Compare Cambelt Replacement Costs

How Much Does a Cambelt Change Cost?

A cambelt change typically costs between £300 and £700, although your price will heavily depend on your car.

Simpler engines sit towards the lower end of the range, while some premium models can cost significantly more.

As it’s one of the pricier repair jobs your car can need, comparing prices before you book makes such a big difference to securing the best value cambelt change near you.

What Affects the Cost of a Timing Belt Replacement?

Labour is the biggest part of the bill. On some engines the belt sits right at the front (making the job a fairly straightforward one), while on others the garage must remove engine mounts and several other parts just to reach it.

The main things that make a cambelt change more expensive are:

• Your make, model and engine. Engine layout decides how long the job takes, and some cars need special tools to lock the engine timing in place.

• The parts kit. Most garages fit a full kit (belt, tensioner and idler pulleys) rather than the belt alone, since a worn pulley can wreck a brand new belt.

• The water pump. On many engines the cambelt also drives the water pump. As they sit behind the same covers, many garages often recommend replacing your water pump and cambelt together. It adds a little to the parts cost but saves paying for the same labour twice if the pump fails later.

• Your garage and location. Hourly labour rates vary across the UK and between independent garages and dealers.

Why Book with BookMyGarage?

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*Some mobile technicians (that come out to you) may require an upfront payment or commitment, please check this with them first.

These are just some of the reasons to choose BookMyGarage — enter your reg and postcode to compare garages near you and book your cambelt change with confidence.

Warning Signs Your Cambelt Needs Replacing

Your cambelt, also called a timing belt, keeps your engine's crankshaft and camshaft turning in time with each other.

Any of the following warning signs can indicate it's time for a replacement:

• Squealing or ticking noises coming from the engine

• Rough idling or misfiring

• Difficulty starting the engine

Some warning signs can have other causes, for instance a squealing noise may come from the auxiliary belt rather than the cambelt.

Cambelts can sometimes fail with no warning at all, which is why sticking to your replacement schedule is so important.

What Happens If Your Cambelt Snaps?

If the cambelt breaks while you’re driving, the engine will stop straight away as there’s nothing left to synchronise the camshaft and the crankshaft.

However, on many engines the damage doesn’t end there: the belt keeps the pistons and valves moving in perfect time, and once it’s gone they can collide, bending valves and sometimes damaging the pistons or cylinder head. Repairing that kind of damage can cost far more than the cambelt change would have, and on older cars it can mean the engine isn’t worth fixing.

If your belt is overdue a replacement, it’s best not to put it off – otherwise you can turn an expensive but manageable repair into a car killer.

How Long Does a Cambelt Last?

Depending on your vehicle's make and model, as well as your driving habits, a cambelt may need to be replaced anywhere between the 40,000 and 100,000 mile mark, or every 4 to 6 years, whichever comes first.

Your vehicle handbook will be able to tell you what your manufacturer suggests. Your garage will also advise on it as part of every car service booked through BookMyGarage.

The time limit matters as much as the mileage. A cambelt is made from rubber, and rubber hardens and cracks with age even if the car hardly moves, so a low-mileage car that’s eight years old can be more overdue than a four-year-old high-mileage one.

Cambelt, Timing Chain or Wet Belt: What's the Difference?

Not every car uses a traditional cambelt to keep its engine in time. There are three main systems, and each needs looking after slightly differently:

• Cambelt (timing belt). A toothed rubber belt that runs dry behind a protective cover. It needs replacing at the age or mileage interval your manufacturer sets, whichever comes first.

• Timing chain. A metal chain that sits inside the engine and relies on the engine oil. Timing chains generally last longer than cambelts, but they can still wear or stretch over time, so regular oil changes with the correct oil help look after them.

• Wet belt. A type of cambelt that runs inside the engine in the engine oil, rather than dry behind a cover. Wet belts are only fitted to certain engines. As the belt sits in the oil, using the correct specification of engine oil and keeping to your servicing schedule is especially important. Like a conventional cambelt, it should be replaced at the manufacturer's age or mileage interval, whichever comes first.

If you’re not sure whether your car uses a cambelt, wet belt or even a timing chain,  there’s no need to worry as your chosen garage will know what part your car needs. What’s more, every instant price we show is based on your specific vehicle, so the price you see is the price you pay (unless you agree to additional work with the garage directly) – so it won’t change if it turns out you need a new wet belt rather than a new cambelt.

Book Your Cambelt Change Before It's Due

Better to have your cambelt checked before it can snap and cause engine damage, so be sure to book in at the appropriate intervals or if you notice any unusual vehicle behaviour.

Booking a cambelt change takes a fraction of the time the job itself does, and getting it done on schedule is one of the simplest ways to look after your engine for years to come.

Compare garages including BMG-Verified garages near you by price, reviews and availability, then book online in seconds with nothing to pay until the work's done.