Your car's exhaust not only reduces the sound of the engine, but also carries harmful fumes to the back of the vehicle instead of allowing them to enter the cabin. If your exhaust is damaged, you should get it fixed as soon as possible.

But how much does an exhaust silencer cost to fix? This article will explain all.

How much does it cost to repair an exhaust silencer?

Exhaust repair costs range from £30 for a simple repair to over £600 for a replacement part, depending on the car and type of garage.

Sometimes a patch or clamp is all that's needed, in which case a mechanic could have you back on the road in under an hour, with a bill of around £30 - £50.

In some cases, a new part is required, such as a back-box or centre silencer; these can range from £220 to over £500, including fitting.

Common exhaust faults

There are a number of issues that could crop up at an MOT, particularly if the exhaust is leaking gases:

• Exhaust leaks - a major exhaust leak from any section of the exhaust is an immediate MOT fail. There can be various causes for this, usually resulting from rust, such as a hole or crack in a joint or silencer box

• Loose parts - An exhaust hanger being broken, causing the exhaust to not be properly secured, can be an MOT advisory or fail in extreme circumstances

• Emissions - a probe is put in the exhaust to check the car's emissions level. If a major leak is present, this can cause incorrect levels

• DPF changes - it is illegal to remove a DPF system, and an MOT tester will be looking for signs that the DPF has been tampered with

What parts make up an exhaust?

The term “exhaust” generally refers to a number of different parts that attach to one another. Whilst not all cars will have all of these parts, the following list includes most of the parts you need to know about:

• Manifold - this attaches to the engine and collects each cylinder’s exhaust gases into one pipe

• Downpipe - often made as one piece with the manifold, this pipe travels downwards, and it can sometimes incorporate a catalytic converter

• Flexi hose - some cars have a flexible joint between the downpipe and the rest of the exhaust, which allows for engine movement, and is a common source of exhaust leaks

• Centre/Mid section - the pipe that runs from under the engine to the rear portion, often ending just before the rear wheels. This section often contains a catalytic converter, resonator or mid-box/silencer

• Catalytic converter - this box contains rare metals that filter harmful pollutants from the exhaust gases

• Resonator - this serves to reduce certain frequencies from the exhaust’s sound

• DPF - the diesel particulate filter traps and transforms harmful soot from a diesel car's emissions

• Back box - this is the rearmost and last silencer, typically hidden under the rear portion of the car, often just visible from the rear of the car

How Bumper can help

Split your exhaust silencer replacement cost with car repair finance from Bumper. Choose from 1000s of reliable repairers across the country to split your bill with. Apply online and find a garage on our network today.

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over eight years and writing for Bumper for over three, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.