Last updated: July 2026 — every figure on this page was checked against the named UK sources on 8 July 2026.
A head gasket replacement averages £721 in the UK and can pass £2,000 on hard cases — and unlike a clutch, the repair does not always restore the car’s full value. This is the failure where scrapping most often wins.
The deciding factor is not the gasket — it is what the overheating did to the engine before you stopped.
What the repair side costs
| Figure | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UK average | £721 | FixMyCar and RAC |
| UK average / range | £750 (£500–£1,000) | ClickMechanic |
| Full range incl. complex engines | £550–£1,700 | Bumper |
| Hard cases | £500–£2,000+ | ClickMechanic |
The gasket itself can cost £20 (Bumper); the bill is 8–10+ hours of labour stripping the top of the engine (ClickMechanic), plus mandatory head bolts, oil, filter and coolant. The escalation risk: if the head is warped and needs skimming or replacing, or the overheating damaged more, quotes head towards £2,000 — on many cars, more than the car is worth.
Why the sources themselves say “consider scrapping”
This is the one job where every pricing source hedges: ClickMechanic notes the repair can exceed the car’s value, “which usually means it’s the end of the road for the vehicle”; Checkatrade says mechanics may suggest scrapping lower-value cars rather than repairing; Bumper says the same for older, heavily worn engines. Treat those warnings as data.
The decision in three questions
- Was it caught early? A gasket replaced before serious overheating is a normal repair. A cooked engine is not — ask for a compression or leak-down test on all cylinders and a head inspection before authorising anything.
- Does the quote pass the 50–60% rule? Insurers write off at half to two-thirds of value (AA; RAC’s example uses 60%). A £900 gasket job on a £1,800 car is at the line — and gasket quotes grow more often than they shrink.
- What is the exit worth? Average scrap payout is £279 (CarTakeBack, June 2026); a non-running car with a blown gasket can also sell to trade or as a Cat N-style project for somewhat more.
Worked examples
A £5,000 Qashqai with an early-caught gasket failure and a £750 quote: 15% of value — repair. The same car after repeated overheating, quote of £1,600 with a possible head skim on top: you are gambling a third of the car’s value on the engine having no further damage — many would sell it as-is. A £1,500 car with any gasket quote: £700+ against £1,500 fails the 60% test before the first surprise; scrap or sell for parts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with a blown head gasket while I decide?
No — coolant and combustion gases mixing cause progressive overheating and can warp the head, turning a £721 job into an engine replacement. Park it and decide with the car stationary.
How do I know the engine survived?
Ask for a compression or leak-down test across all cylinders and an inspection of the head for warping. A garage that quotes without testing is quoting the best case, not your case.
Are head gasket sealer products worth trying?
On a low-value car heading for scrap anyway, a bottle sealer is a cheap last roll of the dice for minor seepage — but it is not a repair, and no pricing source treats it as one. Do not use it to postpone the decision on a car you intend to keep.
What will a scrapyard pay for a car with a blown gasket?
Scrap value is weight-based, so the fault barely matters: £200–£279 on current UK averages, more for heavier cars. Selling to a trade buyer as a repairable non-runner usually beats scrap if the body and history are good.
Related guides
- Is my car worth repairing? The 60% rule
- Nissan Qashqai head gasket repair cost
- Gearbox failure: repair or scrap?
Sources: FixMyCar head gasket guide, the RAC, ClickMechanic, Checkatrade, Bumper and CarTakeBack, all checked 8 July 2026. See how we verify prices.