Change Car Cabin Filter
The cabin filter protects the air you breathe inside your car. When it is clogged it degrades the quality of the cabin air, encourages misting on the windscreen and can reduce the effectiveness of the air conditioning. Replacing it is one of the simplest and cheapest service jobs.
What does the cabin filter do?
The cabin filter traps dust, pollen and polluting particles before they reach the cabin. Over time it clogs up and restricts the airflow: unpleasant smells appear, the windows mist up more easily, and the air conditioning has to work harder. On recent vehicles this filter is fitted to almost every model, except a few entry-level versions without air conditioning.
The three types of cabin filter
Which filter should you choose?
There are three levels of filtration. The right choice depends on your needs and your environment:
Pollen filter
- Traps pollen and dust
- White in colour
- Standard, economical option
- £6 to £18 in the shops
Activated carbon
- Also absorbs bad smells
- Filters exhaust gases
- Grey in colour
- £12 to £26 in the shops
Polyphenol
- Activated carbon plus anti-allergen
- Orange/brown in colour
- Ideal for allergy sufferers
- £20 to £38 in the shops
When should you change the cabin filter?
The frequency recommended by manufacturers is generally once or twice a year, or every 20,000 to 30,000 km. In practice, it is best to change it at every annual service. If you often drive in polluted urban areas or in dusty conditions, do not hesitate to bring the replacement forward.
How much does it cost to replace?
At a garage, the average cost to change a cabin filter is around £45 (part included), with a fitting time of 10 to 45 minutes depending on the model. Labour is usually the bulk of the cost, even though the job is very straightforward to do yourself. Buy the filter online or from a motor factor to make a worthwhile saving.
How to change the filter yourself
Find the filter
The filter is most often reached behind or beneath the glovebox, on the passenger side. On some vehicles it sits in the engine bay under the scuttle grille, on the passenger side. Check your Haynes manual for the exact location on your model.
Tools needed
No special tools are required. A screwdriver and perhaps a 10 mm spanner are enough. This is a 1/5 difficulty job: well within anyone's reach.
Watch out for
Fit the filter the right way round: an arrow usually shows the direction of airflow. A filter fitted the wrong way round is less effective and can be damaged prematurely.
Where to buy?
Online shops offer the keenest prices. Stick to known brands and UK-based sellers to avoid counterfeits.
