mechanics.trade
Car servicing
A service is planned maintenance.
What car servicing means
The garage replaces the parts that wear out on a schedule rather than waiting for them to fail: engine oil, the oil filter, air and pollen filters, spark plugs, and the fluids. They also check the things that are cheap to catch early, like brake wear and tyre condition. An interim service is usually every six months or 6,000 miles, a full service every twelve months or 12,000 miles.
What the job covers
- Interim service at six months or 6,000 miles
- Full service at twelve months or 12,000 miles
- Manufacturer schedule servicing that protects the warranty
- Service book stamped and digital record updated
- Oil, filters, plugs and fluid levels
When you might need it
- The service light has come on, or the mileage since the last one is past the interval in your handbook.
- The car is due its yearly check and you would rather find a worn part now than at the MOT.
- You are about to sell the car. A stamped service record is worth more than it costs.
What it costs, and what changes the price
Typically £120 to £280.
- Interim services cost less than full ones because fewer parts are replaced.
- Engine size and oil type matter. A long-life synthetic oil costs more than a standard one and some engines will take nothing else.
- A main dealer usually charges more per hour than an independent garage for the same schedule.
How long it takes
An interim service is often done in an hour or two. A full service usually takes half a day.
What the MOT data shows
Out of 42,728,066 MOT tests in 2025, these are the parts covered by this job that testers recorded as faults.
| Part | Recorded in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Condition | 1,903,139 |
Common questions
Will servicing somewhere other than a main dealer void my warranty?
No. As long as the garage follows the manufacturer's schedule and uses parts of matching quality, your warranty stands. This has been the case across the EU and UK for years and it is why independent garages can service a car still under warranty.
What is the difference between an interim and a full service?
An interim covers oil, filter and a safety check. A full service adds more filters, spark plugs on petrol engines, and a longer list of checks.
Do I need a service every year if I hardly drive?
Oil degrades with time as well as mileage, so most handbooks give an interval in months as well as miles. Whichever comes first is the one to follow.