How Much Does It Cost to Repair an Exhaust?

  • Repair
  • Cost
  • Exhaust

FixMyCar discusses how much you can expect to pay for an exhaust repair.

Book an exhaust repair now

Ellie Dyer-Brown

Friday October 11 2024

3 min read

The exhaust system channels harmful gases created during the combustion process out of the engine. It helps your car run smoothly, efficiently, and in a more environmentally-friendly way. You can learn more about how the exhaust works in this guide.

Exhaust problems are easy to identify because they are often very noisy or create a strong smell of fumes. This guide discusses how much you can expect to pay for a repair.


How much does it cost to repair an exhaust?

Exhaust repairs typically cost between £100 and £500. The average price on FixMyCar is £121.48.

The exhaust system is made of several different parts, so the price can vary depending on which one needs repairing and the amount of damage. The job might involve a small spot of welding or a complete replacement.

Other factors that influence the cost include the type of car you drive, the parts recommended by the manufacturer and your location.

Important: The cost of some repairs is difficult to estimate without seeing the vehicle first. If you receive a very low quote price, it may be for an initial diagnostic test to investigate the problem. You can message garages directly on our platform to confirm what’s included in the quoted price.

If you're looking for the average cost of an exhaust replacement instead of a repair, check out this guide.

exhaust repair
iStock.com/ClarkandCompany

Price by manufacturer

The table below shows how the average price of an exhaust repair varies between manufacturers.

Car MakeAverage Price
Audi£104.18
BMW£114.71
Citroen£109.91
Ford£130.54
Mercedes£113.40
MINI£116.89
Nissan£114.23
Peugeot£118.10
Renault£117.69
Toyota£115.76
Vauxhall£127.07
Volkswagen£129.27
Volvo£107.42

Price by model

Here are the average repair prices for a selection of popular car models.

ModelAverage price
Nissan Qashqai£130.16
Audi A3£100.75
BMW 1 Series£119.15
Kia Sportage£130.36
Volkswagen Golf£108.43
Nissan Juke£119.94

Price by location

Average hourly rates are often higher in cities compared to towns and villages with less demand.

LocationAverage price range
Rural areas£100-400
London£200-600
Other cities and suburbs£150-500

What are the signs of a damaged exhaust?

Often, exhausts need repairing due to a leak. The most common places for leaks are at the exhaust pipe, manifold, or the gasket where the pipe meets the catalytic converter.

Here are the signs to keep an eye out for:

exhaust pipe
iStock.com/Patrick Daxenbichler

Common exhaust pipe issues

The most common exhaust issues are shown below with their symptoms.

ProblemCauseSymptoms
LeaksDamage or corrosion of partsLouder engine and hissing noises
Muffler issuesPhysical damage or rustRattling and a louder engine
Faulty catalytic converterEngine misfires, overheatingRotten egg smell, decreased performance and an illuminated check engine light
Malfunctioning oxygen sensorWear and tearCheck engine light and poor fuel efficiency

Why is smoke coming from my exhaust?

If the colour of smoke coming from your exhaust is different than usual, there is a high possibility that there's an issue somewhere in the system. The colour of the smoke will give you a clue about what that issue might be.

  • White smoke could be a sign of a coolant leak.

  • Black smoke happens because your car is burning more fuel than it should, suggesting there could be a problem with the fuel injection system.

  • Blue smoke is usually the result of an oil leak.

exhaust smoke
iStock.com/deepblue4you

Ready to book an exhaust repair? FixMyCar can help you compare trusted local garages based on price, reviews and location.

If you found this guide helpful, you might also like:

Get quotes in minutes
Save money on your car repair