How much does a windscreen replacement cost in the UK?
The cost of a windscreen replacement can vary significantly depending on several key factors. In general, prices in the UK typically range from £150 to £1,000, but some high-end vehicles or complex jobs can exceed this. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what affects the cost:
Vehicle Make and model
Luxury or high-performance vehicles (e.g., BMW, Audi, Land Rover, Tesla) often have more expensive windscreens due to the need for:
- Specially curved glass
- Built-in technology (e.g. Heated, HUD, sensors, cameras, tints and other various built in features)
- Common vehicles (e.g., Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa) have more readily available, cheaper parts.
Example: Replacing a windscreen on a base model Ford Focus might cost £200–£300, while a Range Rover Evoque could be £600–£900.
Windscreen Specification and Features
Modern windscreens are more than just glass. They may include:
- Heated elements (for defrosting)
- Rain/light sensors
- Cameras (for lane assist, auto-braking, etc.)
- Acoustic dampening layers
- Heads-up display (HUD) projection surfaces
- Tinted or UV-filtered glass
Each feature increases cost due to the need for:
- OEM (original equipment manufacturer) quality
- Less availability on parts nationwide (lower supplier availability means a higher purchase price)
- Precise installation
Labour and Job Complexity
Labour costs range from £50 to £150+, depending on:
- Workshop vs. mobile service (mobile is often more expensive).
- Time required (a simple job might take 1 hour, complex ones 2–4 hours).
- Special tools or sealants required for bonded glass.
- Customer requested timeframe (tighter timeframes means less flexibility to carry out other work).
- Unsociable hours and out of hour callouts.
- The size of the job, big windscreens require 2 people and therefore additional costs.
Luxury vehicles often require more complex disassembly and reassembly, pushing costs up.
Availability of the Windscreen
- In-stock glass is cheaper and quicker to replace.
- Special order parts (especially for rare or imported models) can cost more and take days/weeks to arrive.
- Aftermarket vs. OEM: Aftermarket windscreens are cheaper, made to the same specifications and wont devalue your vehicle.
- The rate at which a certain windscreen is manufactured. the more common the windscreen, the faster it will be produced.
Additional Parts and Materials
Certain vehicles may require additional parts, for example:
- New seals or gaskets.
- Trim or clips that are not designed to be reused.
- Adhesives and bonding agents.
- Sensor Regeneration (clear specialist gel that allows any sensors on the windscreen to operate in the way they should).
- Protective coatings or tint film (if applicable).
These can add £20 to £100+ depending on the car.
Not sure what is on your windscreen? click here
