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Car servicing: How to keep your car in top condition
What's covered in a car service?
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 11/09/2025
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 11/09/2025
Want your car to run smoothly and safely for as long as possible? You’ll need to take extra special care of it. Regular servicing can help you do this.
Car servicing is essentially when a professional provides a comprehensive health check of your vehicle. It will help keep your vehicle safe to drive, assessing its brakes, engine, fluids and general condition.
Regular services can help keep your car running, prevent future issues and extend how long it lasts (while also keeping its value). The type of service you choose depends on how many miles you’ve driven and the age and state of your vehicle.
Your car service history is a complete record of the maintenance and repair work that has been carried out since it was manufactured. It shows the vehicle has been well maintained and could increase its resale value. A physical book or digital record, it can also help ensure the manufacturer’s warranty is valid.
Although it may differ between garages, there are typically three types of car service:
An interim service is recommended every 6 months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes first. This service is particularly beneficial for high-mileage drivers, (Halfords recommends it for those who drive 2,000 miles or more per month), as they may require more than one service a year to maintain their vehicle's condition.
An interim service is designed to keep cars roadworthy in-between the annual, more in-depth services. A mechanic will check steering, suspension and tyres but this is not a replacement for a full service. An interim service tends to include:
A mechanic might also change your oil, replace your oil filter and inspect a drive belt but this could vary between garages.
Recommended every 12 months or 12,000 miles, a full car service is a more comprehensive annual check with some preventative maintenance. During a full service, a mechanic will make up to 80 checks to ensure your car is safe and roadworthy.
A full service can help your car run better by identifying problems before they get worse. A mechanic will look at the most important components of your car, ensuring the safety and mechanical systems are in working order and that your car is performing to its highest standard.
They’ll also look at your windscreen, wipers, mirrors, seat belts, and assess bodywork for damage, which you can arrange to be repaired separately. Additional checks could also include air con, exhausts and fuel pipes.
Full services are often booked in at the same time as an MOT test.
This will vary between type of service, vehicle and garage but the RAC claims the average cost for a full service is between £170 and £300.
In a major service, a mechanic will provide a comprehensive check of your car, as they do in an annual service, but also check and change parts that need replacing on a longer-term basis e.g. brake fluid. It’s recommended you book a major service every two years or 24,000 miles - again, whichever one comes first.
According to The AA’s car servicing complete guide, major service checks to your car might include:
As an example of what individual garages may offer, Arnold Clark’s major service also includes:
If you own a higher-specification or more expensive model, you may need a manufacturer’s service. You can find out when this will be in your handbook.
In this service, mechanics will adhere to individual manufacturer service schedules and may only use official parts and fluids. It will normally be carried out at the dealership where you sold the car and can be more expensive.
Although there is no legal requirement, many manufacturers recommend you service your car at least once a year, or after you’ve driven 12,000 miles. If you are a high-mileage driver, you can consider an interim service.
There are a few options when it comes to servicing your car:
Yes, you legally need to pass an MOT test every year, but you do not need to put your car through a service. However, it is recommended that your car goes through an annual service to keep it in tip-top condition.
Services cost more than MOTs because they are more thorough maintenance checks. A service has many more checks than an MOT and can include replacement of fluids and other car parts.
You can find out more in our ‘What’s the difference between an MOT and service’ blog post.
It’s important to keep on top of regular servicing of your vehicle. Ideally, you should have your car serviced at least once a year - and maybe more if you are a high-mileage driver. You could alternate between full and major services or refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
When it’s time to take the car into a garage, ensure you take it to a trusted mechanic. Shop around and do your research before taking your car in. It’s so important to keep your car moving and avoid any unnecessary costs.
While your car is in the garage, you may still need to get around and this is where temporary car insurance can help. Need to borrow a friend or family member’s vehicle while your car goes through its service and MOT?
Tempcover makes it extra easy with quotes in under 2 minutes, comprehensive cover and no impact on any existing no claims bonuses.
https://www.kwik-fit.com/blog/what-is-included-in-a-car-service
https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/service-repair/car-servicing-complete-guide
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/how-to/what-is-a-car-service-car-service-checklist/
https://www.halfords.com/car-servicing/advice/what-service-does-my-car-need.html
https://www.halfords.com/car-servicing/
https://www.halfords.com/car-servicing/advice/car-servicing-whats-included.html
This will depend on the type of vehicle, how busy the garage is and other factors. The AA states interim services can take between 30 and 90 minutes, while a full service can take around three hours. If a mechanic discovers a problem and you decide to repair it, this will add extra time.
If you’re confident you have the right tools and knowledge, you can perform some basic car servicing like an oil change. It is recommended a professional carries out your service to ensure your car is roadworthy and legal.
If you’ve bought a new car, you should follow the manufacturer’s guidance. This should be included in the owner’s manual. It’s generally recommended that cars go through a service after a year or once they reach 12,000 miles.
While not a comprehensive clutch repair or replacement service, a mechanic will tend to check a vehicle’s clutch during a full service. This falls under the transmission section and they’ll look out for slips or unusual noises, topping up clutch fluid if needed. If they find an issue, they will flag this and provide a quote for this additional work.
A service is a comprehensive maintenance service and check of your vehicle, while an MOT is a legal test that checks your car is in roadworthy condition. A service includes replacing components, topping up fluids, and checking for potential problems. As it takes longer to perform a service than an MOT, you also have to factor in labour costs.
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