“How much is a remap?” is the most common question we get. The honest answer is that the price depends on what you’re getting – a generic map on a £20 tool costs £100, a properly-written custom file with a pre-job diagnostic and a lifetime warranty costs more. This guide explains what’s in the price, what affects it, and how to compare quotes.

What a typical UK remap costs

For a Stage 1 remap on a standard turbocharged car or van, the typical UK price in 2026 is:

Workshop remap, generic file, no diagnostic – £150-£200. Loads a map from a library, no custom calibration, often no diagnostic.
Mobile remap, custom file, full diagnostic – £300-£450. Comes to you, runs a pre-job diagnostic, writes a custom file, returns the original file, lifetime software warranty.
Main dealer or franchise tuner – £500-£800. Same hardware capability as a mobile tuner, but the overhead is higher and the file is often the same library map.

For a Stage 2 remap (which requires supporting hardware), the remap fee is usually £400-£600 on top of the hardware cost, which is typically £800-£2,500.

What should be included in the price

The all-in price for a proper mobile Stage 1 remap should include:

Travel to your location (within the service area)
Pre-job diagnostic – fault code read, live data review
Original ECU file read and saved to USB
Custom file written for your specific engine and goals
File write to the ECU
Post-job check – fault code clear, live data review, ECU adaptation
Road test
Original file returned on USB
Lifetime software warranty

If the quote excludes any of these, ask why. Hidden extras to watch for: “diagnostic fee on top”, “DSG re-cal is an extra £300”, “we’ll need to keep the car for a second visit if the file doesn’t work first time”.

What affects the price

1. The specific ECU – most modern ECUs (EDC17, MD1, EDC16, Simos, MEVD) can be read and written over OBD. A small number of very latest protected ECUs require bench work (the ECU is removed, opened and connected directly to the tool). Bench work is more involved and more expensive.
2. Petrol vs diesel – usually no difference for a Stage 1 file. For an economy remap on a diesel, the file is calibrated differently and may take a little more development time.
3. Number of ECUs – on cars with a separate TCU (gearbox ECU), reading and writing both is sometimes quoted separately. Boostcore includes the TCU re-cal in the standard price for automatics if it’s a simple map change.

Stage 1 vs Stage 2 vs Economy – Stage 1 is a single file, one visit. Stage 2 is a project (hardware first, then remap). Economy is a single file, one visit, often slightly cheaper than Stage 1.

Why the cheapest isn’t usually the best

A £100 “remap” usually means:

- No pre-job diagnostic – a faulty injector, a partially blocked DPF or a failing turbo can be made worse by a remap
- A generic file from a library – works, but not optimised for your specific engine

No original file saved – if anything goes wrong, or if you want to return the car to stock, you’re stuck

No lifetime warranty – if the file causes a problem, you’re on your own

For most cars, the cost difference between the cheapest and the best is £150-£250. For a one-off cost on a car you own for 3-5 years, that’s a few pence a day – and the difference in reliability, drivability, and warranty is significant.

How Boostcore prices

Boostcore’s mobile Stage 1 remap is a fixed all-in price, quoted in advance, with no hidden extras. The price includes travel, the pre-job diagnostic, the custom file, the post-job check, the road test, the original file on USB, and a lifetime software warranty. The TCU re-cal is included for most automatics.

For an exact quote on your car, send us your registration through the contact form with a brief description of the car and your goals. We’ll come back with a confirmed price, an estimated time, and the date options for your booking.

Other costs to consider

Insurance – a Stage 1 remap usually has a small premium impact (£20-£50/year) or no impact at all. You must declare the remap to your insurer.
Warranty – a Stage 1 file is well within the engine’s design tolerance. UK consumer law means a manufacturer can’t void your entire warranty just because the car has been remapped – they have to prove the remap caused a specific failure. Boostcore saves your original file so the car can be returned to stock in about 20 minutes for any warranty claim.
Resale value – a Stage 1 remap can be reversed at any time, so it doesn’t affect resale value. The original file is restored, and the car is back to standard.

Frequently asked questions

Is a more expensive remap always better?

No. The price should reflect what’s in the service: the diagnostic, the custom file, the original file return, the warranty. A £500 quote that includes all of these is better value than a £150 quote that includes none of them. A £200 quote from a reputable mobile tuner is also fine. The middle ground is often the sweet spot.

Do you offer discounts for multiple vehicles?

Yes – if you’re bringing 2+ cars or vans (fleet, family, or friends booked together), we offer a small per-vehicle discount. Send us a message with the registrations and we’ll quote.

Get a quote for your car

Use the contact form to send your registration and a brief description of your goals. We’ll come back with a confirmed price, an estimated time, and the date options. We cover Southampton, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Winchester, Eastleigh, Fareham and the surrounding area.