How to Book a Brake Pad Replacement Near You

1. Enter your vehicle reg and postcode.
2. Compare deals. You can sort garages in your area by whatever best suits your needs: price, distance, reviews and ratings or availability.
3. Pick a date and time for your appointment.

After you book your brake pad replacement, we send you a confirmation email with a summary of your booking. We also inform the garage and they may also be in touch to confirm the appointment or to ask for extra details.

You never pay for your booking until after all the work has been completed and deal with the garage directly after the initial booking process. You also have the ability to change or cancel your booking for free until the day of your appointment.

Why Choose BookMyGarage For Your Brake Pad Replacement?

We have helped over 5 million drivers compare and save on their MOT, servicing and repair costs at local garages. In fact, when you compare garages near you through our online comparison site, you can save up to 70% when you choose one of the lower-cost options!

As one of the UK’s leading MOT and service comparison sites, we’re dedicated to helping drivers save money on their car maintenance. Here are just some of the ways we keep you in control of getting your brake pads fitted:

Transparent Prices. Garages on our comparison site always set and update their own prices, so there are no nasty surprises at the end of your appointment. This price won’t change unless you agree to extra repairs directly with the garage.

Honest Reviews & Ratings. See what like-minded drivers have to say about every garage on our comparison site to help inform your decision. Always unfiltered and unedited for transparency.

Filter Garages Your Way. Whether you want to book the cheapest brake pad replacement near you or care more about the garage’s reviews, we’ve got you covered. You can filter your search results by price, reviews & ratings, distance, availability and additional services to find the best deal for your needs.

Compare deals and save up to 70% on your car maintenance when you choose one of the lower-cost options through BookMyGarage. Enter your vehicle reg and postcode to compare instant prices on your brake pads replacement and book the best deal today.

How Are Brake Pads Fitted?

The process of fitting front and rear brake pads is identical and fairly straightforward. Pads are fitted directly to callipers, their friction material almost touching that of the brake disc. This makes it easy for your car to push the brake pads into the brake discs to create friction, overcoming the power of the engine to slow your car down.

To fit a brake pad, a technician will unscrew the calliper to ensure it's out of the way and then slide out the old brake pad. A fresh one then slides into the same gap and is secured by retaining clips. Then, the pistons in the calliper (how brake fluid reaches the brake assembly) are reset. This is done so that they clear the fresh brake pads and sit in the correct place (as there is far more friction material on a new brake pad vs a worn one).

This process is much easier than a brake disc replacement, which is why most technicians recommend replacing brake pads and discs at the same time. It only adds a little extra labour time and saves drivers from completely doubling down on the repair cost.

How Often to Replace Brake Pads?

Brake pads usually last between 25,000 and 60,000 miles, depending on your driving style. This means that you should end up replacing them less often if you brake gently and sensibly at all times. 

However, most manufacturers recommend different intervals for brake pad replacements which can be found in your vehicle handbook. Some modern cars also have a brake pad warning light which illuminates when they wear down to a certain level. If you see this warning light, it's a sure sign that you need to get new brake pads fitted as soon as possible.

How Can I Tell If My Brake Pads Need Changing?

There are several warning signs which indicate that your car needs new brake pads. These include:

• A persistent squeaking, grinding or squealing sound.
• Your car doesn't slow down as quickly
• Your car pulls to one side under braking
• Vibrations in the brake pedal
• You can push the brake pedal all the way to the floor
• A dashboard warning light

If you notice any of these issues, you must book an appointment to replace your brake pads as soon as possible.

How To Tell Which Brake Pads Need Changing

Usually, it is your front brake pads that need replacing as your car's weight is transferred forwards under braking. This puts more strain on the front rotors and pads and causes them to wear down quicker.

That being said, rear brake pads can also wear quickly because they are much thinner as they usually deal with less force. If your car has electronic stability control (ESC) or traction control, you can accelerate rear brake pad wear.

There are a few ways you can determine which brake pads need replacing:

Visual inspection. The easiest way is to have a look at your brake pads through your tyres. Once you compare your front and rear pads, you can decide which one looks more worn down and replace these.

Squeaking noise. If your brakes are squeaking, try and work out if the squeak is happening at the front or rear of your car. If you can, this will help you pinpoint the pads you need to change.

Car is pulling to one side under braking. This indicates that one of your front brake pads is more worn than the other. Uneven pad wear usually means there is another issue with the brake assembly, but the pads still need replacing.

If you're struggling to work out which of your brake pads need replacing, book a FREE Visual Inspection at one of our UK garages to have a professional find the problem for you. They will then provide a transparent quote for the necessary repair work and you never pay a penny until they complete the job.

What is the Average Price of Replacing Brake Pads in the UK?

We compared prices on Eurocarpatrts and Halfords for these popular UK models to work out how much brake pads cost, on average. The following prices do NOT include labour costs or anything else associated with fitting these parts.

As of March 2022, the average cost of a front brake pad replacement booked through our online comparison site was £128.19. A rear pad replacement cost £117.25 on average.

FAQs

Can You Drive With Worn-Out Brake Pads?

We don't recommend driving with worn-out brake pads. If you suspect that yours are worn, you should replace them as soon as possible.

Not only is it dangerous to keep driving with worn brake pads, it will also lead to an MOT failure. You also risk damaging other brake parts, causing a more expensive repair in the long run. As a result, we strongly recommend replacing your brake pads as soon as you notice that they're worn.

What Does a Worn Brake Pad Sound Like?

A worn brake pad generally makes a screeching, squealing or grinding noise. It is usually quite loud and persistent. If you one of these noises every time you brake, it is very likely the wear indicator is rubbing against the brake disc. This indicates that your brake pads have no friction material left and aren't slowing your car down efficiently.

Should I Replace All My Brake Pads At Once?

There is no need to replace all four brake pads at once if you don't need to.

However, you should always replace brake pads in pairs to avoid uneven wear and to maximise performance and safety. We strongly recommend against just changing one brake pad at a time as this can lead to other issues, such as your car pulling to one side under braking.

How Often Do I Need to Change Rear Brake Pads?

Rear brake pads may only need to be replaced every 40,000 - 50,000 miles as they usually take less of the strain during the braking process. However, it could be anywhere between 25,000 and 60,000 miles, depending on your make and model and driving style.

Consult your vehicle handbook for a more specific recommendation for your car.

Why Do My Rear Brake Pads Wear Faster Than Front Pads?

Rear brake pads can wear faster than front pads in modern cars, mainly those fitted with driver assistance features. These include cruise control, stability control, hill start assist and automatic start-stop. 

Rear brake pads can also wear faster if there is a fault in the assembly. Commonly, this is a fault with the handbrake, discs, callipers or the brake pads themselves.

How to Make Brake Pads Last Longer

Aggressive braking is often the main contributor to accelerated brake wear. Some things you can change to increase the lifespan of your brake pads include:

• Driving under the speed limit. This means you have to brake less in order to slow your car down and avoid the need for heavy braking.
• Anticipate upcoming hazards and traffic. This allows you to slow down gradually and steadily, avoiding the need to slam the brakes on.
• Remove unnecessary weight. Driving around with a fully laden car puts unnecessary weight on the brake pads, putting them under more strain. This can cause them to wear faster.