The Cheapest Cars to Repair
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 26 days ago
4 min read
- Repair
- Cost
FixMyCar reveals which of the UK's most popular cars is the cheapest to repair.
When you’re in the market for a car, whether it’s new or second-hand, it isn’t just the price of the vehicle and insurance costs you should consider. It’s also worthwhile comparing the reliability and average repair prices of different models - that’s where this guide comes in.
We’ve collected data on some of the most popular cars in the UK to show you how much a trip to the garage is likely to cost.
Contents
Top 10 most affordable cars to repair
| Rank | Model |
|---|---|
| 1 | Honda Jazz |
| 2 | Toyota Yaris |
| 3 | Fiat 500 |
| 4 | Vauxhall Corsa |
| 5 | Nissan Juke |
| 6 | Kia Sportage |
| 7 | Honda Civic |
| 8 | Volkswagen Polo |
| 9 | Hyundai Tucson |
| 10 | Ford Fiesta |
The cheapest car to repair
Congratulations to the Honda Jazz, a small but mighty car that could secure you some serious savings. The table below shows how the Jazz performed in each repair category.
| Repair | Average price |
|---|---|
| Battery | £129.31 |
| Brake pads and discs | £192.29 |
| Cambelt and water pump | £261.49 |
| Clutch | £489.95 |
| Suspension | £112 |
Check out this guide to find out how reliable the Honda Jazz is.
How we worked it out
We focused on the most popular car models in the UK to make our rankings as relevant and accurate as possible. The more people drive a particular car, the more quotes are provided on our platform, making our average price calculations more reliable.
Our ranking is based on the average price of five common repair categories, which we worked out using quotes from mechanics on FixMyCar between 2023 and 2024.
Once we had the average prices for the different repair types, we added them together for each model to come up with a total cost, determining the order of our top 10.
Repair categories
Now let's take a closer look at the different repair categories.
Battery replacement
Car batteries usually need replacing every four to five years as long as they have been well maintained. Common signs your battery is dying include:
Dim headlights
Electrical issues
Trouble starting the car
Loss of power
Find out why batteries die in this guide, or learn how to get the most out of your battery.
According to our data, the average battery replacement price across all makes and models is £226.73.
The winner: Honda Jazz
The cheapest model out of our top 10 was the Honda Jazz, costing £129.31, which means owning a Jazz could save you £97 when it’s time for a new battery.
Brake pads and discs
Brake pads and discs have slightly different lifespans, but because they work in tandem, when one component wears down, it can have a knock-on effect on the other.
Learn more about how brakes work.
A new set of brake pads should last between 30,000 and 70,000 miles. You can tell when they wear down because they often make screeching noises and become less responsive when you push the brake pedal. This guide covers five brake problems you should never ignore.
Brake discs should last at least 60,000 miles, sometimes more. It all depends on your driving style and frequency.
Replacing a car’s brake pads and discs costs £245.07 on average.
The winner: Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz and Nissan Juke claim the top spot with a joint average price of £192.29. That’s a saving of over £50.
Cambelt and water pump
Finding out your car needs a new cambelt is one of those things most drivers dread, mainly due to the price. However, this repair should never be delayed because the cambelt plays such a crucial role in controlling the engine's timing.
It’s also worth noting that cambelt is another word for timing belt, and not all vehicles have one; some have a timing chain instead, which lasts a bit longer. This guide explains how to find out whether your car has a timing chain or belt.
Cambelts typically last between 40,000 and 100,000 miles. When they need replacing, the signs are hard to miss. The engine management light will often appear, and your car will misfire and have trouble starting. Here’s what happens when your cambelt is replaced.
The average price of a cambelt and water pump replacement across all makes and models is £570.50.
The winner: Honda Jazz
Jazz owners will be pleased to know they can expect competitive prices when they head to the garage, with the average price of a cambelt and water pump replacement coming in at £261.49.
Clutch replacement
Clutch replacements are another pain point for drivers, costing an eye-watering £638.63 on average across all makes and models. You’re probably already familiar with the signs of clutch wear, which include juddering, slipping, a spongy or sticky pedal and poor acceleration.
Find out how long clutches last here, or read about what happens during a replacement.
The winner: Fiat 500
The nippy Fiat 500 was triumphant in this category, beating the ever-popular Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta with an average price of £444.44.
This guide covers common problems with the Fiat 500.
Suspension
Without suspension, we’d all be bumping along the roads, getting shaken around like a bag of bones. Key components such as the shock absorbers smooth out the impact of potholes and uneven surfaces, providing a much more comfortable drive.
Unfortunately, since the suspension system is under so much pressure, it often needs repairing. Common parts that you may have to fix include ball joints and springs.
Learn more about how suspension works.
The average price of a suspension repair booked through FixMyCar is £135.07.
The winner: Hyundai Tucson
The cheapest car out of our top 10 was the Hyundai Tucson, claiming its first win with a price of £53.23.
Looking for affordable car repairs or maintenance? FixMyCar can help you find the right garage at the right price.
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Written by Ellie
Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Writer. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers that is easy understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.