Repair costs

Brake pipe replacement garage rates and how often MOTs call for it

What UK garages charge per hour, from ONS price quotes, and how often MOT tests fail on the items this repair fixes, from 130,233,413 DVSA MOT tests (2022 to 2025).

Prices updated 22 September 2026. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Garage labour rates

No public source records the price of this whole job, and the time it takes varies from car to car, so we do not publish a single figure. Garages charge by the hour, so ask for a quote that lists labour time and parts. The rates below are what UK garages charge per hour.

Local garage labour, per hour (65 shops)£78

Local garage, middle half£70 to £96

Main dealer labour, per hour (62 shops)£156

Main dealer, middle half£144 to £174

Median hourly rate charged for car repairs, from 1,058 local garage and 953 main dealer price quotes collected by the ONS, September 2025 to August 2026. The same shops are priced each month, so the number of shops is the real sample.

MOT defects this repair fixes

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material3.80 per 100
Brake pipe excessively corroded0.64 per 100

Records per 100 MOT tests at all ages (n=130,233,413 tests).

How often by age

All cars: 0.64 fail items per 100 MOTs that this repair fixes (n=130,233,413 tests), highest at 20 years with 2.53 per 100 (n=1,845,952). A test with two such items counts twice.

Fail items fixed by brake pipe replacement, per 100 MOT tests of cars at each age.
Age	Per 100 MOTs	Tests (n)
3 years	0.001	8,016,463
4 years	0.005	8,699,937
5 years	0.026	9,425,360
6 years	0.068	10,382,720
7 years	0.13	10,537,318
8 years	0.21	10,440,457
9 years	0.32	9,949,012
10 years	0.45	9,049,507
11 years	0.61	8,087,514
12 years	0.77	7,303,151
13 years	0.89	6,612,160
14 years	1.07	6,054,526
15 years	1.28	5,591,675
16 years	1.60	4,858,625
17 years	1.90	4,040,458
18 years	2.17	3,261,622
19 years	2.47	2,479,858
20 years	2.53	1,845,952
21 years	2.52	1,321,417
22 years	2.39	913,980
23 years	2.19	619,531
24 years	1.98	428,815
25 years	1.91	313,355

Models that fail on these items more often

At least 1.3 times the rate of cars of the same ages and fuel, over ages with at least 1,000 tests each and 20,000 in total. Each generation of a model is compared on its own. 62 of these have their own page.

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Chevrolet Spark	at least 9.5	59,796
Mercedes-Benz Citan	at least 9.2	80,122
Isuzu D-Max	at least 7.5	134,777
Ford Tourneo	at least 6.9	55,404
Suzuki Celerio	at least 6.4	110,627
Dacia Duster	at least 6.0	274,804
Ford Transit Custom	at least 5.3	499,881
Ford Transit	at least 5.3	1,227,954
Nissan Pulsar	at least 4.8	84,984
Mitsubishi L200	at least 4.7	356,000
Mitsubishi ASX	at least 4.5	116,909
Suzuki Alto	at least 4.4	196,008
Nissan Pixo	at least 4.1	46,726
Suzuki Splash	at least 4.0	71,403
Nissan Juke	at least 4.0	1,225,209
Volkswagen Crafter	at least 4.0	27,414
Suzuki SX4	at least 3.9	167,151
Suzuki Swift	at least 3.9	532,946
Renault Kangoo	at least 3.9	229,058
Vauxhall Antara	at least 3.7	83,963
Renault Twingo	at least 3.6	101,465
Citroen C1	at least 3.1	671,515
Vauxhall Agila	at least 3.1	144,956
Vauxhall Vivaro	at least 3.1	739,286
Chevrolet Aveo	at least 3.1	36,812

65 more models

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Kia Picanto	at least 3.0	730,252
Peugeot 107	at least 2.9	464,216
Toyota Hilux	at least 2.9	278,401
Ford Fusion	at least 2.9	220,682
Renault Trafic	at least 2.8	428,817
Vauxhall Meriva	at least 2.8	385,594
Ford Transit Connect	at least 2.8	676,611
Chevrolet Matiz	at least 2.8	44,172
Vauxhall Vectra	at least 2.8	139,086
Mercedes-Benz CLS	at least 2.8	97,895
Hyundai i20	at least 2.8	511,594
Suzuki Vitarafirst used 2015 or later	at least 2.7	248,462
Nissan Primastar	at least 2.6	36,364
Mazda 2	at least 2.5	509,644
Chevrolet Captiva	at least 2.5	25,550
Mitsubishi Outlander	at least 2.5	305,188
Hyundai i10	at least 2.5	980,254
Ford Ranger	at least 2.4	426,542
Hyundai i800	at least 2.4	32,058
Hyundai i40	at least 2.4	85,833
Vauxhall Combo	at least 2.4	423,103
Vauxhall Tigrafirst used 2004 or later	at least 2.4	28,719
Nissan Navara	at least 2.2	286,820
Suzuki Ignisfirst used before 2016	at least 2.2	25,857
Suzuki Wagon R+	at least 2.2	32,729
Land Rover Range Rover Sport	at least 2.2	498,033
Mercedes-Benz E-Class	at least 2.1	964,062
Mercedes-Benz CLC	at least 2.1	35,024
Kia Soul	at least 2.1	97,370
Toyota Auris	at least 2.1	623,950
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter	at least 2.0	91,862
Land Rover Range Rover	at least 2.0	352,624
Suzuki Jimny	at least 2.0	98,308
Mercedes-Benz B-Class	at least 2.0	290,232
Kia Sorento	at least 1.9	147,328
Renault Laguna	at least 1.9	39,310
Mercedes-Benz C-Class	at least 1.9	1,528,968
Toyota IQ	at least 1.9	67,409
Toyota Aygo	at least 1.8	1,006,151
Toyota Verso	at least 1.8	112,639
Kia Sedona	at least 1.7	21,149
Suzuki Grand Vitara	at least 1.7	89,823
Hyundai Getz	at least 1.6	85,143
Daihatsu Sirion	at least 1.6	24,404
Renault Clio	at least 1.6	1,326,120
Mitsubishi Lancer	at least 1.6	37,292
Mercedes-Benz Vito	at least 1.5	350,481
Land Rover Defenderfirst used before 2020	at least 1.5	291,433
Smart Fortwo	at least 1.5	255,596
Kia Rio	at least 1.5	395,218
Hyundai Coupe	at least 1.5	24,661
Land Rover Discovery	at least 1.5	591,956
Hyundai Tucsonfirst used before 2015	at least 1.5	21,949
Nissan NV200	at least 1.5	122,396
Ford Fiesta	at least 1.4	5,660,045
Mazda 6	at least 1.4	259,157
Toyota Hiace	at least 1.4	55,241
Mazda CX-5	at least 1.4	257,821
Mercedes-Benz A-Class	at least 1.4	1,360,594
Kia Carens	at least 1.4	59,911
Rover 75	at least 1.3	33,751
Mitsubishi Shogun	at least 1.3	104,916
Mercedes-Benz M-Class	at least 1.3	139,242
Citroen Xsara	at least 1.3	125,734
Hyundai Santa FE	at least 1.3	135,968

Models that fail on these items less often

At most 0.7 times the rate of cars of the same ages and fuel, on the same rules.

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Toyota MR2	at most 0.5	30,113
MG TF	at most 0.5	36,093
Porsche Cayenne	at most 0.6	118,942
Jaguar XK	at most 0.6	86,405
Audi Q7	at most 0.6	191,601
Audi Q5	at most 0.6	422,669
Mazda MX-5	at most 0.6	348,258
Volkswagen Lupo	at most 0.6	24,196
Fiat Ducato	at most 0.6	272,846
Volkswagen Touareg	at most 0.6	149,245
BMW X3	at most 0.6	404,678
Subaru Impreza	at most 0.6	66,952
Audi A6	at most 0.6	510,103
Saab 9-3	at most 0.6	166,679
Volvo XC70	at most 0.7	70,628
Honda Accord	at most 0.7	111,371
Audi A2	at most 0.7	27,619
Volvo V70	at most 0.7	169,439
Lexus IS	at most 0.7	154,326
Nissan Almera	at most 0.7	64,930
Bentley Continental	at most 0.7	56,740
Honda CR-V	at most 0.7	806,907
Porsche 911	at most 0.7	174,386
BMW X1	at most 0.7	414,040
Volvo S80	at most 0.7	26,623

6 more models

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Audi A5	at most 0.7	501,056
Audi A4	at most 0.7	1,045,108
Volkswagen Passat	at most 0.7	792,205
Volvo S60	at most 0.7	82,256
Volvo XC60	at most 0.7	433,710
Jeep Cherokeefirst used before 2014	at most 0.7	26,264

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Other repairs

Exterior bulb replacement£3.99 median
Tyre replacement£87.05 median
Headlight alignmentlabour rate
Coil spring replacementlabour rate
Wiper blade replacement£9.99 median
Handbrake repairlabour rate
Brake pad replacementlabour rate
Suspension ball joint replacementlabour rate
Anti-roll bar link replacementlabour rate
Headlight bulb replacement£3.99 median
Engine warning light diagnosislabour rate
Screenwash top-uplabour rate
Suspension arm bush replacementlabour rate
CV boot replacementlabour rate
Track rod end replacementlabour rate
Brake disc and pad replacementlabour rate
Shock absorber replacementlabour rate
Corrosion welding repairlabour rate
Binding brake repairlabour rate
Washer system repairlabour rate
Exhaust repair£212.09 median
Emissions fail repairlabour rate
ABS warning light repairlabour rate
Airbag warning light repairlabour rate
Brake imbalance repairlabour rate
Wheel bearing replacementlabour rate
Tyre pressure sensor replacementlabour rate
Horn repairlabour rate
Number plate replacementlabour rate
Exhaust mounting repairlabour rate
Wheel nut or bolt replacementlabour rate
Steering rack gaiter replacementlabour rate
Brake efficiency repairlabour rate
Headlight mounting repairlabour rate
Headlight unit replacementlabour rate
Headlight lens restorationlabour rate
Swivel pin replacementlabour rate

All repair costs All MOT defects

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025, and the MOT inspection manual published on GOV.UK. Prices: ONS consumer price inflation price quotes, September 2025 to August 2026, UK.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026. Prices updated 22 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA or the Office for National Statistics. How we calculate these figures · Data sources