Typical UK air con prices
The critical question is which refrigerant your car uses. Cars registered from around 2017 onwards generally use R1234yf, which is several times more expensive than the older R134a.
| Job | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| R134a regas (most cars before 2017) | £50 to £90 |
| R1234yf regas (most cars from 2017) | £120 to £250 |
| Air con service with anti-bacterial clean | £90 to £180 |
| Leak detection with dye or sniffer | £50 to £120 |
| Condenser replacement | £250 to £600 |
| Compressor replacement | £450 to £1,200 |
| Pollen or cabin filter change | £25 to £70 |
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What affects the cost
Refrigerant type
R1234yf costs the garage far more per kilo than R134a, and that is the single biggest reason newer cars cost two to three times as much to regas.
Whether there is a leak
A regas on a leaking system is money thrown away. A proper garage will pressure test first and quote for the leak, most often a corroded condenser or a tired O-ring.
Equipment and gas recovery
Legally the old gas has to be recovered, not vented. Garages with modern dual-gas machines charge more than a basic setup, but the job is done properly.
Extras bundled in
Some quotes include a vacuum test, oil and dye, cabin filter and an anti-bacterial clean. Compare like for like rather than headline price.
Signs your air con needs attention
- The air is cool but not properly cold, especially in traffic.
- It takes far longer than it used to before cold air arrives.
- A musty or damp smell when you first switch the fan on.
- You can hear the compressor clutch clicking on and off frequently.
- Windows demist much more slowly than they used to.
How to pay a fair price
Run your air con for ten minutes at least once a fortnight, even in winter. It keeps the seals lubricated and helps avoid the leaks that turn a £70 regas into a £500 condenser job. Always ask a garage to leak test before regassing an older car.
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