How much does a car service cost?
Published by the Serviced247 editorial teamLast reviewed 24 October 2026
There is no standard price for a car service because there is no standard service. What you pay depends on the tier of service, the car, the oil specification, the parts used and the garage's hourly labour rate.
This page explains the cost drivers so you can read a quote properly rather than just comparing headline numbers.
What drives the price
- Service tier - interim, full or major, or a manufacturer-schedule service
- Labour rate - franchised dealers generally charge more per hour than independents; rates also vary sharply by region
- Oil - long-life and low-ash specifications cost far more than standard grades, and larger engines need more of it
- Parts - OE, OE-equivalent and budget parts have very different prices and warranties
- Coinciding items - brake fluid, spark plugs or filters falling due at the same visit
- VAT and sundries - disposal, consumables and diagnostic charges are sometimes quoted separately
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.
Common extras that are not part of a service
- MOT test (statutory maximum fee for a car is set by the DVSA)
- Cambelt or timing chain replacement
- Air-conditioning regas
- Brake pads, discs or tyres identified during the inspection
- Gearbox, DSG or differential oil
- Diagnostics for a fault or warning light
Reducing the cost without cutting corners
- Get more than one itemised quote for the same checklist
- Ask whether OE-equivalent parts are an option and what warranty they carry
- Book the MOT and service in one visit to save a second trip
- Fix advisories early - small items get expensive when they take other components with them
- Avoid paying for items that are not due; ask the garage to show the schedule
How we talk about price
Serviced247 does not hold garage price lists. Any range we publish is an editorial estimate of typical UK independent pricing, clearly labelled as such, and is never presented as a quote or as a specific garage's price. Our methodology page explains how we produce and review these ranges.