Most cars in Auckland sit between $300 and $650 for a full roof lining replacement. Sedans and small hatchbacks are at the lower end. SUVs, wagons and people-movers are higher because there's more roof, more pillars and usually a third-row headlining section. European cars with sunroofs sit at the top of that range.
This is a guide based on what we charge at Jay's Auto Trim in Massey. Other Auckland trimmers will quote differently — sometimes much higher. Here's what actually drives the price, what's worth paying for, and what's a sign someone is overcharging.
What does "roof lining replacement" actually include?
The job most customers want is a full headliner replacement — not a re-glue, not a partial fix. That means:
- Removing all the trim around the headliner (pillar trims, sun visors, grab handles, dome light, sometimes the rear deck)
- Dropping the headliner board out of the car
- Stripping the old fabric and the failed foam back to the bare board
- Re-covering with new foam-backed automotive headliner fabric using the right adhesive
- Refitting everything correctly so panels line up
The work that takes the time isn't the new fabric — it's the strip-down and the trim re-fitting. A rushed job leaves panel gaps, slightly off pillar trim, or fabric that lifts at the edges within a year.
Auckland 2026 price guide by car type
| Vehicle type | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Small hatchback / sedan | $300 – $400 |
| Mid-size sedan / wagon | $400 – $500 |
| SUV / 7-seater | $500 – $650 |
| European with sunroof (Audi, BMW, Range Rover) | $550 – $700 |
| Classic car / restoration | Quoted per job |
If you're being quoted significantly more than the upper band — particularly $1,000+ for a regular sedan — get a second quote. We've had customers come in with quotes from elsewhere that were almost double for the same work.
Why does the price range exist?
1. Roof size and shape
A flat hatchback roof drops out in one piece. A wagon or SUV with curves, third-row headlining and rear cargo trim is a different conversation — more time on tools, more trim to refit cleanly.
2. Sunroof or panoramic glass
Sunroofs add labour because the headliner has to be cut and finished around the sunroof opening, then the sunroof shade has to come out, get re-covered, and go back. Panoramic roofs are even more involved.
3. Trim complexity
Some cars (particularly European) have wraparound A pillars, illuminated grab handles, integrated mood lighting, or HUDs. Each of those adds a step. Most domestic and Japanese cars are simpler.
4. Material choice
Standard automotive foam-backed headliner fabric covers most jobs and is what we use as default. If you want suede, Alcantara or a coloured material that isn't standard, the fabric cost rises.
What you should NOT pay for
Two things to push back on if a quote includes them:
"We'll just re-glue the existing headliner." This sometimes works for a few months. The polyurethane foam between the fabric and the board is what's actually failed — the fabric coming away is a symptom. Re-glueing puts the symptom back without fixing the cause. It comes off again.
If a quote is unusually cheap (say $150 for a wagon), it's almost certainly a re-glue, not a replacement. You'll pay twice.
"Spray-on adhesive". Aerosol contact adhesives are not designed for the heat behind a windscreen in NZ summer. Proper headliner work uses high-temperature adhesive rated for the application — it's the difference between a five-year fix and a five-month fix.
How long does the work take?
For most cars: same day. Drop in the morning, pick up in the afternoon. SUVs and complex European cars: one full day. Classics and full restorations: quoted per job and scheduled accordingly.
If a workshop tells you they need the car for a week to do a normal headliner, that's also worth a second opinion.
Get a fixed quote in 10 minutes
The price ranges above are based on hundreds of headliner jobs at our Massey workshop. Every car is slightly different — sometimes the trim has been pulled apart by someone else first, sometimes there's foam damage on the metal roof itself, sometimes the original lining colour needs a closer match than usual. None of that comes through over the phone.
Easiest way to get a firm price is to drop in for 10 minutes during workshop hours, or call 021 188 2277 and we'll book a window. Quotes are free and there's no pressure to book the job on the spot.
Related reading
If you're not sure your headliner needs replacing yet, see the five signs that mean your headliner is on the way out. If you're wondering how the workday goes, how long a roof lining replacement actually takes covers it. And if you've got worn seats too and you're weighing fabric versus leather, our guide to seats in NZ conditions is a good place to start.
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