Brake Disc Replacement Cost by Car Make and Model
Pricing for the 20 most popular cars on UK roads. All costs include a pair of discs, pad set, hardware, and labour at an independent garage.
| Car | Category | Front Axle | Rear Axle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta | Small | £160 - £230 | £130 - £190 |
| Ford Focus | Family | £180 - £270 | £150 - £230 |
| Vauxhall Corsa | Small | £150 - £220 | £120 - £180 |
| Vauxhall Astra | Family | £175 - £260 | £145 - £220 |
| VW Golf | Family | £200 - £300 | £170 - £260 |
| VW Polo | Small | £165 - £240 | £135 - £200 |
| BMW 3 Series | Premium | £260 - £400 | £220 - £340 |
| BMW 1 Series | Premium | £230 - £350 | £190 - £300 |
| Audi A3 | Premium | £220 - £340 | £180 - £280 |
| Audi A4 | Premium | £260 - £400 | £220 - £340 |
| Mercedes A-Class | Premium | £240 - £370 | £200 - £310 |
| Mercedes C-Class | Premium | £280 - £420 | £230 - £350 |
| Toyota Yaris | Small | £150 - £210 | £120 - £170 |
| Toyota Corolla | Family | £175 - £260 | £145 - £220 |
| Nissan Qashqai | SUV | £200 - £310 | £170 - £260 |
| Hyundai Tucson | SUV | £210 - £320 | £180 - £270 |
| Kia Sportage | SUV | £210 - £320 | £180 - £270 |
| Peugeot 208 | Small | £155 - £230 | £125 - £185 |
| Renault Clio | Small | £155 - £225 | £125 - £180 |
| SEAT Leon | Family | £190 - £280 | £160 - £240 |
Prices are for independent garages using OEM-equivalent parts (Brembo, ATE, TRW, Mintex). National chains add 10-15%. Main dealers add 40-50%. Updated April 2026.
Why Prices Vary by Car
The biggest factor is disc size. A Ford Fiesta has front discs around 258mm diameter. A BMW 3 Series has 300-330mm discs. Larger discs use more material, cost more to manufacture, and take slightly longer to fit.
Vented discs (two layers with cooling channels) cost more than solid discs (single layer). Most cars have vented fronts and solid rears, but larger vehicles often have vented discs on all four corners.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) is the hidden cost difference on rear brakes. Any car with a button or switch instead of a handbrake lever needs a diagnostic tool to retract the rear caliper piston. This adds £20 to £40 to the rear job and means not every garage can do it.
Tip: Your car's brake disc cost depends more on the size of the disc than the badge on the bonnet. A Vauxhall Insignia with large vented discs may cost more to do than a BMW 1 Series with smaller discs.
Small Cars: Budget-Friendly Brakes
The Fiesta, Corsa, Polo, Yaris, 208, and Clio are the cheapest cars to do brake work on. Front discs cost £150 to £240, rears £120 to £200. Parts are widely available and the job is straightforward. Most of these cars have solid rear discs and no electronic parking brake on older models, keeping costs down.
Family Cars: Mid-Range Pricing
The Focus, Astra, Golf, Qashqai, Tucson, Sportage, and Leon sit in the £180 to £320 range for front discs. These cars tend to have larger brakes than superminis and many have electronic parking brakes as standard, which adds to the rear cost. The Golf in particular uses a VW-group platform shared with the SEAT Leon and Audi A3, so parts pricing is very similar across all three.
Premium Cars: Why the Premium?
BMW, Audi, and Mercedes front discs typically cost £230 to £420. The premium comes from three factors: larger brake systems (heavier cars need bigger brakes), OEM parts expectation (many owners and garages prefer genuine or OEM-equivalent brands like Brembo), and dealer labour rates if you use the main dealer. However, an independent garage using quality aftermarket parts can bring premium car brake costs much closer to family car levels.