A service is a car care maintenance check-up. No matter the vehicle – car, pick-up, van, campervan or otherwise -registered keepers are advised to have their vehicle serviced annually, or every 7,500-15,000 miles – whichever comes first.
Having your car serviced every year ensures the hard-working components regularly receive some well-deserved TLC, and the oil and fluids that prevent wear are checked to confirm they’re operating at their best. Prevention is not only better than cure when it comes to cars, it’s usually considerably cheaper.
Waiting until components are totally worn out doesn’t just put your safety at risk, it usually means replacing several components simultaneously, which isn’t very wallet-friendly.
What is a full service on a car in the UK?
A full service in the UK includes the minimum maintenance requirement of replacing the engine oil and filter. Checks on the battery, bodywork, brakes, coolant, exhaust, lights, steering, suspension and the tyres can also be included.
A service differs from an MoT test because MoTs are required by law, and do not involve replacing any consumables or parts. A full service is a voluntary check motorists pay for to ensure their vehicle continues to run well.
Unless you have the knowledge and time to service your own vehicle, it’s best to outsource the work to a trusted mechanic or a registered dealer. What’s more, if things go wrong because the car hasn’t been serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals, it could void your warranty (if the car is still in warranty, of course).
How often should you service your car in the UK?
The UK, with its oft-inclement and changeable weather, can make life tough for motorists trying to maintain their vehicles. Granted, we may not endure the severe snow drifts of other countries but rain and wind bring their own nasty weapons to the party. Daily driving in these conditions can throw up all kinds of gunk into the crevices of a car, with each model suffering uniquely.
That’s why service intervals vary depending on the manufacturer and individual models. All new cars notify the driver of when a service is due. This message can appear on the centre display or instrument cluster, but if your car doesn’t, you’ll find the service timing in the manual. It’s generally advised to have your car serviced every year, or roughly every 12,000 miles.
If you’ve opted for a service plan, or you’ve bought a new vehicle from your local dealer, the dealer may try and contact you to remind you of when it’s due in for a service. Many manufacturers have also developed their own companion app, with vehicle maintenance dates included in the data. If you’ve enabled push notifications, your phone will remind you of an upcoming service date.
It’s worth servicing a diesel car more frequently the older it gets to avoid damage to the emissions system. Remember to watch out for signs of diesel diluting the engine oil.
How much is a car service in the UK?
The price of a car service can vary depending on the size of vehicle. A small car service could cost around £170, but while your car is under manufacturer’s warranty, a franchised dealership service package may offer the most convenient and cost-effective service.
Having your car serviced at the dealership ensures any new additional parts are genuine. What’s more, it’s good to get your service book stamped with a franchised dealer stamp. Having a full service history (FSH) can protect up to 10% of your vehicle’s resale value.
As the car ages and the miles rack up, it’s generally cheaper to have it serviced at an independent garage. Older cars often require more work, and franchised dealers do tend to be more expensive than independent specialists. Nonetheless, it pays to shop around, even between franchised dealers.
Should I use a main dealer to service my car?
For new, nearly-new and approved-used cars, a main dealer service will be the best option for peace of mind and for bolstering resale value. Some brands can be quite expensive, but the high cost can be offset with a service plan, either pre-paid or on a monthly subscription.
Top-end service centres will offer easy booking sites and courtesy cars, and your service record will usually be computerised and accessible even if the book is lost. A record of main dealer servicing can prove useful even if your warranty has expired – for example, if a manufacturing defect causes premature engine or gearbox failure.
Not only are you guaranteed genuine parts and the most detailed workshop training, you’ll also get the latest service bulletins and recall notices. If something goes wrong it’ll be easier to hold official dealers accountable with the backing of the manufacturer.
They can also perform additional checks, such as infotainment and ECU firmware upgrades, and the annual body inspections that are necessary to maintain the anti-perforation (rust and bodywork) warranty on most cars.
Some dealers may have lower labour rates for older cars, to maintain customer loyalty. Toyota and Lexus offer a free 12-month extended warranty as part of a main dealer service, up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Can I protect my warranty if I don’t use a main dealer?
Yes, it’s a legal requirement that you have that freedom. So long as genuine parts are used, and the correct service schedule is maintained, you can have your car serviced elsewhere without voiding the basic manufacturer warranty.
Most independent garages will give you two prices to do any repairs needed: one using genuine parts and one using generic parts. Generic parts can often be sourced quicker, so there may be a wait if you’re wanting genuine parts. However, if it protects your warranty and maintains a great service history, the wait is worth it.
When booking repairs or servicing, it’s worth seeking out a specialist garage that only deals in one make or model of a car, particularly for premium, performance or off-road vehicles. For newer cars, they’ll know what is necessary to maintain the warranty and a full service record, but may be cheaper or more conveniently located than a main dealer. For older cars and classics, service centres are often founded by enthusiasts who have their own specialist knowledge and experience.
What’s included in a winter service?
A winter service concentrates on six main components: the tyres, battery, windscreen washer, wiper blades, lights and oil. The extent of work carried out on your vehicle during a full or winter service will vary depending on the difference in mileage since the last service, the age of the vehicle and the manufacturer —some do lengthier checks than others.
At the most basic level, an oil and oil filter change will be done; beyond this air filters and other items such as spark plugs may be changed. In all cases a general health check-up should be undertaken. If you want to find out exactly what’s carried out and when, check the service manual or contact the manufacturer for precise information.
What else do I need to know?
If you buy a car new, you’ll be offered the chance to pay for the car’s servicing in advance, or perhaps incorporate it into the car’s monthly payments if you’ve bought on PCP finance, for example.
This is known as a service plan. These help to keep costs down as everything is covered for the duration of ownership. There are often varying levels of cover, for example, some plans include basic service and maintenance, while more expensive schemes will even cover for wear and tear consumables, such as tyres.
If you are using finance to pay for your new motor, there will almost always be a contractual requirement to maintain the car within the manufacturer’s recommended schedule, and at a franchised dealer.
Do lease cars need servicing?
One of the biggest selling points for leasing is simplicity; you know how much you need to pay every month to drive. Car service and maintenance costs can be part and parcel of this monthly payment, if you choose a maintained lease contract.
While these payments may be higher, you won’t have the stress of needing to budget £250 here for a service, £200 there for a couple of tyres or £100 for full breakdown cover and anything else that might unexpectedly crop up.
If you value the ease of having practically all of your motoring costs – bar insurance and fuel – in one monthly payment, you may want to consider ticking the maintenance box.
Maintained leases generally include:
- Breakdown cover including home-start, roadside assistance and recovery
- Scheduled servicing
- Replacement tyres (within fair wear and tear limits)
- MoTs (for cars over three years old)
- Exhaust and battery (within fair wear and tear limits)
Are there other benefits to servicing a car regularly?
A well-documented service history, with receipts and dates, may not have a big impact on the value of an older car but it will definitely help it sell, particularly if expensive items such as cam belts, clutches and automatic gearbox fluids have been changed. A well maintained car will last longer, which is kinder to the environment (it will pollute less in use, as well), it’ll be more economical, and just nicer to live with overall.
