Blog>Cost Guides>Cambelt change: Cost breakdown 2025
Last updated: 30 June 2025
Cambelt change: Cost breakdown 2025
The cambelt (also known as a timing belt) is an extremely important part of your car's engine. If the time for a cambelt change has arrived for your car, then here are the average cambelt change costs in the UK.
Fast Facts
The average cost of changing a cambelt (or timing belt) can range from £600 to £1,000
Costs vary depending on the make and model of your car and the labour time
For a standard car, cambelt material costs start at around £300; labour costs come in at roughly £300
A failed cambelt, otherwise known as a timing belt, can cause a lot of engine damage. But how much does a standard cambelt change cost?
The average cost of a new cambelt in the UK ranges from £300 to £650. Labour costs will add around £300 on top.
However, the exact price can vary based on factors like the vehicle’s make, model, engine type, and mechanic’s rates. Some mechanics may also suggest replacing other components like water pumps or tensioners, which could add to your costs.
Keep reading to find out all you need to know to help budget for this work.
How much is a cambelt change in 2025?
The average timing belt replacement cost in the UK ranges from £300 to £650. However, the total cambelt (or timing belt) replacement cost will depend on the make and model of your car.
| Make of car for cambelt change | Average UK cost + VAT (supply only) |
|---|---|
| Renault | £300 |
| Toyota | £300 |
| Vauxhall | £300 |
| Volkswagen | £350 |
| Ford | £390 |
| MINI | £400 |
| Mercedes | £450 |
| BMW | £500 |
| Land Rover | £500 |
| Porsche | £650 |
| Last updated: May 2024 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | |
Cambelt change cost: Job estimator tool
Need help calculating prices? Use our job estimator tool to estimate how much you can expect to pay for a cambelt change.
Need help working out cost? Our job estimate tool calculates the costs for you.
Cambelt change costs for popular vehicles in the UK
For a better understanding of costs, here are some of the average timing belt replacement costs for some of the most popular models of car in the UK:
Ford Fiesta – £300
Renault Clio – £360
Volkswagen Passat – £500
Ford Mondeo – £500
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Cambelt change prices per project
As part of changing the cambelt, garages will often recommend that you change your car’s water pump at the same time.
This is because both parts are situated in the same area of the car and often wear out at the same time.
Changing them both together can save you from doubling up on the timing belt change cost.
How much does cambelt and water pump replacement cost?
The average cambelt and water pump replacement cost in the UK is £400 (materials only).
Labour on top takes the total cost to around £700.
In the same way as a straightforward cambelt change, you can expect costs to vary based on the make and model of your car.
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What affects the cost of a cambelt change?
Several factors will influence how much you pay to replace a timing belt in the UK. They include:
Vehicle make and model: Some cars have more complex engine designs, making the replacement process more time-consuming and potentially more expensive
Engine type: Different engine types may require different types of timing belts or chains, which can impact the cost of parts and labour
Mechanic's rates: Labour costs can vary between different garages and mechanics, so it's always a good idea to get quotes from multiple providers
Additional parts: Mechanics often recommend replacing other components like water pumps or tensioners when replacing the timing belt, which can add to the overall cost
Location: The cost of labour and parts may also vary depending on your location within the UK, with larger cities potentially having higher prices
Let's look at some of these factors in more detail.
Cambelt change labour costs UK
The cost of labour is often the biggest part of the overall timing belt replacement cost in the UK.
Checked tradespeople committed to quality will typically charge an average of £300 for labour as part of the total timing belt replacement cost.
The labour cost typically covers:
Removal of the old cambelt
Fitting the new replacement cambelt
Final checks to make sure your vehicle is running effectively
Cambelt change material costs UK
Timing belt price varies from vehicle to vehicle. The quality of manufacturing can also affect the price.
When it comes to the cost of materials for the belt itself, expect prices to start around £300.
You might be tempted to go for a cheaper brand to save money, but that could cost you more in the long run.
Given the cambelt is such an important part of your car, it’s a good idea to do your homework to find materials that are hardwearing and long-lasting.
Additional costs
To calculate the total cost of replacing a cambelt you'll need to factor in:
Material costs - for the cambelt itself
Labour costs - for your mechanic to complete the work
Additional costs - such as preparation work, pump replacement, or extended warranty for the cambelt
Hidden cambelt change costs to watch out for
There aren't any 'hidden costs' to consider per se, but something to be aware of is the labour costs involved.
Labour costs will generally form the majority of your bill for a cambelt change due to a variety of reasons, including:
Complexity: Changing a cambelt is relatively complicated and can take a long time to carry out
Accessibility: In newer cars, especially, the engine components are likely to be found installed very tightly together, which can make accessibility more challenging
These factors will therefore increase the length of time required to carry out the replacement work.
Cost of hiring a mechanic vs DIY
If you're wondering whether it's possible to shave off the labour costs by replacing your vehicle's cambelt yourself, then you must have substantial mechanical experience.
Replacing a cambelt is a complex and precise task that requires a thorough understanding of your vehicle's engine and specialised tools.
Failing to replace the cambelt properly can lead to severe engine damage, leaving you with significant repair costs, in excess of what it might have cost to hire a mechanic.
With reviews from real people, you can find checked tradespeople who offer cambelt change services for a job done right. It’s a good idea to do your homework to find the right tradesperson for the job.
On Checkatrade, you'll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass up to 12 checks.
Cambelt replacement cost checklist
Check your vehicle handbook to see how frequently you should change your cambelt
Don’t put off cambelt changes; a broken cambelt can be very expensive (or impossible) to fix
Your cambelt change cost will depend on your car make and model
Cambelt replacement costs can range from £300 to £650, depending on your vehicle make and model (supply only)
Save on future labour costs by replacing your cambelt and water pump at the same time
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Cambelt change cost FAQs
How much should I pay for a timing belt replacement?
You can expect to pay between £600 and £1,000 for a timing belt replacement, inclusive of materials and labour.
How much does it cost to replace a timing belt UK?
The price will vary depending on your vehicle make and model, as well as mechanic rates.
The average cost of a new cambelt in the UK ranges from £300 to £650, with labour averaging around £300 on top.
Can you still drive with a bad timing belt?
Before driving with a bad timing belt, contact a car mechanic or a checked tradesperson.
Is it worth replacing a timing belt?
Every car make and model will have different instructions for changing the timing belt. To find out exactly how often you should change your car’s timing belt, make sure to check your vehicle handbook.
How much does it cost to replace a cambelt?
To get an accurate estimate of how much it costs to replace your timing belt, contact a number of tradespeople in order to get an accurate price. You can use our search tool to find checked tradespeople covering your local area.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
Do cambelts come with a warranty?
When a car is bought new, it usually comes with a 3-5 year warranty that covers the original timing belt– as long as the vehicle is serviced regularly and mileage isn't excessive.
In reality, it's unusual for the timing belt to need replacing within the first five years. After that, if the timing belt needs replacing, a new timing belt should come with at least 12 months belt manufacturer's guarantee. It's worth checking, but most garages match the 12-month guarantee to the quality of their installation.
We recommend you take time to specifically check with the garage that any cambelt replacement installations come with a warranty.
How often should a cambelt be changed?
Most car manufacturers recommend changing your cambelt based on either time or mileage, depending on which comes first. This could vary from 40,000 to 100,000 miles, and between four and six years.
To find out exactly how often you should change your car’s timing belt, make sure to check your vehicle handbook.
But don’t worry – a decent garage should also be able to spot when a cambelt change is needed when you bring your car in to be serviced.
Do Halfords cambelt changes?
Halfords do offer cambelt changes as part of their services. As with any cambelt, the average Halfords timing belt replacement cost will depend on the make and model of your car.
You can also get an experienced local mechanic to carry out the work. Find out more about prices in our guide to mechanic costs.
Can you tell if a cambelt needs changing?
There are a number of signs that can indicate that your cambelt needs changing. They include:
Often you can see visual signs of damage on the cambelt itself, such as cracks, fraying, peeling or a shiny surface
You have trouble starting the engine or the engine is misfiring
Your vehicle is making loud squealing noise
Black smoke comes out of the exhaust pipe
If you notice any of the signs above then we recommend speaking to a local mechanic as soon as possible.
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Is a cambelt change a big job?
Cambelt changes are a common job for a mechanic, but it can be quite a time-consuming job – depending on the make and model of car.
The more complex the replacement, the longer it will take and the bigger the job it will be.
Do cambelts really need changing every 5 years?
As a rough guide, every five years is about right for a cambelt change. But it will depend on your vehicle, how much you use it, and general wear and tear factors.
When you car has its annual service or MOT, you can ask the mechanic checks your cambelt. They'll be able to tell if it will need changing now or in the near future.
Does a cambelt get checked on an MOT?
Checking the cambelt isn't included as a standard check for an annual MOT. But, you can ask your local mechanic to check the cambelt as part of the annual service.
If you ask nicely, they might also be able to check it at the same time as carrying out the MOT inspection.
How long does it take a mechanic to change a cambelt?
Changing a cambelt can take anywhere from 2 to 12 hours to complete - depending on the vehicle.
How quickly the job can be done will also depend on whether the mechanic has the right cambelt in stock. Often then will need to order in the right cambelt for your vehicle.
Do Kwik Fit change timing belts?
Yes, Kwik Fit do change timing belts. You can also use one of our approved mechanics to change your timing belt.
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