Two questions come up on nearly every service booking: "how often do I actually need this?" and "what am I even paying for?" Both are fair, and the honest answer is that the industry has done a good job of keeping them vague. So here's the plain version, no mystery, because a well-serviced car is cheaper to run and a lot less likely to leave you stranded, and you should know exactly what you're buying.
How often should I service my car?
As a general rule, every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. That covers most cars and most drivers.
But the honest answer is "it depends on how you use it". If you do lots of short, stop-start journeys, sit in traffic, or mostly do town miles, your car is working harder than the mileage suggests and is better off serviced sooner. If you do steady motorway miles, you're at the easier end. Your handbook will list the manufacturer's schedule, and that's the place to start, but how you actually drive matters just as much as the number on the clock.
What's the difference between a basic and a full service?
A basic service (sometimes called an interim service) is the lighter one, usually around every six months or 6,000 miles. It's mainly an oil and filter change plus a check over the safety-critical bits, designed to catch problems between full services.
A full service is the thorough one, usually every 12 months or 12,000 miles. It's a much longer list and it's the one most people mean when they say "service". If you only do one, make it the full one.
What's actually included in a full service?
This is where it should stop being vague. A proper full service covers, at minimum:
- ▸Engine oil and oil filter replaced
- ▸Air filter, and other filters checked or replaced to schedule
- ▸All fluid levels checked and topped up (coolant, brake fluid, power steering, screenwash)
- ▸Brakes inspected, pads, discs and lines
- ▸Tyres checked for tread, pressure and damage
- ▸All lights and wipers checked
- ▸Battery condition and charging tested
- ▸Drive belts and hoses inspected for wear
- ▸Suspension and steering checked
- ▸A diagnostic scan for any stored fault codes
- ▸A road test
You should get told what was done and what, if anything, needs attention, with a price before any extra work. The oil change is the heart of it, and if you want to understand why it matters so much, we've covered when to change your engine oil in more detail.
Do I have to use a main dealer to keep my warranty?
No, and this one saves people a fortune. As long as your car is serviced to the manufacturer's schedule, using the correct-spec genuine or OEM-quality parts, and it's properly recorded, you can use a good independent without affecting your manufacturer's warranty. This is protected in law (the block exemption rules). The dealer can't insist you only ever use them. We service to schedule, use genuine or OEM parts, and stamp the book, so your warranty stays intact and you're not paying dealer rates.
How do I know if I'm being sold work I don't need?
Ask to see it. Any mechanic worth trusting will happily show you the worn part, the low pad, the split boot, whatever it is, and explain why it matters now rather than later. If something can safely wait, you should be told that too. And you should never get "while we were in there" extras added without a phone call first.
That's the standard I built this business on. If it can wait, I'll tell you. If there's a cheaper way to do it right, I'll offer it.
The honest bit
A service feels like money spent on a car that seems fine. But it's the cheapest insurance you'll buy all year: a fresh oil change and a proper check-over catches the small stuff long before it turns into a tow truck and a four-figure bill. Our car servicing starts from £99, a full service is £149, or if you'd rather not think about it at all, the Service Plan spreads it over the year from £20 a month and includes the checks.
Due a service? Give us a call and we'll come to you, anywhere from Dudley to Stourbridge.