Noise, emissions and leaks
Catalytic converter
Checked on 30 July 2026.ClickMechanic, Catalytic converter replacement cost guide (as of 30 July 2026)
What does catalytic converter cost in the UK?
£175 to £900 fitted at an independent garage, VAT included, on a mainstream car. The midpoint of that range is about £538, and where you land inside it is decided by access, parts and wheel size rather than by the garage's postcode.
The old unit is cut or unbolted out, the new one goes in with fresh gaskets and the sensors are transferred across. ClickMechanic put it at £310 on average within £175 to £900, at just over an hour. Bumper split the parts two ways, and this is the main thing to understand before agreeing to the work: a type approved aftermarket converter is £300 to £500, while the manufacturer's own part is £600 to £1,000, which is the dealer range shown here. Two other things move the bill. A converter that has failed because of an engine fault, a misfire or oil getting past the rings, will fail again unless that is fixed first, so the diagnosis is part of the cost. And on cars where the converter is built into the manifold you are buying a much larger part and several hours instead of one.
How this job compares
| Job | Area | Fitted price |
|---|---|---|
| Front wiper blades | Visibility | £19 to £45 |
| Catalytic converter | Noise, emissions and leaks | £175 to £900 |
| Exhaust section or full system | Noise, emissions and leaks | £100 to £1,200 |
Other noise, emissions and leaks work
| Job | Fitted price | Labour |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust section or full system | £100 to £1,200 | Not published |
| Emissions failure, sensor or valve | £110 to £650 | Not published |
| Diesel particulate filter clean | £160 to £500 | 1.5h |
Common questions
- How much does catalytic converter cost?
- £175 to £900 fitted at an independent garage, including VAT, for a mainstream car. A franchised dealer publishes £600 to £1,000 for the same work.
- How urgent is it?
- Book it in, and get the cause diagnosed first. Emission control equipment fitted by the manufacturer that is missing, obviously modified or obviously defective is a major defect. A converter that has broken up internally can also block the exhaust and leave the car gutless, and one that has been stolen leaves the car deafening and illegal.
- What moves the price within that range?
- Access, parts and wheel size, mostly. A job that needs the bumper or an arch liner off costs an hour more than the same job on a car where it does not, and a genuine part can be several times an aftermarket one.
- Is this price for one side or both?
- Treat the range as the job as the source published it. Where a part is replaced in pairs the detail below says so, and the second side adds less than double because the labour overlaps.
Sources
Every figure on this page was read off the publisher's own page on the date shown.