Having your air conditioning refilled – here are the costs

by Johannes October 28, 2025

written by Johannes October 28, 2025

If you have your car’s air conditioning refilled, you need to consider the cost of the service. This depends on various factors.

Having your car’s air conditioning refilled: Costs

To prevent your car’s air conditioning from suddenly stopping working, you need to have it refilled regularly. You can expect the following costs:

The cost of refilling your car’s air conditioning depends on your vehicle and the model installed. There are different refrigerants for different air conditioning systems, which affects the final cost.
In Europe, the refrigerants R-134a, R-744, and R-1234yf are used. Due to its poor environmental performance, R-134a has not been used in new cars throughout the EU since 2017. Only a few models are filled with R-744.
You can find out which refrigerant your built-in air conditioning system requires by consulting the vehicle operating manual. The prices per kilogram vary significantly. The refrigerant R-1234yf is the most expensive at over 100 euros per kilogram.
On average, you can expect to pay between €70 and €160 to refill air conditioning systems that use the refrigerants R-134a or R-744. This includes the majority of vehicles manufactured before 2017.
If you need the refrigerant R-1234yf, the costs are significantly higher. The total costs for maintenance and refrigerant can range from €150 to €400.
Important: There are a number of factors that can affect the price in addition to the vehicle model. You should also check whether the coolant is already included in the price or is an additional cost, depending on the workshop or service center.

As with any car air conditioning repair, there are factors that affect the final price of the air conditioning refill:

The level of refrigerant can increase or decrease the price. The more refrigerant is refilled, the higher the final cost will be.
The condition of the air conditioning system must also be taken into account. If there is significant wear and tear, this can slow down the refilling process, or elements such as hoses may need to be replaced. Consulting in advance can help you keep an eye on the costs.
You should also consider the hourly rate charged by mechatronics specialists or a service fee, which can vary from municipality to municipality and even from workshop to workshop. This can have a significant impact on the final price.
Damage to the air conditioning system can delay refilling and result in you having to pay significantly more. This can happen, for example, if you try to refill the refrigerant yourself. Be sure to leave this work to qualified personnel.
Even the model of the vehicle can affect the cost. More complex systems make refilling more difficult, which can be reflected in the service fee, for example.
Tip: Ideally, the air conditioning system should be refilled every two to three years or whenever its performance significantly deteriorates. This will prevent premature wear and tear and enable you to get the most out of the system.