HOW TO HIRE · VEHICLES & TRANSPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an exhaust fitter in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An exhaust repair in Ireland costs €100–€600 per job, typically around €250. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an exhaust fitter in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers exhaust fitter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — performance Enhancements — some services may also offer performance exhaust upgrades.
- How does type of damage change the price?Years of use leave more to put right than a recent job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does parts needed change the price?Materials are usually charged on top of the labour. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does labour rates in your area change the price?More area means more checking at the end. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Replacing Exhaust Components — if parts of the exhaust system are beyond repair, replacements may be necessary — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a exhaust fitter job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO MECHANICS IN IRELAND — anyone may repair a car. The statutory thing is the NCT, which is carried out by the national testing service and not by a garage, so a garage cannot issue one. SIMI membership is a trade association rather than a licence, and it gives you a complaints route.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Motor trade insurance covering your car while it is in their custody, which is separate from their public liability; A written estimate before work starts, and a call before any extra work; Whether parts are new, reconditioned or used, named on the invoice; The guarantee on parts and on labour, separately, in writing; Whether diagnosis is charged separately and whether it is credited against the repair; For a pre-purchase inspection, that the inspector is independent of the seller.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability and motor trade cover for vehicles in their custody. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers exhaust fitter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — performance Enhancements — some services may also offer performance exhaust upgrades.
A good answer: Years of use leave more to put right than a recent job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Materials are usually charged on top of the labour. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: More area means more checking at the end. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Replacing Exhaust Components — if parts of the exhaust system are beyond repair, replacements may be necessary — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a exhaust fitter job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and motor trade cover for vehicles in their custody — repairing Exhaust Leaks — exhaust leaks can lead to noise and decreased engine performance.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the exhaust fitter starts, and an itemised invoice after — exhaust System Inspection — A thorough inspection of the exhaust system is essential to identify any leaks, rust, or damage.
Getting the quote right
- Type of damage — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job.
- Parts needed — materials are usually charged on top of the labour.
- Labour rates in your area — more area means more checking at the end.
- Materials required for the job — what goes into the job is priced separately from the time.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: type of damage — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job
- They will not talk about it: parts needed — materials are usually charged on top of the labour
- They will not talk about it: labour rates in your area — more area means more checking at the end
- A price for the exhaust fitter before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the exhaust fitter has begun
What an exhaust fitter costs: €100–€600 per job
The figures are for the job, per job, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Exhaust leak repair and Muffler replacement each carry their own band. Exhaust Repair price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Exhaust fitters near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstType of damage — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job — that is what the exhaust fitter is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneParts needed — materials are usually charged on top of the labour — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfLabour rates in your area — more area means more checking at the end — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherMaterials required for the job — what goes into the job is priced separately from the time — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the exhaust fitter is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, accessibility of the components needing repair — the worse the state, the more materials it takes to cover.
- Exhaust System Inspection
- A thorough inspection of the exhaust system is essential to identify any leaks, rust, or damage.
- Repairing Exhaust Leaks
- Exhaust leaks can lead to noise and decreased engine performance.
- Replacing Exhaust Components
- If parts of the exhaust system are beyond repair, replacements may be necessary.
- Performance Enhancements
- Some services may also offer performance exhaust upgrades.
- Exhaust Leak Repair
- This involves locating and sealing leaks in the exhaust system, which could affect vehicle performance and emissions.
- Muffler Replacement
- Replacing a damaged or rusted muffler to restore proper sound levels and exhaust flow.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an exhaust fitter: questions people ask
The cost of exhaust repair can vary based on the type of damage, the parts needed, and labour rates in your area. More extensive repairs, such as replacing a catalytic converter, will typically be more expensive than fixing minor leaks.
The duration of an exhaust repair can range from one hour for minor fixes to several hours for more extensive work. A full system replacement may take longer, depending on the vehicle type and complexity of the job.
Many garages offer same-day service for exhaust repairs, especially for minor issues like leaks. However, availability can depend on the shop's schedule and the specific parts needed for the repair.
Yes, many service centres allow you to book multiple related jobs, such as exhaust and brake repairs, which can save time and potentially reduce overall costs. It's best to inquire directly with the service provider.
Out of scope items may include modifications to the vehicle's exhaust system beyond standard repairs, such as custom installations or performance tuning. Always clarify the services offered with the repair shop beforehand.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO MECHANICS IN IRELAND — anyone may repair a car. The statutory thing is the NCT, which is carried out by the national testing service and not by a garage, so a garage cannot issue one. SIMI membership is a trade association rather than a licence, and it gives you a complaints route.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in vehicles & transport
Exhaust fitters near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — MOTOR VEHICLES - REPAIRS (Certain repair and related services) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only