Car servicing explained

What is a car service?

Servicing is preventative work carried out to a schedule - usually by time, mileage or a service indicator in the car. A garage replaces consumables such as engine oil and filters, then inspects safety and wear items and reports anything that needs attention now or soon.

Because servicing is unregulated, two garages can both sell you a "full service" and do different amounts of work. The only reliable way to compare is to ask for the checklist each garage works to and what parts and oil are included.

• Not a legal requirement - but often required to keep a manufacturer warranty or service plan valid
• Separate from the MOT, which is a legal annual roadworthiness test
• Follows either the manufacturer schedule or a garage's own interim/full/major tiers

Interim, full and major services

Most independent garages sell three tiers. The names are conventions, not standards, so always check the itemised list.

• Interim service - typically every 6 months or ~6,000 miles. Oil and oil filter, plus a safety and fluid check. Suited to high-mileage drivers between full services.
• Full service - typically every 12 months or ~12,000 miles. Everything in an interim service plus additional filters and a longer inspection list.
• Major service - typically every 2 years or ~24,000 miles. A full service plus longer-interval items such as spark plugs, brake fluid or additional filters, depending on the schedule.

Manufacturer schedules override these tiers. If your car is under warranty or on a service plan, follow the manufacturer's schedule and keep the evidence.

How often should you service your car?

Follow whichever comes first: the time interval or the mileage interval in your handbook or service indicator. Many modern cars use variable or condition-based servicing and will tell you when a service is due; older cars usually use fixed intervals.

Short journeys, heavy towing, stop-start city driving and long periods of standing all shorten the useful life of oil, so err towards the shorter interval if that describes your driving.

What affects the price

Labour rate, engine size, oil specification, parts brand and how many extra items fall due at the same visit are the biggest drivers. A quote that looks cheap may exclude items that another garage includes.

• Labour rates vary widely between regions and between independents and franchised dealers
• Long-life or specialist oils cost significantly more than standard grades
• Diesel particulate filters, DSG/automatic gearbox oil and cambelts are separate scheduled jobs, not part of a routine service

Price ranges on this page are Serviced247 editorial estimates of typical UK independent-garage pricing. They are not quotes, no garage is bound by them, and they vary by vehicle, parts and location. See our methodology for how we produce them.

How to compare service quotes properly

• Ask for the service checklist in writing and what grade of oil is used
• Check whether parts are OE, OE-equivalent or budget, and what warranty comes with them
• Confirm whether the price includes VAT and any diagnostic or disposal charges
• Ask that any extra work is authorised by you before it is carried out
• Ask whether the service will be recorded in your service book or digital service record

Servicing and the MOT are not the same thing

The MOT is a legal annual test of roadworthiness at a point in time. It does not check the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox and it is not maintenance. A service is maintenance and has no legal status. Many drivers book both at the same visit to save a trip - see our MOT and service guide for how that works.