Repair costs

Handbrake repair 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No public source records the price of this whole job, and the time it takes varies from car to car, so we do not publish a single figure.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

Parking brake efficiency below requirements1.14 per 100
Parking brake inoperative on one side0.51 per 100
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value0.29 per 100
Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment0.19 per 100

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

How often by age

All cars: 2.05 fail items per 100 MOTs that this repair fixes (n=130,233,413 tests), highest at 19 years with 5.20 per 100 (n=2,479,858). A test with two such items counts twice.

Fail items fixed by handbrake repair, per 100 MOT tests of cars at each age.
Age	Per 100 MOTs	Tests (n)
3 years	0.17	8,016,463
4 years	0.21	8,699,937
5 years	0.31	9,425,360
6 years	0.47	10,382,720
7 years	0.72	10,537,318
8 years	1.03	10,440,457
9 years	1.42	9,949,012
10 years	1.84	9,049,507
11 years	2.28	8,087,514
12 years	2.80	7,303,151
13 years	3.31	6,612,160
14 years	3.82	6,054,526
15 years	4.27	5,591,675
16 years	4.70	4,858,625
17 years	5.03	4,040,458
18 years	5.19	3,261,622
19 years	5.20	2,479,858
20 years	5.10	1,845,952
21 years	4.83	1,321,417
22 years	4.49	913,980
23 years	4.33	619,531
24 years	4.15	428,815
25 years	3.99	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. 40 of these have their own page.

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Ford Mustang	at least 7.8	40,094
Hyundai ix20	at least 5.5	116,300
Hyundai i800	at least 5.3	32,058
SsangYong Korando	at least 5.2	31,615
Hyundai Coupe	at least 4.8	24,661
Ford EcoSport	at least 4.6	402,494
Toyota MR2	at least 4.5	30,113
Hyundai Tucsonfirst used 2015 or later	at least 4.4	520,466
Hyundai i30	at least 4.3	422,957
Volkswagen Crafter	at least 3.9	27,414
Volkswagen Amarok	at least 3.9	82,102
Kia Picanto	at least 3.8	730,252
MG ZSfirst used 2017 or later	at least 3.7	143,170
Hyundai ix35	at least 3.6	209,126
Hyundai Ioniq	at least 3.4	151,341
Chrysler Grand Voyager	at least 3.3	23,503
Mercedes-Benz Vito	at least 3.3	350,481
Vauxhall Tigrafirst used 2004 or later	at least 3.2	28,719
Citroen Relay	at least 3.0	57,180
Nissan Primastar	at least 2.9	36,364
Kia Carens	at least 2.9	59,911
Vauxhall Vivaro	at least 2.8	739,286
Kia Sportage	at least 2.8	1,070,582
MG 3	at least 2.6	81,125
Renault Master	at least 2.6	63,499

45 more models

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Renault Trafic	at least 2.6	428,817
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter	at least 2.4	91,862
Kia Ceed	at least 2.3	487,429
Suzuki Splash	at least 2.2	71,403
SsangYong Tivoli	at least 2.1	27,007
Isuzu D-Max	at least 2.1	134,777
Alfa Romeo Mito	at least 2.0	78,902
London Taxis International TX4	at least 2.0	53,539
Toyota Hilux	at least 2.0	278,401
SEAT Ibiza	at least 2.0	775,282
Mazda 6	at least 1.9	259,157
Kia Niro	at least 1.9	237,586
Mercedes-Benz V-Classfirst used 2014 or later	at least 1.9	46,317
Suzuki Swift	at least 1.8	532,946
Vauxhall Vectra	at least 1.8	139,086
Vauxhall Antara	at least 1.8	83,963
Jeep Cherokeefirst used before 2014	at least 1.8	26,264
Mitsubishi ASX	at least 1.8	116,909
Fiat 500L	at least 1.8	85,411
Fiat 500	at least 1.7	1,394,433
Suzuki Celerio	at least 1.7	110,627
Kia Sorento	at least 1.7	147,328
Mercedes-Benz Viano	at least 1.7	20,403
Nissan Leaf	at least 1.7	163,386
Ford Transit Connect	at least 1.6	676,611
Renault Captur	at least 1.5	597,036
Nissan Pulsar	at least 1.5	84,984
Ford Tourneo	at least 1.5	55,404
Volvo S60	at least 1.4	82,256
Fiat Panda	at least 1.4	362,907
Volvo XC90	at least 1.4	282,309
Suzuki Baleno	at least 1.4	26,797
Volkswagen Polo	at least 1.4	2,506,053
Peugeot 108	at least 1.4	296,826
Fiat Scudo	at least 1.4	32,566
Toyota Auris	at least 1.4	623,950
Kia Soul	at least 1.4	97,370
Fiat Bravo	at least 1.3	20,980
MG TF	at least 1.3	36,093
Renault Megane	at least 1.3	441,407
Vauxhall Agila	at least 1.3	144,956
Hyundai Kona	at least 1.3	150,440
Volvo V70	at least 1.3	169,439
Chevrolet Captiva	at least 1.3	25,550
Dacia Sandero	at least 1.3	415,804

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)
Porsche 911	at most 0.5	174,386
Audi Q5	at most 0.6	422,669
Toyota Hiace	at most 0.6	55,241
Mercedes-Benz GLC	at most 0.6	298,696
Land Rover Range Rover Sport	at most 0.6	498,033
Land Rover Range Rover	at most 0.7	352,624
Audi A6	at most 0.7	510,103
Volvo XC60	at most 0.7	433,710
Audi A5	at most 0.7	501,056
Porsche Cayenne	at most 0.7	118,942

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
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
Brake pipe replacementlabour 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

Buying a used car?

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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