How much does brake pad replacement cost?

Noticed juddering or scraping when you use the brake pedal? It could be time to replace your brake pads.

Your brake pads are an important part of your car’s braking system. They work together with your brake discs to slow your car down when you press the brake pedal, and bring it safely to a stop.

Here, we’ll reveal the average brake pad replacement cost. When you consider the safety risks of driving with faulty brakes, it’s definitely a cost worth spending!

How much does it cost to replace brake pads?

The average cost to replace brake pads in the UK ranges from around £104.95 to £134.95 for the front brake pads.

Meanwhile, the cost to replace your rear brake pads is on average £99.85 to £129.95.

As you can see, it costs slightly more to replace your front brake pads than it does to replace your rear ones. This is to do with the size and composition of the brake pads, as well as your car’s weight distribution and the way the braking system works.

That said, the cost of replacing your brake pads will vary based on lots of different factors. These include the make of your car, its engine size and whether you replace the discs at the same time.

Let’s break down the cost of brake pad replacement based on some of these key factors.

Cost to replace brake pads and discs by engine size

As you can see, the bigger your car’s engine size, the higher your brake pad and disc replacement costs will generally be.

For example, you can expect to spend around £184.95 to replace the rear brake pads and discs on a car with an engine size that’s up to 1300cc.

But the same job will typically cost closer to £234.95 on a car with a bigger engine of over 2200cc.

Cost of replacing brake pads and discs by location

Just like other car repairs, brake pad disc replacement costs differ across the UK.

Glasgow is one of the cheapest cities for getting your brake pads and discs replaced, with an average cost of £189. 

Meanwhile, London has the highest average cost, at £276.50.

Cost of replacing brake pads and discs by car make

As a general rule, the more premium your car brand, the higher your brake pad disc replacement costs will be. Although of course, there are exceptions.

Amongst the most expensive brands are BMW and Mercedes.

The cost of replacing brake pads and discs on a BMW is £377.50 on average. Meanwhile, for a Mercedes, you’re looking at around £358.

At the cheaper end, you’ll find Toyota cars, with an average cost of just £198.50.

If you own a luxury or high-performance car, your costs are likely to be higher still. This is largely because these cars come with expensive parts that cost more to replace.

How much does it usually cost to replace brake pads alone?

Your brake pads and discs work together to make sure your car stops safely when you hit the brake pedal. As such, brake pads and discs are often replaced together.

But you might be wondering what the cost difference would be if you wanted to replace the brake pads alone.

To give you an idea of prices, a Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 has an average brake pad replacement cost of £89. This is compared to £175 to replace both the pads and the discs.

Similarly, you’ll be looking at a brake pad replacement cost of around £154 for a Volkswagen Golf 1.4. In comparison, you can expect to pay £264 for replacing the brake pads and discs together.

Should you replace brake pads and discs together?

It’s best practice to replace your brake pads every time you get your brake discs replaced.

To access your brake pads or discs, your mechanic will need to take the wheels off and remove the calliper. This is a time-consuming job that accounts for a lot of your labour costs.

Replacing your brake pads while your car is in this state will save you from having to pay these labour costs again a month or two down the line. It will also improve your car’s performance and increase the life of your brakes.

On the other hand, brake pads are made of a softer material than metal brake discs. This means they tend to wear out faster and need replacing more often.

With that in mind, it’s not always necessary to replace your brake discs when your brake pads need replacing. If your brake discs aren’t showing much wear and tear and your mechanic suggests replacing the pads alone, just make sure that they check the brakes are all even. That way, you won’t end up with uneven wear.

How long should brake pads last?

Wondering how often you should replace brake pads? As a rule of thumb, brake pads need to be replaced every 50,000 miles.

The average driver covers around 12,000 miles each year. That means you’ll likely need to replace your brake pads roughly every four to five years.

If you’re reaching that mark and your brake pads haven’t been replaced, that’s a sign that it may be time to head to a mechanic.

Having said that, this isn’t an exact science. Depending on factors like how often you use your brakes and how much weight you put in your car, your brake pads could last anywhere from 25,000 to 70,000 miles.

Signs that your brake pads need replacing

Your mechanic should check your brakes during your regular car service and MOT. But you should still keep an eye out for these key signs that your brake pads could do with a replacement.

Noisy brakes

Have you noticed strange noises when you press on the brake pedal?

A squealing or scraping noise when you press the brakes is one of the most common signs that your brake pads need replacing.

Vibrating

If you spot vibrating or juddering when you use your brakes, get in touch with a mechanic near you.

This often means that your brake discs are worn and need attention.

Less effective braking

This one’s a big problem. If you realise that your stopping distances have increased or your brakes are less responsive, head to a mechanic straight away.

Your car’s braking abilities will often get worse as your brake pads and discs degrade. This can put you and other road users at risk.

Visible damage

We’d always recommend checking your brake discs regularly – and especially before long car journeys.

Over time, your brake pads pressing against the discs will create marks. If you see any deep grooves or score marks on the discs, this could suggest they’ve degraded to the point where they need replacing.

Can you drive with worn brake pads?

While you can technically drive with worn brake pads, it’s not something you should risk doing. Not only will it impact your braking ability, which is incredibly dangerous. But it can also cause damage to your car.

That’s right, driving with worn brake pads can damage the brake rotors and calipers. And it can even wear down your tires!

So, you won’t just be risking your safety. You could also end up paying more expensive car repair costs in the future!

Can I save on brake pad replacement costs by doing it myself?

You might be tempted to save on the cost of brake pad replacement by trying your hand at it yourself. We’d only recommend this if you know what you’re doing. The dangers associated with faulty brakes are just too high to risk a bodged job!

To find a trusted mechanic near you and get a tailored brake pad replacement cost for your car, use our free search feature below.

FAQs about brake pad replacement

How much is it to replace brake pads UK?

The average cost to replace brake pads in the UK ranges from £99.85 to £134.95, depending on the size of your car engine, whether you’re having the front or rear brake pads replaced and your location.

These costs are for brake pad replacement only. You can expect to pay more to replace both brake pads and discs.

How much does a full brake job cost UK?

The cost to repair brakes in the UK will vary depending on the exact problem and the make and model of your car. As a rough guide, a mechanic working from a garage will tyically charge around £60 per hour, while a mobile mechanic will charge around £45 per hour.

Head over to our guide about mechanic hourly rates to learn more.

How much does it cost to replace front brake pads and discs UK?

Front brake pads and discs tend to cost a little more to replace than rear brake pads and discs. You can expect to pay somewhere between £189.95 and £239.95 to have your car’s front brake pads and discs replaced.

How much does it cost to replace four brake pads?

Need to replace both the front and rear brake pads? Costs will vary depending on your car’s engine size.

For a car with an engine size between 1600cc and 1900cc, you’re looking at around £119.95 for the front brake pads and £114.95 for the rear brake pads. Bear in mind that this doesn’t include brake disc replacement costs.

How long does it take to change brake pads UK?

It will usually take under an hour to change a pair of brake pads on their own in the UK. Alternatively, you’re generally looking at between one and three hours to change both brake pads and discs.