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  4. How much does it cost to replace air bags?
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How much does it cost to replace airbags?

Replacing an airbag is one of the most expensive car repair jobs in the UK. However, since airbags are such a critical safety feature, if yours need replacing, you can’t afford to ignore this.

In this guide, we’ll cover ballpark costs for airbag replacement, the key factors causing prices to vary – and whether it’s possible to repair, rather than replace a damaged airbag. Finally, we’ll share some expert tips to help you minimise the cost of airbag replacement.

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Cost of airbag replacement in the UK

You might wonder why it costs so much to replace an airbag in the UK. After all, it’s essentially just a big balloon, right?

Actually, there’s a lot more to it than that. Airbags are part of the supplemental restraint system (SRS), which includes the airbag control unit, crash sensors, seatbelt pretensioners, and the various airbags themselves, which can include front, side, curtain, and knee airbags.

When you factor in all these parts, it should come as no surprise that replacement costs run so high. Here are some ballpark costs for key SRS components:

  • Sensors: £60 to £120
  • Seatbelt replacement: £150 to £300
  • Front airbags: £200 to £350 (rising to £500 or more for higher-end cars)
  • Airbag control unit: £200 to £700

Pricing varies widely depending on the make and model of your car, the type and number of airbags you have – and which specific components need repairing or replacing.

Costs for luxury cars are typically higher because they tend to have more airbags, more advanced sensors, and more sophisticated systems overall. As a general rule, the more your car is worth, the more you’re likely to pay for your airbag replacement.

Airbag replacement for older car models can also be expensive, due to the difficulty of sourcing parts.

However, the cost of replacement parts is not the only factor at play here. Airbag replacement is a complex job that typically requires around three hours of specialist labour. Whilst it might seem tempting to go for the cheapest possible option, doing so could pose a real safety risk.

You should always hire a skilled, qualified professional, so you can be sure your new airbags will deploy in an emergency.

Considering all these variables, you could end up paying between £1,000 and £2,000 for airbag replacement. Whilst this may seem like a hefty amount, it’s a worthwhile investment to keep you and your passengers protected if the worst happens.

What to do if your car’s airbags have been deployed

If you’ve been involved in an accident that’s caused your airbags to deploy, there are a few steps you should take immediately:

  • Turn the engine off, if this hasn’t happened automatically. If there’s any immediate danger (e.g. smoke or fire), get out of the car quickly and move away.

  • Check yourself, your passengers, and any other road users for injuries. Call an ambulance if anyone’s hurt - and call the police to make an accident report.

  • If your car is safe, make a note of any dashboard warning lights, as these will give you an indication of which parts may have been damaged. The airbag warning light will stay on until the airbags have been replaced or repaired, but you might also see the check engine, ABS, battery, and oil pressure warning lights.

  • Check your car inside and out. Start by thoroughly inspecting for obvious damage like dents, cracks, or structural damage (i.e. gaps or parts that don't fit together properly anymore).

  • Next, check the tyres and wheels to determine whether there are any fluid leaks. Then, check inside, where the airbags deployed. As this happens with such force, there could be damage to the dashboard, steering wheel, seats, or windscreen.

  • As the seat belts are part of the SRS, it’s worth checking them too; they may have locked up from the impact. It’s a good idea to take photos of everything if you can, as these will be useful when submitting a claim to your insurance provider. Airbags are a single-use component, so you’ll need to replace any that have deployed.

  • It’s a good idea to contact your insurance provider at this point to notify them of the incident. Provide them with all the key details, along with the crime reference number or report you received from the police - and send the photos you took. Check whether your policy will cover the repairs.

Considerations when choosing a mechanic

As airbag replacement is such a costly and specialised job, you should get quotes from several reputable mechanics and compare them carefully to get the best deal. Your insurance provider might have some recommendations too.

There’s a good chance that other parts of your car (besides the airbags) will have been damaged in the crash. So, it’s important that your mechanic checks your car over thoroughly to identify any further damage.

What repairs will my mechanic carry out?

Once you’ve chosen your mechanic and given them the go-ahead to start work, they’ll remove the deployed airbag and any other parts that were damaged in the accident - and replace or repair them.

They’ll then reset the airbag control unit and thoroughly test the SRS, before carrying out general safety checks - and a road test. These checks are important to ensure that the airbags and any other compromised features are now working as they should.

Repairing vs. replacing airbags: What are your options?

Airbags themselves must always be replaced after they’ve been deployed. They’re designed to be used only once, so repairing is not an option. It goes against vehicle safety standards.

However, there are other SRS components that can be repaired. For example, if the airbag control unit (which stores information about a crash) isn’t completely damaged, it can be reset and restored to its factory settings for around £50. This is much cheaper than replacing the entire unit, which can cost up to £700!

Seat belts can also be repaired, cutting down the overall cost of airbag replacement. If the pretensioners have kicked in during the crash, the belt mechanism is likely to have locked. This can be fixed without replacing the seat belts, as long as they’re not actually damaged, at a cost of around £40 to £135. (A replacement seat belt can cost anything up to £300 for the parts alone.)

If your insurance company has marked your car as a write-off, you’ll need to weigh up whether it’s worth repairing or accepting their settlement. As it’s so costly to repair and replace airbags and other SRS components, you may end up paying more than the value of your car if you decide on the former.

Bear in mind that any car that has been deemed a write-off will lose a significant chunk of its resale value. No matter how much you spend on repairs, a car with a salvage category will always be worth less than an identical one without. Therefore, it often makes better financial sense to sell your car and put the cash towards a new one.

Does car insurance cover airbag replacement?

Whether your insurance provider will cover the costs of airbag replacement will depend on the type of policy you have.

Comprehensive insurance generally covers all kinds of accidents - and will likely cover the cost of replacement airbags, as well as repairs to any other components, minus your excess. However, you should check with your provider to confirm exactly what’s covered.

Third-party insurance, on the other hand, will only cover the costs of damage to other cars or property when you’ve been in an accident that’s your fault. That means, if your airbags deploy in a situation like this, you’ll have to pay for the airbag replacement and other costs yourself.

If the price of repairing your car’s damage is more than 60-75% of its total value, your insurance company will likely mark it as a write-off. In most cases, this means that your car will then belong to them. However, you may be able to negotiate a ‘buy-back’ option with them. This allows you to keep the car and choose whether to get it repaired or sell it for scrap.

If you’re wondering, “Should I sell my car?”, bear in mind that if your car is deemed Category A or B by your insurer, it can’t be returned to the roads.

Why you should never skip airbag replacement

Although replacing airbags can be costly, the price of not doing so is higher still. It’s a matter of life and death: 50,457 lives were saved by front airbags alone between 1987 and 2017, according to statistics from the United States’ National Highway Traffic Administration.

However, when it comes to airbag replacement, there are certain steps you can take to keep costs to a minimum.

It’s possible that there will be some components that can be repaired. Ask your mechanic whether this is the case. They can advise you on the best parts to use too.

You can choose between second-hand, aftermarket, or original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. As your airbags and SRS are such critical safety features, it’s better to opt for OEM, as these are the highest quality and most reliable parts – and won’t affect your insurance coverage as the others might.

In the end, remember that safety is the absolute priority when it comes to airbag replacement. So, in some cases, it’s worth paying a little extra for your peace of mind.

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