Repair costs

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No public source records the price of this whole job, and the time it takes varies from car to car, so we do not publish a single figure.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

Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.29 per 100
Headlamp aim too low1.18 per 100
Headlamp aim too high0.87 per 100

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

How often by age

All cars: 3.34 fail items per 100 MOTs that this repair fixes (n=130,233,413 tests), highest at 19 years with 7.06 per 100 (n=2,479,858). A test with two such items counts twice.

Fail items fixed by headlight alignment, per 100 MOT tests of cars at each age.
Age	Per 100 MOTs	Tests (n)
3 years	1.65	8,016,463
4 years	1.44	8,699,937
5 years	1.51	9,425,360
6 years	1.67	10,382,720
7 years	1.91	10,537,318
8 years	2.26	10,440,457
9 years	2.68	9,949,012
10 years	3.12	9,049,507
11 years	3.62	8,087,514
12 years	4.07	7,303,151
13 years	4.46	6,612,160
14 years	4.95	6,054,526
15 years	5.41	5,591,675
16 years	5.96	4,858,625
17 years	6.49	4,040,458
18 years	6.86	3,261,622
19 years	7.06	2,479,858
20 years	7.05	1,845,952
21 years	6.71	1,321,417
22 years	6.31	913,980
23 years	5.78	619,531
24 years	5.25	428,815
25 years	4.89	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. 15 of these have their own page.

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Hyundai i800	at least 3.4	32,058
Dacia Duster	at least 3.3	274,804
Dacia Logan	at least 3.2	61,822
Dacia Sandero	at least 2.8	415,804
Alfa Romeo Giulia	at least 2.1	25,596
Ford Transit Courier	at least 2.0	103,155
Citroen C4 Cactus	at least 1.9	82,843
DS DS5	at least 1.8	20,165
DS DS4first used before 2021	at least 1.8	58,336
SEAT Toledofirst used 2012 or later	at least 1.8	20,583
DS DS3	at least 1.7	425,461
Peugeot 207	at least 1.7	587,825
MG 3	at least 1.6	81,125
Toyota Proace	at least 1.6	41,151
Vauxhall Combo	at least 1.6	423,103
Citroen C4 Grand Picasso	at least 1.5	88,311
Citroen C4	at least 1.5	557,142
Citroen Relay	at least 1.5	57,180
London Taxis International TX4	at least 1.5	53,539
BMW i3	at least 1.5	85,743
Peugeot RCZ	at least 1.5	44,125
Peugeot 308	at least 1.4	549,521
Citroen Dispatch	at least 1.4	189,276
Ford Focus	at least 1.4	3,840,973
SEAT Ibiza	at least 1.4	775,282

13 more models

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Nissan Note	at least 1.4	620,623
Fiat Punto	at least 1.4	310,264
Nissan NV200	at least 1.4	122,396
Fiat Tipo	at least 1.4	49,704
Peugeot Partner	at least 1.3	605,323
SEAT Altea	at least 1.3	62,006
Citroen C4 Picasso	at least 1.3	25,245
Peugeot 5008	at least 1.3	130,903
Renault Clio	at least 1.3	1,326,120
Ford Transit Custom	at least 1.3	499,881
Renault Megane	at least 1.3	441,407
Hyundai Kona	at least 1.3	150,440
Citroen Berlingo	at least 1.3	750,010

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)
Mercedes-Benz SL	at most 0.4	70,445
MG TF	at most 0.5	36,093
BMW 6 Series	at most 0.5	89,667
Porsche 911	at most 0.5	174,386
Land Rover Range Rover	at most 0.5	352,624
Mercedes-Benz S-Class	at most 0.5	107,268
Audi Q7	at most 0.5	191,601
Mercedes-Benz GLC	at most 0.5	298,696
Bentley Continental	at most 0.5	56,740
Mercedes-Benz GLE	at most 0.5	113,268
Jaguar XJ	at most 0.5	92,084
Jaguar XK	at most 0.5	86,405
Land Rover Defenderfirst used 2020 or later	at most 0.5	39,776
Porsche Boxster	at most 0.5	129,291
Audi Q3	at most 0.5	499,272
Land Rover Range Rover Sport	at most 0.6	498,033
Volvo XC40	at most 0.6	229,238
Toyota Hiace	at most 0.6	55,241
Volvo V90first used 2016 or later	at most 0.6	57,957
BMW X6	at most 0.6	61,274
BMW X5	at most 0.6	366,311
BMW M3	at most 0.6	59,765
Audi A7	at most 0.6	67,548
BMW 7 Series	at most 0.6	72,995
Volkswagen Tiguan	at most 0.6	901,561

50 more models

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Mercedes-Benz SLK	at most 0.6	227,766
BMW Z4	at most 0.6	141,225
Porsche Cayman	at most 0.6	59,394
Mazda MX-5	at most 0.6	348,258
Volkswagen T-Cross	at most 0.6	75,652
BMW X4	at most 0.6	65,595
Mercedes-Benz E-Class	at most 0.6	964,062
Vauxhall Agila	at most 0.6	144,956
Mercedes-Benz V-Classfirst used 2014 or later	at most 0.6	46,317
Suzuki Wagon R+	at most 0.6	32,729
Skoda Kodiaq	at most 0.6	134,246
Jaguar F-Type	at most 0.6	57,526
Audi Q2	at most 0.6	261,047
BMW 4 Series	at most 0.6	417,430
Porsche Macan	at most 0.6	115,297
Kia XCeed	at most 0.6	47,938
Mercedes-Benz CLS	at most 0.6	97,895
Honda HR-Vfirst used 2015 or later	at most 0.6	124,839
Toyota IQ	at most 0.6	67,409
Kia Stonic	at most 0.7	94,808
Volkswagen Eos	at most 0.7	49,528
Audi TT	at most 0.7	459,803
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque	at most 0.7	704,715
Audi A8	at most 0.7	44,414
Porsche Cayenne	at most 0.7	118,942
Lexus RX	at most 0.7	146,324
Mercedes-Benz GLA	at most 0.7	329,115
Land Rover Discovery	at most 0.7	591,956
Suzuki Celerio	at most 0.7	110,627
Volkswagen T-Roc	at most 0.7	260,443
BMW 5 Series	at most 0.7	849,601
Jaguar XF	at most 0.7	399,683
Toyota MR2	at most 0.7	30,113
BMW Z3	at most 0.7	36,516
Jaguar XE	at most 0.7	174,594
Volkswagen Touareg	at most 0.7	149,245
Mercedes-Benz M-Class	at most 0.7	139,242
Suzuki Splash	at most 0.7	71,403
Saab 9-3	at most 0.7	166,679
Jaguar F-Pace	at most 0.7	202,046
Mitsubishi ASX	at most 0.7	116,909
BMW M4	at most 0.7	47,927
Volvo S90	at most 0.7	29,076
Jaguar E-Pace	at most 0.7	114,724
Jeep Grand Cherokee	at most 0.7	53,492
Toyota RAV4	at most 0.7	502,711
Hyundai Amica	at most 0.7	22,828
Audi e-tron	at most 0.7	38,725
Subaru Impreza	at most 0.7	66,952
Vauxhall Viva	at most 0.7	154,054

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
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
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

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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