 210CHF 1,000 – CHF 2,500CHF 1,290 – CHF 3,435
Germany€80 – €190€730 – €1,960€1,010 – €2,955
Austria€85 – €185€770 – €2,035€1,045 – €2,915
Spain€45 – €90€515 – €1,285€640 – €1,735
Italy€40 – €80€485 – €1,230€610 – €1,620
Portugal€35 – €75€455 – €1,105€580 – €1,555
Netherlands€75 – €150€705 – €1,790€925 – €2,490
United Kingdom£60 – £170£590 – £1,560£865 – £2,660

Family car, SUV. Method

What changes the price

The quote should state whether the cylinder head is checked and skimmed (machining, €150 to €350 subcontracted). Without that check the repair often does not last.

  • 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

Engine overheatingWhite smoke from exhaustBlue smoke from exhaust

Cost by model

Renault Clio£510 – £1,395Renault Mégane£590 – £1,560Renault Captur£590 – £1,560Renault Scénic£610 – £1,610Renault Twingo£510 – £1,395Peugeot 208£510 – £1,395Peugeot 308£590 – £1,560Peugeot 2008£590 – £1,560Peugeot 3008£610 – £1,610Peugeot 5008£610 – £1,610Citroën C3£510 – £1,395Citroën C4£590 – £1,560Citroën C5 Aircross£610 – £1,610Opel Corsa£510 – £1,395Dacia Sandero£490 – £1,340Dacia Duster£570 – £1,505Volkswagen Polo£510 – £1,395Volkswagen Golf£590 – £1,560Volkswagen Tiguan£625 – £1,665Volkswagen Passat£625 – £1,665Seat Ibiza£510 – £1,395Seat Leon£590 – £1,560Skoda Octavia£590 – £1,560Toyota Yaris£510 – £1,395Toyota Corolla£590 – £1,560Ford Fiesta£510 – £1,395Ford Focus£590 – £1,560Nissan Qashqai£610 – £1,610Fiat 500£490 – £1,340Fiat Panda£490 – £1,340Hyundai Tucson£610 – £1,610Kia Sportage£610 – £1,610Audi A3£765 – £2,060Audi A4£800 – £2,170BMW 1 Series£780 – £2,115BMW 3 Series£820 – £2,225Mercedes A-Class£780 – £2,115Mercedes C-Class£820 – £2,225

Frequently asked questions

How much does a head gasket cost?

At an independent garage, expect £590 to £1,560, parts and labour included. Main dealer: £865 – £2,660.

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: 6 – 12 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.