Alastair Shephard

Content Writer

Joseph Law

Bumper Content Writer

Alternator replacement costs in the UK range from £250 to £750. If your engine won’t start or you have a 

 your alternator may need replacing. This guide covers everything you need to know.

From the average labour and parts cost to finding a suitable garage, you’ll find answers to all common alternator replacement queries. Scroll down to learn more now. 

How much does an alternator cost? Complete alternator replacement cost guide

The average cost of a new alternator is between £250 and £750, with the average price being around £525.

The cost to replace an alternator depends on the car model and make, then the labour cost to replace the alternator in the UK. It works out at, on average, £150 to £250 pounds for the mechanic's time. 

Average alternator costs per top 10 most popular car models

How much is an alternator for your car? See the top ten UK car model costs below. 

Average alternator costs per top 10 car manufacturers

To help give you an idea of average costs in the UK for alternators, we've rounded up different cost estimates for both 

See the table below for approximate alternator prices: 

If you're worried about an expensive car repair bill, then 

 can help split the cost with interest-free 

Alternators are one of the more expensive car parts to repair or replace. The average cost sits around £400 to £500, and it can go up depending on your car’s age, needs, make, and local garage prices. 

How long does it take to replace an alternator? 

Alternator replacement times in a reputable garage should take between

This average depends on the car, and other factors may cause the repair to be delayed. For example, other repairs may be needed, or the team might need to order specific parts.

 So, alongside asking how much is an alternator replacement, make sure you get a clear answer on replacement times.

The AA can help with alternator issues, but they can’t completely replace it on the roadside.

If called, the AA can offer temporary assistance, such as jump-starting your car to help you get on the move again. However, if your alternator is dead and needs a full replacement, they will help tow you to a nearby garage for repairs.

On average, alternators last between 80,000 to 150,000 miles. The distance ultimately depends on factors such as driving conditions and the quality of the alternator.

Harsh weather or high temperatures can reduce an alternator’s life, and lower-quality parts won’t last as long as sturdy alternatives. Likewise, regular driving and many short trips can stress the alternator more, leading to a smaller lifespan.

An alternator is an electrical device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy in an internal combustion 

. It is typically found in cars, trucks, and other vehicles. 

Don't worry if you're not 100% sure what an alternator does. Many only discover this part when it needs repairing. 

The alternator is powered by a belt connected to the car engine, creating an alternating current of electricity when it spins. The electricity from the alternating current is then used to charge the car's battery and power the car's electrical system. 

Can I carry out the alternator replacement myself?

No. It's best to leave alternator replacements to a qualified mechanic. While replacing an alternator yourself is possible, it is a complicated job requiring specialist tools.

You might save money on labour costs, but the risks don't outweigh the benefits. You need special tools for a start, and then, on top of all the expert mechanical knowledge needed, you might damage other components, making it more expensive in the long run! 

What are the symptoms of a failing alternator? 

Are you unsure if your alternator is failing? We’ve gathered the top signs that you need a repair to help you determine what’s going on with your vehicle. 

Symptoms of a failing alternator include: 

If your car is experiencing any of the symptoms of a failing alternator, it is recommended to have your alternator checked by a qualified mechanic as soon as possible.

The decision to repair or replace your alternator requires careful consideration. Replacing an alternator can be expensive, and many drivers, understandably, want to save money where possible.

However, if you are mechanically inclined and have the right tools, you may be able to save some money by replacing the alternator yourself. 

Please only attempt this if you are very experienced with cars.

On the other hand, if it’s a relatively new car with a complex electrical system, it may be better to leave it to professionals. 

Ultimately, whether it is worth fixing your alternator really depends on how much money you have available and how comfortable you are tackling such a job yourself.

No. We don't recommend driving a car with a faulty alternator, as it can damage

 other components and even lead to further damage

 to the engine due to a lack of power. This will leave you with higher repair costs and an unsafe vehicle.

A faulty alternator can cause various electrical issues within the car, which might not have caused such a problem thirty years ago. Still, most cars rely on electricity and computer components to run smoothly.

What’s more, a faulty alternator won’t be able to keep your car’s battery charged sufficiently, which can cause your fuel injectors to fail and your engine to stall.

A quick Google search can help you find a reputable garage for alternator repairs. However, always look at genuine customer reviews and shop around for different prices before deciding on one garage.

You can also ask friends and family for word-of-mouth recommendations. This can help you find garages that provide good experiences without wading through pages of internet marketing. 

also has a handy search tool that connects you with verified local garages. To get started, enter your vehicle registration on our homepage. 

Hopefully, this blog has helped you estimate your alternator repair costs and provided some useful information about the service. Save this page so you can revisit the FAQs and approximate costs before you book your service. 

Here at Bumper, we know a hefty car repair bill for an alternator is the last thing you want to spend your money on, but essential parts are crucial for you and your family’s safety.

Look after your car and your bank balance by splitting the cost of car repairs into monthly instalments with Bumper's interest-free 

Join the Bumper community and get access to the best care for you and your car. Choose a dependable dealership and split your repair bill into monthly chunks. 

How Much Does It Cost To Replace An Alternator?

Was kostet der Austausch einer Lichtmaschine?

Cars are complex and can cause large bills out of seemingly nowhere. But you can bypass high costs and avoid legal trouble by regularly inspecting your vehicle and running basic maintenance checks.

We've compiled a complete car maintenance checklist to make your life easier and to help you discover little-known checks your driving instructor may have missed!

These checks will help you meet UK laws, keep your car healthy, and improve your overall driving experience! Ready? Let's get started.

Without further ado, here’s the basic car maintenance checklist all drivers should own. Bookmark this page ASAP so you don’t lose these insider tips.

At a glance: Basic car maintenance checklist

Here’s an overview for those who want the major tips in seconds. 

Now, scroll on for our expert-approved info! 

First on the car maintenance checklist is tyre checks. 

Your tyres are arguably the most safety-critical part of your car, and ensuring they’re in good condition can pay dividends. Tyres are a 

. Finding faults early can help plan out the most cost-effective or convenient replacements, but most drivers don’t remember to do this!

For more info on these points check out our tyre article 

An engine is made with extremely tight tolerances, with metal components effectively rubbing together at great speed. Oil is vital to aid in lubrication and avoid wear and premature failure by checking the: 

Our article on which oil your car needs is 

For obvious reasons, your brakes are essential and are another common failure point on MOTs. Brakes are worn every time you use them. If you drive often, extra checks might be in order.

Many local garages offer free brake checks, stating the thickness level of your pads and discs. Take these readings away and check your car's manual, as some garages may try to sell you something you don't need. 

For more on how your brakes work, our article is 

Engines get hot and need the correct level of good quality coolant to 

. Whilst a coolant flush and replenishment is better left to service time, you can regularly check: 

Split the cost of service and repairs into interest-free monthly repayments at 1000s of trusted service partners. 

Number 5: Ensure air filters are replaced when required

Another car maintenance checklist must-check is your air filters.

As the engine combines outside air sucked in through a filter with petrol or diesel to make power. The incoming air is filtered to stop things such as leaves, dust, insects and other debris from entering the engine.

The filter will stop all these things from entering, but they then clog the filter. This reduces engine performance and can cause various other symptoms, such as bad fuel economy and trouble starting.

We humans need air too, but when we're in our cars' sealed chamber, using 

 or heating, all of the air we breathe passes through the cabin filter.

Often located under the glovebox area, the cabin filter is very similar to the engine's air filter, except it stops us from breathing in nasty debris. One of its significant benefits is filtering out pollen.

So if your heater is blowing strange-smelling air, or you've not had your car serviced for a long time, check the cabin/pollen filter and change it if you don't know when it was last done. 

 You should also ensure the air con functions well. If you can get the right temperature, head to the garage for a professional check.

Not having sufficient screen wash fluid in your car can be grounds for receiving a £100 fine and three points on your licence if caught. So, this is a crucial basic car maintenance checklist point. 

It’s easy to top up and advisable to carry a spare few litres in your car. This way, you'll avoid being caught short — especially in winter.

Number 8: Listen out for any strange noises

This tip might sound silly. But noise can be a great indicator that something is wrong.

There are many different types of noises, including those that increase with the car’s speed, engine speed or when turning. 

For more information on what to listen out for and what it could mean, check out our guide to automotive noises 

Screenwash can only do so much, not to mention your side and rear windows.

Regularly clean your windows and mirrors to give the best visibility. Dirty glass is hazardous at night, as street lighting and other car headlights can make seeing out difficult.

Experienced drivers often forget this car maintenance guide tip. Don’t get comfortable with long waits between washes! 

Number 10: Clear out the junk in your trunk

Carrying excess weight is wasteful and can be dangerous. Every extra bit of weight counts, as the engine needs to burn more fuel to move you and your car along, so be sure to clean out your boot regularly.

Not only does extra weight in your car cost you money, but in the event of an accident, a half-empty water bottle can become extremely dangerous flying around the cabin!

Junk isn’t a boot-only issue! You should also clear out the footwells, back seats, and wipe down the dashboard. 

Cars are full of bulbs: headlights, indicators, number plate lights and, of course, brake lights. 

These are all on your car for a reason. If you’re driving without one of them, you are increasing the risk of either someone not seeing you or you not seeing someone else on the road. 

If a police officer spots you, you can expect at least a stern warning, but up to a 3-point penalty and £100 fine! 

Number 12: Replace wiper blades if required

 could turn from a damp inconvenience to a serious safety issue if your wiper blades aren’t working, especially if you’re on a busy road or motorway. 

If your wipers have stopped clearing the screen correctly or make a horrible screech or judder as they wipe, it’s time to get some new ones. This common sense tip isn’t usually added to car maintenance checklists, but we think it’s too important to skip. 

You can place a thin cloth or plastic sheet under your wiper blades in the winter to prevent them from freezing. This is when parked, of course!

Number 13: Make sure you're using the right fuel

In 2021, Britain switched over to a new type of fuel: E10. It uses a slightly different mix of ethanol to petrol ratio and is generally suitable for motoring. It is said to burn cleaner and pollute less.

The problem is that not all cars are designed to use them. Older cars can have seals and pipes in their fuel systems that cannot handle the higher ethanol content, often causing the plastic to degrade prematurely.

Check what fuel your car should be using on the 

, and read more about the effects of E10 

Number 14: Change your spark plugs (petrol cars only)

 ignite the fuel in a petrol-engined car cycle, meaning at motorway speeds, each spark plug will create a spark 25 times per second. They are screwed into the cylinder head and experience extreme highs of pressure and heat. 

Because of this, spark plugs need changing every 40,000 miles. If left longer, they can cause inefficiencies and excess fuel consumption.

Number 15: Check when your cambelt was last changed

 to control the engine timing; they are vital to the engine's smooth running and peak efficiency. Worse than this, if the belt snaps due to deterioration from ageing, it can seriously damage the engine.

Most cam belts last between 60 and 100,000 miles, but you must check both your car's belt change interval and when it was last done. This crucial and preventative maintenance can easily save you thousands in repairs.

The air pressure in your car's tyres significantly impacts safety, performance and efficiency, so you'll want to keep a constant eye on your pressure.

Too low pressure and more drag will be caused, reducing your MPG. A severe braking and turning performance reduction occurs if the pressure is too high.

Also, car manufacturers specify strictly what pressure should be used in specific situations. If you regularly carry three passengers, the pressures will be different than if only you were aboard - check your manual for more information and adjust accordingly. 

Number plates aren’t just for customising. Having visible number plates is a big deal when driving in the UK, and the penalties for having an unreadable number plate, whether intentional or not, are pretty severe.

The main things to check for on your licence plate are cracking or delamination (when the plastic separates) that causes water and dirt ingress and non-functional number plate lights.

If you don’t fancy cleaning your car every winter weekend, regularly wipe down the number plates and lights to stay legal. 

It's good to be prepared should your car break down. A few essential but handy items stowed in the boot can make life easier. Surprisingly, this basic car maintenance checklist tip often goes ignored. But trust us, it's critical!

If you get a flat tyre, discovering your spare is in poor condition, needs a repair or is missing altogether would be highly annoying. 

Check your tyre for damage and make sure that it holds air. Consider carrying a foot pump if you get a slow puncture or need to top up the spare.

It is also advisable to practise jacking up and changing a wheel in a safe environment just to familiarise yourself with the procedure.

If your car isn’t fitted with a spare and instead has a can of tyre weld and a pump, check these parts are all present and read the manual on how to use them.

From time to time, car manufacturers find faults with their vehicles. These can be minor issues, such as small issues with infotainment systems, or serious safety problems, such as failing brakes. 

Safety recalls are used to notify every owner of the affected vehicle model, with guidance on fixing the problem at the manufacturer's expense. 

The problem comes when vehicles change hands many times over the years, and databases are not kept up to date. In this instance, you may own a car with an outstanding recall, but the manufacturer does not know you own that car. 

 where you can check for safety recalls based on vehicle models and registration numbers. It only takes 5 minutes and is completely free.

Top 23 Car Maintenance Tips

Travelling to Europe in your own car affords many benefits, saving costs on car hire, taking as much luggage as you want, and more. 

But there are some occasions where having your own vehicle with you in a foreign country is less than ideal, especially if it’s currently broken down at the side of an Autoroute or Autobahn. 

Below we’ll take a look at how best to prepare and deal if your car breaks down while driving abroad in Europe. 

Precautions to take before driving to Europe 

Road laws differ from country to country, so it’s essential that you take note before you leave of what rules you need to follow. Don’t forget you’ll need to comply even if only passing through. 

There are a few things you need to bring for most European countries, check the specific rules for the countries you’ll be visiting but here's a rough idea of what to bring: 

The laws and customs may be different too, so make sure you comply with these, a starting point of the following things will get you most of the way, but again check specific countries' laws: 

What to do if your car breaks down while travelling? 

Regardless of country, you should pull over into a safe place if possible, then evacuate all passengers to the side of the road, ideally a short distance from the carriageway and behind a barrier. 

What happens if my car breaks down in France? 

Move the car to a safe location if possible 

If your car still drives, getting off the carriageway will be far safer than obstructing it. Be careful not to block emergency exits and lanes on certain motorways. 

Ensure everyone is wearing their hi-viz vest, safely get everyone out of the car, and have all passengers move a little way from the road, ideally to behind a barrier. Do not stay inside, in front of or behind the car. 

If the car is obstructing the road, walk 150 metres behind the vehicle, still behind the barrier, and alert other drivers of the danger. 

At least 30 metres behind the car, place your warning triangle clearly visible on the ground directly behind the car. 

Use the orange boxes at the side of the road, or call 112 from your mobile phone. Describe your location as best you can. 

Finally, wait for help to come, ensuring all members of your party are out of the direct sun or are wearing adequate warm clothes, depending on conditions. 

What to do if my car breaks down in Spain? 

If possible, move your car to a safe location

Make sure to move your car off the carriageway, without blocking any exits.

Spain has similar laws to other countries in Europe regarding hi-vis vests and waiting outside your car, so be sure to have all passengers move away from the road, ideally to behind a barrier. Do not stay inside, in front of or behind the car. 

Place your warning triangle and warning light 

In Spain, it is the law to carry two warning triangles - place your warning triangle clearly visible on the ground, at least 30 metres back from your vehicle. 

Since January 2021, Spain also requires every car to have a ‘luz de emergencia V-16’, an 

 that should be placed on the roof of your car. Complete this as per the instructions on the device. 

Use the orange boxes at the side of the road, or call 112 from your mobile phone - this number works all across Europe. Describe your location as best you can. 

What to do if my car breaks down in Germany? 

If you can, move your car to a safe location. Leaving your car on the carriageway could be very dangerous.

Put on your hi-vis vest, ensuring every passenger has one too, and wait outside your car, be sure to have all passengers move away from the road, ideally to behind a barrier. Do not stay inside, in front of or behind the car. 

Place your warning triangle clearly visible on the ground, at least 30 metres back from your vehicle. 

Call 110 for the German emergency number, and they will be able to put you through to an English-speaking advisor. 

What to do if your car breaks down on a German autobahn

Because of the higher speed limit and potential danger on the German Autobahns, a dedicated service is established to tow you from the main carriageway to a designated safe zone. 

If you’ve broken down on the Autobahn, call from one of the roadside emergency telephones, and follow the arrows on signs beside the road to get to one. 

Once safely off the motorway, call the regular emergency number or your European Recovery service should you have one. 

Should I get a European breakdown cover before going to Europe? 

 of drivers' purchase breakdown cover driving in the UK, but many of these policies don't cover going abroad, or if they do, only in certain circumstances. Luckily there are short-term policies available through most breakdown companies. 

Does my UK breakdown cover me in Europe? 

Most common breakdown services such as the RAC and AA offer varying levels of coverage, including extras such as from-home recovery if your car fails to start, unlimited callouts etc, but be sure to check with the provider if yours includes cover whilst abroad. 

None of the Basic, Standard or Complete packages offered by both the 

 mentions any European cover, but both offer a year-long European cover option. 

This can be tailored to suit how much cover you need and in what specific countries you’ll be travelling to. 

Benefits of the European cover include a 24/7 English-speaking helpline, unlimited assistance to get your car to a garage, and the cost to transport your broken car back home.

If your current provider doesn’t offer roadside assistance in Europe, there are many companies offering short-term or one-trip cover that can be very reasonably priced. 

What to do once your car is recovered back to the UK 

 Have over 3,000 partner garages and repair centres around the UK, they also make it quick and easy to split the cost of your car’s repairs into monthly payments, all with no interest or fees. 

Apply to split your bill at 1,000s of dependable service partners nationwide.

 has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

What Happens if I Break Down Abroad? 

Shock absorbers play a crucial role in keeping your car safe and comfortable on the road, with the average replacement cost being £379. If your vehicle needs new ones, getting them replaced promptly is crucial to avoid more significant issues down the line.

In this guide, we’ll break down the shock absorber replacement cost in the UK, explain what shock absorbers do, and answer common questions so you feel confident before heading to a garage.

Continue reading to gain a clear understanding of the costs and what to expect from a shock absorber replacement.

How much does a shock absorber replacement cost?

The average cost of replacing shock absorbers in the UK is £379.

While costs generally range from £150 to £500, a full set typically averages £416 for the front pair and £321 for the rear.

The price varies greatly due to different car makes and models. If you need all four replaced, you also need to consider the labour cost from mechanics. You can use 

 services to split these costs into interest-free repayments.

A key factor that can affect the price of a shock absorber replacement is the manufacturer of your car. Here’s a quick overview of costs per common car brand.

Shock absorber replacement cost by UK region

The cost of replacing shock absorbers can vary across the UK, depending on location and garage rates. 

Here’s a breakdown of average prices in different cities. These figures include both parts and labour, and actual costs may vary depending on your vehicle and chosen garage.

In the UK, labour costs for replacing shock absorbers typically range from £60 to £120 per axle, depending on your garage and vehicle type. Naturally, straightforward jobs are quicker and cheaper.

How long does a shock absorber replacement take?

On average, garages take 1.5 to 4 hours to replace shock absorbers.

However, the time it takes for mechanics to replace shocks varies between car makes and models. Keep this average in mind when planning your repair.

Do I have to replace all four shock absorbers at once?

Typically, the front and rear shock absorbers are replaced together as this helps maintain reliable handling and a consistent response on both sides of the vehicle.

At the very least, they should be replaced in pairs, i.e the front shock absorbers and rear shocks.

Shock absorbers are an important part of your vehicle's suspension system. 

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