Average Cost of an Oil Change UK 2024

A typical oil change in the UK costs close to £113, but prices can range from £60 up to £200 or more from the national repair chains and independents—but some dealers charge multiples of this! Below we'll discuss this and the many factors affecting the price of an oil change—as well as what to consider before signing up for the cheapest oil change you can find.

Learn what affects the cost of an oil change so you understand why you might need to pay more to have your car running smoothly.

Average Cost of an Oil Change in the UK

To figure out how much an oil change typically costs, we contacted dozens of car repair shops around the UK to get quotes for three popular UK cars: Ford Fiesta, Mercedes Benz A Class and Audi A3. The results showed a wide range of prices from £60 up to over £200, so learning about oil change costs can help you find a quality oil change at the right price depending on your situation.

In particular, prices will vary depending on the engine size of your car, the service centre you use and where you live. For example, oil changes for cars with larger engines typically cost more because they require more oil and it can take longer to drain the larger volume of oil, raising labour costs.

We found that an oil change for a 1.0 litre Ford Fiesta costs around £100, a 1.5 litre Mercedes Benz A Class will set you back around £115 and a 2.0 litre Audi A3 costs £125 on average—as you can see, cars with larger engines need more expensive oil changes.

Location is another factor. For example, those living in London will pay around 17% more for an oil change than those in Manchester and Glasgow.

No matter how much you pay for an oil change, there are four components that make up the cost of an oil change: the oil, a new filter, oil disposal and labour.

For information on the cost of a general car service, which may include an oil change, please see our related articles on car service costs.

Reader report: exorbitant oil change prices from some dealers

A reader contacted us to report the quote he has received from a Porsche dealer for his 2021 Cayenne with 10,000 miles—he is being charged a whopping £580! This is apparently for 7 litres of Mobil 1 (£12 per litre + £11 for the filter should = £95, plus labour). The change takes 2 hours, most of which is allowing the oil to drain.

The car owner has priced the same oil change at Halford's and been quoted £174.99.

Go to Halford's, right? Not so fast.

It seems that the customer has no choice but to get an authorized stamp for the service from a dealer—for warranty purposes. So he essentially has no choice but to pay the exorbitant price being charged by the dealer. We've reached out for comment from Porsche to understand their warranty terms and how they justify charging 3.3X the market price for a pretty standard service, and will update this article with their response if we receive one.

Have you had a similar experience with a dealer charing excessive rates, and being forced to pay that in order to maintain your warranty? Please let us know in the comments section below.

Why do I pay for oil disposal?

Oil needs to be disposed of properly—it cannot simply be poured down the drain or put in the rubbish. If you're changing your own oil, take the used motor oil to a local authority recycling centre.

Should I get a cheap oil change?

Beware of an exceptionally cheap oil change. A shop that offers a below-market price is likely to be cutting corners, either using lower-quality oil or not replacing the filter. Keep in mind that a good quality oil and filter will cost around £40 for the average car requiring 5 litres of oil, and you should also be paying for labour costs on top of that.

Book an oil change near me

To find a good price for an oil and filter change near you, be sure to check prices before you book. You can do so with our partner ClickMechanic below:

How Much Oil Does Your Car Take?

Generally speaking, the amount of oil required by your car depends on the size of the engine—with bigger engines requiring more oil. For instance, a 2.0 litre Audi Q5 requires more oil than a 1.0 litre Ford Fiesta. However, the average car needs around 5.0 litres of oil. There may be variation within a specific make and model of car, as there are typically different options for engine size.

How Much Does Motor Oil Cost?

The average cost of 5 litres of oil, enough for a typical oil change, is around £46 (roughly £36 on the low end up to £55 on the high end) for the most popular UK motor oil brands. This is up from an average of £32 just two years ago.

Is an Oil Change Covered by Insurance?

Motor insurance, whether your use a small or a large insurance company, does not cover the cost of car maintenance expenses such as oil changes. These are the owner's full responsibility—and we should note that most car insurance policies require you to maintain your car in a roadworthy condition and ensure it is safe to drive, so you should make sure your car gets oil changes as required.

Note: the prices in this article were gathered in May 2023.