How much does it cost to replace the timing belt kit?
The usual is about 460 € for a family hatchback, and 275 € to 830 € depending on the car, the garage and the province, VAT included. These are estimates from our garage guide, not a quote.
Price by car size
Spain average, VAT included.
Small
City cars and superminis
Cheap275 €Typical365 €Expensive510 €Medium
Family hatchbacks and small SUVs
Cheap340 €Typical460 €Expensive640 €Large
Compact SUVs, saloons and large SUVs
Cheap435 €Typical595 €Expensive830 €
- Cheap Local garage, equivalent parts
- Typical Chain or independent multi-brand garage
- Expensive Main dealer, original parts
Approximate price: typical labour hours × the garage's hourly rate + parts, adjusted to your area. Always ask for a written quote.
What's included
What you pay for
Belt, tensioners and water pump. If your engine has a timing chain, it isn't replaced routinely.
| Car size | Labour hours | Labour | Parts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 3,2 h | 144–288 € | 130–220 € |
| Medium | 4 h | 180–360 € | 160–280 € |
| Large | 5 h | 225–450 € | 210–380 € |
With VAT, Spain average. Labour goes from 45 € an hour at a local garage to 90 € at the main dealer. The cheap price adds the cheapest hourly rate and the cheapest parts; the usual one, 60 € an hour and mid-priced parts; the expensive one, the main dealer's rate and the most expensive parts.
How often
How often it's done
- Timing belt: Between 100.000 and 150.000 km or at 10 years, whichever comes first (DGT, RACE).
- Timing chain: It isn't replaced routinely: normally not before 250.000 km (DGT).
Sources:DGT 2021 (opens in a new tab)RACE 2022 (opens in a new tab)RACE 2023 (opens in a new tab)
These are typical intervals, not your model's: its maintenance book has the final say. See what your car is due
Cheaper or dearer
What the price depends on
- The garage. An hour costs about 45 € at a local garage, 60 € at a chain or multi-brand garage and 90 € at the main dealer, which also fits original parts.
- Car size. The bigger the car, the more labour hours and the dearer the parts: 3,2 h on a supermini and 5 h on a compact SUV.
- Where you live. Depending on the region, the same job varies by up to 22%: cheapest, Canarias; most expensive, País Vasco.
- The engine. If it has a timing chain instead of a belt, there's no kit to replace at set intervals: normally not before 250.000 km (DGT).
- Putting it off. If the belt snaps, the DGT warns that the repair will be costly.
By area
Price by region
For a family hatchback, VAT included, from the cheapest region to the most expensive. You can pick your province above.
| Region (comunidad autónoma) | Cheap | Typical | Expensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canarias | 300 € | 405 € | 565 € |
| Navarra | 305 € | 410 € | 575 € |
| Galicia | 310 € | 420 € | 585 € |
| Andalucía | 310 € | 420 € | 585 € |
| Cantabria | 315 € | 430 € | 595 € |
| Región de Murcia | 320 € | 435 € | 605 € |
| Asturias | 330 € | 445 € | 615 € |
| Castilla y León | 330 € | 450 € | 625 € |
| Castilla-La Mancha | 330 € | 450 € | 625 € |
| Extremadura | 345 € | 465 € | 645 € |
| Illes Balears | 345 € | 470 € | 650 € |
| Aragón | 345 € | 470 € | 650 € |
| Cataluña | 345 € | 470 € | 655 € |
| Comunitat Valenciana | 345 € | 470 € | 655 € |
| Comunidad de Madrid | 350 € | 475 € | 660 € |
| País Vasco | 365 € | 495 € | 685 € |
The difference between regions comes from Tallerator's average quotes (Autofácil, 2014), smoothed because the sample is old and small: take it as a rough guide. There's no data for Ceuta, La Rioja, and Melilla, so the Spain average is used (460 €).
Other garage jobs
- Service with oil and filtersAbout 135 € for a family hatchback
- ClutchAbout 605 € for a family hatchback
- Front brake padsAbout 115 € for a family hatchback
- Front brake discs and padsAbout 285 € for a family hatchback
- 4 tyres fittedAbout 400 € for a family hatchback
- 12 V batteryAbout 175 € for a family hatchback
- Front shock absorbersAbout 345 € for a family hatchback
- Air conditioning rechargeAbout 105 € for a family hatchback
- Electric car serviceAbout 85 € for a family hatchback
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace the timing belt kit?+
The usual is about 460 € with VAT on a family hatchback: from 340 € at a local garage to 640 € at the main dealer. On a supermini, about 365 €; on a compact SUV, about 595 €. These are estimated prices from our garage guide: always ask for a written quote.
How often is the timing belt replaced?+
Between 100.000 and 150.000 km or at 10 years, whichever comes first (DGT, RACE). What your engine's maintenance book says comes first.
What does the timing belt kit include?+
The belt, the tensioners and the water pump, with about 4 h of labour on a family hatchback. The parts cost 160 € to 280 €.
What happens if the timing belt snaps?+
The repair will be costly, as the DGT warns. That's why it's worth replacing it on time and not pushing your luck.
How do I know if my car has a timing belt or a chain?+
It's in the service book. If you don't have it, ask at an official dealer for your brand. It depends on the engine, not the model: the same car can have a belt with one engine and a chain with another. Hybrids usually have a chain (RACE).
Why does the price vary so much between garages?+
Mainly because of the hourly rate: about 45 € at a local garage, 60 € at a chain or multi-brand garage and 90 € at the main dealer, which also fits original parts. It also varies by region, by up to 22%: cheapest, Canarias; most expensive, País Vasco.