How Long Does a Catalytic Converter Last?

A catalytic converter should last between 70,000 and 100,000 miles, though this will vary depending on your driving habits.

How Long Does a Replacement Take?

A catalytic converter replacement takes about 1 to 2 hours, on average.

Catalytic Converter Cost

Replacing a catalytic converter is undoubtedly cheaper than buying a new car - and you can always find a great deal by comparing prices.

Read on and find out how much a catalytic converter replacement costs, why it costs so much, and when you should have yours replaced.

Page Contents

How Much Does a Catalytic Converter Cost in the UK?
Why Does a Catalytic Converter Cost So Much?
How Can I Keep the Cost of My Catalytic Converter Replacement Down?
FAQs

How Much Does a Catalytic Converter Cost in the UK?

An OEM catalytic converter replacement can cost anywhere from around £600 to £1,000, whilst a type-approved replacement can cost somewhere between £300 and £500.*

*Based on data taken from Bumper

Why Does a Catalytic Converter Cost So Much?

Catalytic converters are expensive because of the precious metals used to make the part.

The part uses precious metals like platinum, or platinum-like materials such as palladium and rhodium, as a catalyst.

These metals are hard to find and can be expensive.

As these prices continually fluctuate, it can be difficult to predict how much a catalytic converter will cost.

Your car needs to be lifted off the floor – something a mechanic may require specialist tools to do.

This means you may end up paying higher labour costs as this is a major job.

How Can I Keep the Cost of My Catalytic Converter Replacement Down?

The best way of keeping catalytic converter replacement costs down is by noticing exhaust problems early on.

If a warning light is illuminated on your dashboard, don’t ignore it for long.

You can preserve your catalytic converter and increase your changes of passing the MOT emissions test by acting fast.

You can book a catalytic converter replacement early on through BookMyGarage.

Browse and compare local garages to find the best price at a reputable garage in your area.

FAQs

27 replies to "How Much Does a Catalytic Converter Cost? (2026)"

Lili hunsaker

July 8th, 2019

Thanks, great information!

Cristina Sturzu

April 27th, 2021

Hello! My question is this "if I buy a van with euro4 or euro5 can I change the catalytic convertor with euro6? Thank you!

Drew Hickman

Hi Cristina, It is possible to make a diesel van meet the Euro 6 standard but I'm afraid it involves replacing more than just the catalytic convertor. If you just fitted a Euro 6 Cat to your vehicle you will likely find it will still not meet the 80mg/km limit. The limit for Euro 5 was 180mg/km, and Euro 4 was 250mg/km, this is a considerable drop in emissions to achieve. For Euro 5 to 6 you could consider a retrofit Selective Catalytic Reduction System (SCR) This includes: An SCR catalyst A Hydrolysis mixing section (A long piece of piping to promote removal of water from the AdBlue) AdBlue injectors (more than one may be required depending on the engine) A Control System (This controls the temperature pre and post catalyst and NOx output. This is how the adblue system works out volume to inject) For Euro 4 to 6 you would also need a diesel particulate filter. There are several companies that provide retrofit solutions to meet current Euro 6 standards but shop around as you could be looking in excess of £2500. Considering this extra expense, it's probably more worthwhile spending a little more money and buying a van that already meets the Euro 6 standard. Hope this helps, and don't hesitate to get back in touch if there's anything else we can help you with.

Sara Holland

June 2nd, 2021

Hi, My VW Golf (2008)has recently passed it's MOT but I've been told the flexi pipe to the catalytic converter is leaking slightly. They have advised I get the cat changed at a cost of £1,600. Is this reasonable? Many thanks

June 3rd, 2021

Hi Sara, If you just need a flexi-pipe replacement, these are quite inexpensive - you can find an aftermarket part for around £100 and ask a garage to just fit that. However, it could be that your catalytic converter is reaching the end of its life. Without knowing the condition of your 'cat' or the mileage of your car, £1,600 for a full replacement is a reasonable price. A catalytic converter has a lifespan of around 100,000 miles, so it may be that just replacing the flexi-pipe is not enough at this stage. Hope this helps :)

Bridgette L Brown

June 4th, 2021

Hey would you by any chance know how much a kia Sedona catalytic converter is worth

Hi Bridgette, Aftermarket catalytic converters for your Kia Sedona don't seem too expensive (between <strong>£70</strong> and <strong>£200</strong> from a motor factor) but it's hard to be more specific without knowing your vehicle's age and engine size. I would suggest that you contact some suppliers directly to get an accurate quote for your vehicle. Fortunately, the part doesn't seem too expensive for you :)

Jan Howard

August 12th, 2021

My 2012 motor home has only done 9,300 miles and I am told by the Citroen garage I need a catalytic converter. It is based on a Citroen Despatch.

August 13th, 2021

Hi Jan, Most manufacturers suggest that Catalytic convertors will last around 10 years. Of course, this can be less or more depending on the vehicle's use. Motorhomes are a wonderful thing to have but they often are not used regularly and so do not cover as many miles as a car. Your mileage is extremely low for a 9-year-old vehicle, which would suggest your driving habits fall within that category. Believe it or not, the more driving you do at motorway speeds, the better it is for your catalytic converter. In summary, without looking at your vehicle, it is very possible that this is required. I would ask the reason the replacement is necessary - I suspect it would be because the ash content has reached full (soot is burnt off as you drive and leaves ash behind). Let us know when you have a reason for the replacement being required and we are happy to comment further. :)

Dee

August 22nd, 2021

My catalytic converter was recently stolen from a honda crv registered in 2001/2002. Would you know how much it would cost to buy and replace it? Is it worth replacing considering the age of the car?

August 31st, 2021

Hi Dee, Very sorry to hear that you've suffered this theft! A catalytic converter is always worth replacing if you intend on keeping the car as it won't drive without it. I would suggest shopping around and trying to find an after market or reconditioned part given the age of your car. While this is still likely to cost a few hundred pounds, the good news is that you will be able to claim for this on your insurance as it was stolen. Just make sure you've reported the theft to your local constabulary and have the case reference number handy when you contact your insurance provider. Hope this helps and you get back on the road as quickly as possible!

Eileen

October 23rd, 2021

Hi Mandy, I have a 2016 (66) Ford Fiesta. It has done 25000 miles. Back in the summer a warning light came on and the garage diagnosed a problem with the catalytic converter and recommended a clean. He did this, I did the driving thing and all was well. Then a few weeks later and the light returned. The diagnostic again came up with catalytic converter so he changed the sensor. All was well for 5 weeks and then the light returned and P0420 code came up again. The man at the garage is surprised that a 2016 car with 25000 on the clock with one careful middle aged owner could need the CC replaced and suggested I check with the Ford dealer to see if there is a recall on this model. The Ford dealer said no and they would charge me £95 for a full diagnostic, but if the CC needs replacing that is only going to add to my hefty bill. Any ideas?

October 25th, 2021

Hi Eileen, I am very sorry to hear that you're having such problems with your Fiesta. The P0420 code can be caused by a range of reasons, and the garage must be sure that replacing the catalytic converter will cure the fault before they complete the job. As such, I can understand why Ford want to carry out a full diagnosis themselves before committing to the repair because they have not had the benefit of looking at the car before. It's a bit like asking a Doctor for a second opinion - they wouldn't want to complete the procedure that another Doctor has suggested without investigating for themselves. I am sure you can understand that Ford would need to charge for this, especially as a catalytic converter replacement is so expensive and complex. I'm afraid the only thing I can advise in this instance is to chat with your garage to ensure they have ruled out all other possibilities, such as: An exhaust leak from any of the pipes or the manifold Coolant temperature Oxygen sensor front or rear Wiring to any of the sensors A leaking fuel injector A Ford dealer will have all the latest diagnostic equipment and software, so you may wish to check that the garage which has looked at your car before does as well and was able to rule out all of the above. Hope this helps and you get your issue fixed quickly!

Nicola Highes

Hi mandy Would you be able to tell me how much (roughly) for a catalyic convertor for a ford transit 2014 plate would cost, ive just been quote 1160 for convertor, mot and mechanics time to replace, is this a reasonable price. Thanks Nicky

October 26th, 2021

Hi Nicky, Catalytic converters can be very expensive, but this price does seem reasonable at face value. However, it's worth doing your homework before agreeing to a quote - especially one that expensive! We would recommend calling your local Ford dealer's parts department, giving them your vehicle reg and asking for the price of a catalytic converter. Then, call a local Motor Factor or use some online price checkers by entering your vehicle reg. Once you have an idea of the rough price of the part, you can work out the labour cost. It should take around 2 hours to replace a Transit's catalytic converter, so you can decide whether the quoted labour price seems fair. You can also request a quote from another local garage in your area through our online comparison site by selecting General Repair and choosing the best deal. Hope this helps you get the best deal on your repair!

Craig Bell

November 24th, 2021

Hi,ive got a 64 plate citroen ds3, my engine warning light has come on and after a diagnostic been told its the cat or the sensors. We had both sensors changed at a cost of £300,rather than straight in for a replacement cat but the warning lights back on. If we have it replaced can we still use the new sensors and is another £300 including fitting reasonable...thanks.

November 25th, 2021

Hi Craig, The sensors you refer to don't come with a new catalytic converter, so you can still use the new sensors with a replacement cat. Just get the garage to refit them when you book a catalytic converter replacement. £300 for a new part and fitting costs is extremely cheap. On this information alone, I would question the quality of the product. Is it a reconditioned or second-hand part? If so, you may want to think again about having it fitted to your vehicle. Hope this helps!

Jan

December 17th, 2021

Hi, my catalyst converter has been stolen. I need a replacement fitted. Can you recommend anyone. It’s a Toyota Auris Hybrid 2018, 1.8 l

December 20th, 2021

Hi Jan, That's awful to hear! Before you start thinking about a repair, I would recommend that you contact the Police to record the theft and get a crime number. This will help the police tackle the issue (as there are likely to be other thefts in the area) and it also allows you to claim this repair on your insurance. As long as you can show a valid crime number, your insurance company will likely organise and pay for the repair. I would do those two steps before thinking about booking an appointment. Once you've contacted your insurer, they will likely have a preferred repairer as well, so you won't have to worry about finding a garage near you. Hope this helps and that you get the issue resolved quickly!

David Huggett

November 21st, 2023

Hi I have a 2019 Citroen Berlingo which has a intermittent fault with engine light coming on saying I have adblue fault and counts down usually every 600 miles they have advised it’s the catalytic converter is this possible cause

Eve McPherson

Hi David, You need to take the vehicle to an authorised Citroen dealer as there could be a number of faults causing the EML to come on. What is the driveability of the vehicle like? Have you topped up the AdBlue up correctly? There could be a connection fault with the EML or the sensor, etc. Due to the age of the vehicle, it may be best to visit a main franchise dealer so that they can carry out a diagnostic check for you. Hope this helps!

Jairo

August 25th, 2022

Hi Drew, I'm on my second cat theft in 10 months on my 2008 e90 BMW 318i. Last year my garage was quoting me close to £3000 for the repair. Are they deliberately pricing themselves out of the job? Also do you know if a car can have this type of repair carried out twice or does the damage from one repair prohibit this? Many many thanks

August 26th, 2022

Hi Jairo, That's awful, I'm so sorry to hear you've had it stolen twice in 10 months! I can't imagine that any garage would want to price themselves out of a job - perhaps they're quoting you for a genuine BMW part and/or they charge a high labour rate per hour? Either way, if you want to go looking for another garage to get a quote, I'd suggest entering your reg and postcode into our online comparison site and seeing which garages are available near you. With regards to your second point, the repair can be done infinitely (so doing it a second time isn't going to have a huge impact) but the more often you do it, the more chance that other parts of the exhaust system will break (e.g. exhaust manifold studs). Hope this helps!

Simone

October 21st, 2022

Hi, I’ve only just bought a 65 plate fiesta 1litre boost with 90,000 miles on clock. The EML has come on and the diagnostic is saying it’s the CC. Would you know if this is covered under warranty? Or could I give car back under the consumer act 30 days short term right to reject?

Graham Russell

February 2nd, 2025

Hi I have a 2009 Peugeot 207 verve only done 52000 miles in excellent condition but anti pollution fault coming up, and car misfiring, could this be the catalytic converter needing replaced.

February 5th, 2025

Hi Graham, It’s possible that the catalytic converter could be the culprit, especially if you’re experiencing the "anti-pollution fault" message and misfiring. However, there are other potential causes like faulty spark plugs, ignition coils, or oxygen sensors. It might be a good idea to get a diagnostic scan done to pinpoint the exact issue. Sometimes, the misfiring could be from something simpler like the ignition system, and not necessarily the catalytic converter. A scan should give you a clearer picture and help you avoid unnecessary repairs. Hope this helps!