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.
Price basis: figures are shown as the named sources publish them. Where a source states whether VAT is included we say so; where it does not, treat the figure as indicative and ask for a VAT-inclusive quote. Garages often quote without VAT, so 20% may be added to the bill. We label estimates, marketplace averages and real invoices separately — why that distinction matters.
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.