Coil spring replacement cost.

For most cars a single coil spring costs roughly £65–£190 per side fitted at a UK independent garage in 2026, or £115–£350 for both sides of an axle — the usual recommendation. If the shock absorber is worn too, a full strut assembly runs £125–£380 per side. The spring itself is a cheap part; most of the bill is labour, especially where the spring sits on a strut that has to come off the car. Pick your model above for a model-specific figure.

Because springs sag with age, and a new spring on one side against a tired one on the other leaves the car sitting unevenly — which is itself an MOT issue and upsets the handling. The second spring has also lived the same life as the one that broke, so it rarely lasts long once its partner has gone. Doing both sides in one visit shares the labour and avoids paying twice.

Potholes, speed bumps and salted winter roads. Salt corrodes the spring's protective coating, corrosion creates a weak point, and a pothole impact finishes the job — which is why spring failures spike in late winter. Broken springs are consistently among the most common UK MOT failure items, and a snapped coil is a Major defect: it can drop out of its seat and cut into the tyre.

If they're worn, leaking, or the car has covered high mileage — yes, because the strut is already off the car and the labour overlaps almost completely. A leaking damper is an MOT failure in its own right, and a new spring working against a tired damper wears faster. If the dampers test fine and the car is younger, a spring-only job is perfectly reasonable. A garage should check and tell you either way before quoting.