DPF Cleaning Cost: A Quotation Checklist

Start with the method and the price

Our DPF cost and assessment guidance lists the current service regeneration and cleaning prices. Initial diagnosis costs £85. This charge is waived if you go ahead with any repairs or cleaning, so there is no separate £85 diagnostic charge on top of the agreed work.

When comparing quotations, first establish whether the proposed work is service regeneration, on-vehicle chemical cleaning or pressure cleaning off the vehicle. These are different jobs, selected according to the diagnosis.

The main factors that affect cost

Access differs widely between vehicles. The filter may be suitable for a treatment in situ, or it may need removal for a more thorough process. Seized fixings, replacement gaskets and the time needed to refit safely can affect labour.

• Diagnostic time required to establish the real fault
• Filter access and whether removal is appropriate
• The type of contamination and physical condition of the substrate
• Related sensor, hose, air-path or engine repairs needed to protect the result

Cleaning versus repair

Cleaning can restore flow only when the filter is serviceable and the underlying cause is addressed. If coolant or oil has damaged the substrate, or a fault is still producing excessive soot, a low-cost clean may be poor value because the warning is likely to return.

Getting a useful estimate

Share the registration, make and model, mileage, warning message, symptoms and any previous work. That information helps explain the likely assessment route, but the vehicle still needs inspection before a final recommendation or additional work is authorised.

What should be included in a DPF cleaning quotation?

Ask whether the figure includes initial diagnosis, removal and refitting where required, the cleaning process, replacement seals or fixings and verification afterwards. A headline figure can look cheaper simply because part of the required work has not been included.

The quotation should also explain what happens if testing shows that the filter is damaged or that another repair is needed before cleaning. Additional work should be discussed rather than assumed.

• What diagnosis supports this treatment, and is cleaning actually needed?
• Is the diagnostic fee included, separate or waived when work goes ahead?
• Does the figure include the proposed treatment, removal and refitting, seals and fixings where needed?
• Is tax included in the total quote, and what could change the final amount?
• What contributing fault needs repair, and is that work separately itemised?
• How will the outcome be checked, and what happens if the filter is not suitable for cleaning?

Choose the suitable option for your budget

We give clear, impartial advice and discuss suitable options for different budgets. Our aim is the most cost-effective repair with the best prospect of lasting. If a cheaper treatment is unlikely to last, we explain why before you decide.

A service regeneration may be enough for one vehicle while another needs professional DPF cleaning or a repair. Ask why the recommended option suits your filter rather than assuming the most expensive treatment is necessary.

Diagnosis first: the cheapest advertised treatment is not good value if it does not establish why the DPF became restricted.