What does brake replacement cost in the Netherlands? Brake pads, discs and fluid

Brake replacement is one of the most common repairs, and one of the repairs where prices differ the most. That is because ‘replacing the brakes’ can mean many things: only the front brake pads, discs and pads all round, or the brake fluid as well. Below you will read what the ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation, gives as an indication, what should be included in a price and why the amount differs per car.

By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 8 November 2026

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The short answer

Replacing the brake pads on one axle costs, according to the ANWB, a good € 200 including labour for an average car. Brake discs plus brake pads per axle are, according to the ANWB, on average between € 300 and € 600, depending on make and model. A brake fluid change costs, according to the ANWB, on average € 50 to € 75 (all amounts consulted November 2026). The price depends on the size of the discs, whether it is the front or the rear axle, whether the car has an electric parking brake and on the quality of the parts. We tell you one price in advance based on your registration number, including parts, labour, testing on the brake tester and disposal of the old parts.

Brake service at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug: brake pads, discs, fluid, calipers, hoses and the handbrake or electric parking brake, for all makes, including hybrid and electric cars, vans and motorhomes up to 3,500 kg. We first measure what is worn, replace only that and show you the old parts. We tell you the price in advance based on your registration number, and we only do extra work with your approval. Call +31 10 479 00 00 or drop by. You bring the car and we call you when it is ready. A loan bike is free while one is available. Saturdays too. Our team speaks English. More about our brake service

What does brake replacement cost according to the ANWB?

The ANWB gives an indication for the most common brake jobs on an average car. We do not quote our own prices on this page: what it costs for your car, we tell you in advance based on your registration number (kenteken). The ANWB indications do give a good idea of the order of magnitude:

Job ANWB indication (consulted November 2026) Notes
Brake pads, front or rear A good € 200 including labour Per axle, left and right together, average car
Brake discs plus brake pads, front or rear On average between € 300 and € 600 Per axle including brake pads, depending on make and model
Brake fluid change On average € 50 to € 75 Draining, refilling and bleeding the whole system
ABS sensor repair or replacement Usually € 200 to € 300 Per sensor, the wheel sensors are the most sensitive part according to the ANWB
Repair to the ABS pump Up to € 1,200 Far less common than a sensor

Source: ANWB, pages on brake pads, brake discs, brake fluid and ABS, consulted November 2026. These are market indications, not prices of Autobedrijf Willemsbrug.

The ADAC, the German motoring organisation, shows how wide the range is in Germany. In its article of 7 March 2025 it gives as examples around € 440 for front pads and discs on a Škoda Fabia and around € 2,400 for the same job on a Mercedes EQE. The difference is in the car, not in the job.

Pay attention to the unit with every amount. Brakes are replaced per axle, so left and right at the same time. ‘Replacing the brake pads’ means one axle in most quotes. If both front and rear need doing, you count twice. And an amount for ‘brake discs’ is not complete without brake pads, because new discs get new pads.

What should be included in the price of brake replacement?

A complete price for brake replacement has four parts: the parts, the labour, the testing and the disposal of the old parts. When you ask for a quote, ask whether all four are included. With us they are:

  • Parts: brake pads and, if needed, brake discs, per axle. We use good-quality parts that are suitable for your car. On cars with a wear sensor, the new sensor is included, and on some cars also new spring clips or bolts that the manufacturer prescribes as single-use.
  • Labour: wheels off, removing the pads and discs, cleaning the hub, cleaning and greasing the brake caliper and slide pins, fitting the new parts and tightening the wheel bolts with the torque wrench. With an electric parking brake, this includes resetting the actuator with the diagnostic tool.
  • Testing: after the work we test the brakes on the brake tester and take a short test drive. Only then is the job finished.
  • Disposal: we dispose of the old brake pads and discs. You can see them first if you want to.

If something extra comes up during the work, for example a brake caliper that no longer moves freely or a brake hose with cracks, we tell you that first. We only repair with your approval. How we assess your brakes and what we do and do not do is on brake replacement in Rotterdam.

Why does the price differ so much per car?

The difference between € 300 and € 600 for the same job is in the car, not in the workshop. These are the six factors that determine the amount:

Factor Why it matters
Size and type of brake disc A small city car has small, solid discs. A heavy SUV or a fast car has large, ventilated discs with two layers and cooling channels. Those are more expensive.
Front or rear axle The front brakes do most of the work and are larger and more expensive. The rear brakes are smaller, but on many cars they have an electric parking brake or a drum brake inside the disc, which takes more labour.
Electric parking brake (EPB) The actuator on the rear caliper has to be put into service mode with the diagnostic tool and then recalibrated. That is extra labour.
Electric or hybrid An EV brakes a lot on the electric motor, so the pads last longer but the discs rust sooner. Rust and a seized caliper are then more likely. The weight of the car also calls for heavier brakes.
Premium make or special version Large brake discs, multi-piston calipers or coated discs are more expensive to buy. Some sporty versions of mainstream makes also have larger brakes.
Van or motorhome up to 3,500 kg Heavier discs and pads, and more labour. We have five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kg.

That is why we ask for your registration number: with it we can see which brakes are fitted to your car and tell you one price in advance.

Replace only the brake pads, or the discs as well?

That is decided by the measurement, not by the mileage. We replace the brake discs only if the thickness is below the manufacturer’s minimum, if the disc wobbles or is warped, or if the surface is pitted by rust or grooves. If the disc is still good, it stays on and we replace only the brake pads. This is how the measurement works:

  1. Thickness of the brake pads: we measure how much lining is left and compare that with the manufacturer’s minimum.
  2. Thickness of the brake disc: the minimum thickness is marked on the disc itself, as MIN TH followed by a value in millimetres. Brembo prescribes measuring at a minimum of four points. If the lowest value is below the minimum, the disc has to be replaced, and on both sides, even if only one disc is under the limit.
  3. Surface and run-out: grooves, a rust lip, blue spots from overheating or a disc that wobbles on the hub.
  4. Rest of the system: brake calipers, slide pins, hoses, pipes and the brake fluid level.

As a rule of thumb, Brembo says brake discs are due for replacement at roughly every second set of brake pads. The ANWB gives an average lifespan of 100,000 km for brake discs and at least 4 years or 60,000 km for brake pads in normal use, with the note that from 40,000 km you should allow for replacement. Driving style, city traffic and the weight of the car make the difference. When each part is due is explained in brake pads and discs: when to replace them.

Wait or not? With brake pads that are nearly worn out you can plan an appointment at short notice, but do not wait too long: if you drive on until the lining is completely gone, the steel backing plate scrapes over the disc and a set of brake pads becomes a set of discs plus pads. If you hear grinding of metal on metal, the pedal sinks, the car pulls to one side or you smell burning, do not drive on and call +31 10 479 00 00.

What does a brake fluid change cost and when is it needed?

A brake fluid change costs, according to the ANWB, on average € 50 to € 75 and is needed every two years according to the service schedule of most manufacturers. Brake fluid of the DOT 3 and DOT 4 type is hygroscopic: it absorbs moisture from the air. As a result the boiling point drops and, according to the ANWB, vapour bubbles can form in the fluid while braking. The pedal then feels soft, right at the moment you need to brake hard.

We check the brake fluid and change it according to the manufacturer’s schedule, usually every two years. If you combine it with replacing brake pads or discs, the car is already on the lift and the wheels are already off. Ask about it when you book. How the change is done and why topping up is not a replacement is explained in brake fluid change.

Why a cheap brake pad can turn out more expensive

The difference between a cheap and a good brake pad is in the friction material, and you notice it in the noise, the wear and the braking distance. The ANWB writes that cheap or hard brake pads squeal more easily, especially at low speed or with light pedal pressure, and advises choosing good quality when replacing. A hard pad also wears the brake disc faster: you save on the pads and pay it back in discs.

That is why we fit good-quality parts that are suitable for your car, and not pads chosen on price alone. The price we tell you in advance is based on that. If you want to know which brand we use for your car, ask when you book.

How you get one price in advance for your brakes

We first measure what is worn, replace only that and show you the old parts. We tell you one price in advance based on your registration number. This is how it works:

  1. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number and tell us what you notice: squealing, shaking, a warning light or an advisory from the APK (MOT), the compulsory periodic vehicle inspection in the Netherlands. We tell you when we can fit you in.
  2. From Monday to Friday you bring the car between 8.00 and 8.30, on Saturday at 9.00, as agreed with you. Address: Boterdiep 11, Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to De Kuip. A courtesy bike is free, as long as one is available.
  3. We measure the pads and discs and check the calipers, slide pins, hoses, pipes and the brake fluid. Then we call you: we tell you what is worn and what replacing it costs, as one price including parts, labour, testing and disposal.
  4. With your approval we replace per axle. If something extra comes up, we tell you that first.
  5. We test on the brake tester, take a test drive and call you when the car is ready. The old parts are there for you to see if you want.

Not sure whether your brakes are due for replacement? Call us and we will schedule a short brake check. If nothing needs doing, we tell you that too. We check the brakes at every service and every APK. What other major repairs cost is explained in our guides to timing belt replacement cost and clutch replacement cost.

Frequently asked questions

Do you replace only the brake pads, or the discs as well?

That depends on what we measure. If the discs are still thick enough, not warped and not pitted, they stay on and we replace only the pads. If they are worn, we replace discs and pads together per axle. We tell you in advance what it will be, and you can see the old parts.

What does it cost to replace brake pads?

The ANWB gives as an indication a good € 200 per axle including labour for an average car (consulted November 2026). Large brakes, an electric parking brake or a wear sensor make it more expensive. What it costs for your car, we tell you in advance based on your registration number. We do not quote our own prices on this page.

What does it cost to replace brake discs?

The ANWB gives as an indication on average between € 300 and € 600 per axle, including new brake pads, depending on make and model (consulted November 2026). Brake discs are replaced in pairs and new discs get new pads. If both front and rear need doing, you count twice. We tell you one price in advance based on your registration number.

Can I replace only the brake discs and keep the old brake pads?

No. New discs get new brake pads. A worn-in pad does not sit flat on a new disc, brakes less well as a result and soon causes squealing or vibrations. Manufacturers such as Brembo therefore prescribe replacing discs and pads together. The other way round is fine: new pads on discs that are still above the minimum thickness.

Is it cheaper to have the front and rear done at the same time?

No. Not necessarily, and it is not needed if one axle is still good. We replace only the axle that is worn. The car is already on the lift though, so if the second axle is nearly due anyway, it can be practical to do it in one go. We tell you in advance what each axle costs separately and you decide.

How do I know if my brakes are due for replacement?

Look out for squealing (the wear indicator), grinding, shaking when braking, a longer braking distance, a soft pedal or a warning light on the dashboard. An advisory about the brakes on the APK report is a signal too. Only measuring gives certainty. We check the brakes at every service and every APK and tell you how much is left.

How long do new brake pads and brake discs last?

According to the ANWB, brake pads last at least 4 years or 60,000 km in normal use and from 40,000 km you should allow for replacement. Brake discs reach an average of 100,000 km according to the ANWB. In town, with many short trips and a lot of braking, it is less. On the motorway it is more. Brakes on the rear axle usually last longer than on the front.

What do your brakes cost? Call with your registration number

Call +31 10 479 00 00. We measure what is worn, replace only that and tell you one price in advance based on your registration number.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip). We work by appointment. For a quick question or check you can walk in without an appointment.

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