How much does it cost to replace the brake pads?
The usual is about 115 € for a family hatchback, and 65 € to 210 € 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
Cheap65 €Typical95 €Expensive135 €Medium
Family hatchbacks and small SUVs
Cheap80 €Typical115 €Expensive160 €Large
Compact SUVs, saloons and large SUVs
Cheap100 €Typical150 €Expensive210 €
- 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
Set of front-axle pads.
| Car size | Labour hours | Labour | Parts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 0,7 h | 31–63 € | 35–70 € |
| Medium | 0,8 h | 36–72 € | 45–90 € |
| Large | 0,9 h | 41–81 € | 60–130 € |
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
- Between 30.000 and 60.000 km (RACE). Minimum thickness 2 mm (DGT).
- Brakes with regenerative braking: Pads and discs last up to twice as long as in a combustion car (RACE).
Sources:RACE 2020 (opens in a new tab)DGT 2016 (opens in a new tab)RACE 2023 (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: 0,7 h on a supermini and 0,9 h on a compact SUV.
- Where you live. Depending on the region, the same job varies by up to 25%: cheapest, Canarias; most expensive, País Vasco.
- If the discs are due too. The RACE advises replacing the discs every second set of pads; discs and pads together cost about 285 € on a family hatchback.
- The engine. With regenerative braking (electric cars and hybrids), pads and discs last up to twice as long (RACE).
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 | 70 € | 100 € | 145 € |
| Navarra | 70 € | 105 € | 145 € |
| Galicia | 75 € | 105 € | 150 € |
| Andalucía | 75 € | 105 € | 150 € |
| Cantabria | 75 € | 110 € | 150 € |
| Región de Murcia | 75 € | 110 € | 155 € |
| Asturias | 80 € | 110 € | 155 € |
| Castilla y León | 80 € | 115 € | 160 € |
| Castilla-La Mancha | 80 € | 115 € | 160 € |
| Extremadura | 80 € | 115 € | 165 € |
| Illes Balears | 80 € | 115 € | 165 € |
| Aragón | 85 € | 120 € | 165 € |
| Cataluña | 85 € | 120 € | 165 € |
| Comunitat Valenciana | 85 € | 120 € | 165 € |
| Comunidad de Madrid | 85 € | 120 € | 165 € |
| País Vasco | 85 € | 125 € | 175 € |
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 (115 €).
Other garage jobs
- Service with oil and filtersAbout 135 € for a family hatchback
- Timing belt kitAbout 460 € for a family hatchback
- ClutchAbout 605 € 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 brake pads?+
The usual is about 115 € with VAT on a family hatchback: from 80 € at a local garage to 160 € at the main dealer. On a supermini, about 95 €; on a compact SUV, about 150 €. These are estimated prices from our garage guide: always ask for a written quote.
How often are brake pads replaced?+
Between 30.000 and 60.000 km (RACE). They must be at least 2 mm thick (DGT).
Do the discs need replacing too?+
Not every time: the RACE advises replacing the discs every second set of pads. Front discs and pads together cost about 285 € on a family hatchback.
Is the price for all four wheels?+
No: it's the set of pads for the front axle, with about 0,8 h of labour on a family hatchback.
Do brakes last longer on a hybrid or an electric car?+
Yes: with regenerative braking, pads and discs can last up to twice as long as on a combustion car (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 25%: cheapest, Canarias; most expensive, País Vasco.