Which Car Service Do I Need? A guide to choosing the right service at the right price

Not sure what service is due on your vehicle? Even in this modern age, there is still conflicting information out there about what servicing plan you should follow to get the best out of your vehicle. Choosing the right service doesn’t have to be complicated. Here, we’ve compiled a guide to the different car service types and when and where you should get yours done.

Why Do You Need Your Car Serviced?

Regular servicing is important for the maintenance of any vehicle, but is particularly necessary for newer cars or vans and those under warranty. Servicing your vehicle at the correct intervals helps:

• Prevent breakdowns and costly repairs
• Improve fuel efficiency
• Extend the life of your car
• Keep you and your passengers safe
• Maintain your car’s resale value
• Protect your manufacturer’s warranty
• Give you peace of mind

Skipping services might save money short-term, but it often leads to bigger bills later.

Car Service Types

Some garages and vehicle owners are still loyal to the good old Interim, Full and Major services, swapping between the three as deemed necessary. While this may have been how it was done a few years ago, today’s modern cars require you to follow more specific, complex service plans to maintain them, whether or not they have a warranty. These vehicle-specific service schedules are commonly referred to as menu servicing or manufacturer-approved, but can be more easily understood as the service you would receive from the main dealership. But what makes this a better alternative than just following the 3 standard service types? Check out a direct comparison of each service type below.

Service Type	Purpose	What’s Included	Parts Used	Warranty Impact	Cost
Manufacturer-Specific Service	Maintains vehicle exactly to factory standards and schedule	Follows the official service schedule for the vehicle’s age/mileage. Specific items replaced precisely when the manufacturer requires (e.g., DSG oil, Haldex service, timing belt intervals, specific coolant types). Specific inspections tailored to that particular make and model.	OEM (manufacturer-approved) parts & fluids	Protects warranty (especially new vehicles). Maintains resale value best.	£-£££ (depends on what is due)
Interim Service	Basic 6-month or high-mileage maintenance	Oil + filter, basic safety checks, tyres, brakes, fluid top-ups, simple inspections	Aftermarket or OEM depending on provider	Can affect warranty	£ (Cheapest)
Full Service	Annual comprehensive maintenance	Everything in Interim + air filter, deeper checks of brakes, steering, suspension, battery, cooling system	Aftermarket or OEM parts depending on provider	Can affect warranty	££
Major Service	Deep service every 2–3 years or high mileage	Full Service + spark plugs, brake fluid change, brake service, coolant change, fuel filter (diesel), extensive inspections	Aftermarket or OEM depending on provider	May affect warranty	£££

As shown in the table above, manufacturer-approved service schedules ensure your vehicle is up to date on all its filter changes, timing belt and auxiliary belt replacements and oil changes, using the correct lubricants and Original Equipment Manufacturer parts (components made by the same company that produced the original part for the vehicle). It also means that all the relevant elements on your particular make and model of vehicle are checked as and when they should be, such as the sunroof condition.

There is also a case to be made about over-servicing a vehicle. If you are unsure what service items are due on your vehicle, you may fall into the trap of booking it in for a full or major service when it’s not needed. This will obviously result in spending more money than you need to and in the wrong places; it’s possible to over-service certain parts and under-service others by booking in for these generic services as opposed to consulting the manufacturer-specific schedules.

How Often Should You Service Your Car?

Most vehicles need servicing every 12 months. This is if they are driven under normal road and weather conditions and don’t exceed the average mileage. If you:

• Drive short trips
• Do more than the average mileage per year
• Drive in heavy traffic (do a lot of stopping and starting)
• Tow heavy loads
• Don’t drive your vehicle regularly
• Drive a van or car for work

…you may need more frequent servicing. This is why it’s important to check your owner’s manual and consult a garage that offers manufacturer-recommended servicing to ensure your vehicle is serviced at the correct intervals.

For example, a vehicle that is used to commute an hour to work and an hour home 5 days a week will need a service more often than once a year in order to maintain its safety. Conversely, the opposite is true, with vehicles driven very little (short trips to the local shop once every week) potentially needing more maintenance. As much as a lot of driving can result in more wear and tear, too little driving can also be damaging, potentially resulting in a dead battery and seized brakes.

Choosing the Right Car Garage

When searching for the best place for car servicing near you, look for qualified technicians, good reviews and recommendations, positive local image, clear pricing, quality parts and friendly customer service. A good service provider explains issues clearly and never pressures you into any work. It can be hard to find a trustworthy garage offering all the above that is still affordable – for this reason, it is understandable that a lot of people default to using their local main dealer. However, there are independent garages that offer all of the above and main-dealer-style servicing, but for a more affordable price. Use Google reviews – which are impartial and provide a good overview of a company – to compare your local garages.

Car Service vs. MOT

Some people might believe that if their vehicle has had its MOT, it is sorted until next year’s test. But this does not replace the need for a service. An MOT (Ministry of Transport test) is a legal requirement in the UK for most vehicles over three years old. Its purpose is to check that your car meets minimum safety and environmental standards by law, checking things like brakes (through the wheels), lights and indicators, seatbelts, emissions and suspension.

Key points about an MOT:

• It’s a pass or fail
• It does not fix anything
• It only checks your car’s condition on the day of the test
• Passing an MOT does not mean your car is in perfect condition

A car service is routine maintenance, not a legal requirement; however, still crucial. It serves to keep your car running well and prevent problems from developing.

In its most basic form, a service includes:

• Oil and filter change
• Fluid checks and top-ups
• Engine and system inspections
• Brake and tyre condition checks
• Replacing worn parts before they fail

Depending on your specific vehicle and its mileage and age, it may also include brake fluid, air, fuel or pollen filter changes, auxiliary belt, cambelt or spark plug replacements, among other things. A good garage should provide you with a clear report following your vehicle’s inspection to let you know of anything that requires replacement (like your brakes or tyres, for example) and may warn you of things that are on their way out and need further inspection or changing in the future.

A service is far more comprehensive than an MOT…

• It’s preventative, not a test
• Includes more thorough checks
• There’s no pass or fail
• Problems are identified early
• It improves performance, reliability and lifespan
• It maintains your warranty

Do You Need a Service and an MOT?

Yes. An MOT checks if your car is legal to drive, while a service keeps it healthy and reliable.

Think of it this way:

• An MOT is like a medical check to see if you’re fit to leave the house
• A service is like regular exercise and checkups to stay healthy

Many drivers book a service at the same time as their MOT—it’s convenient and can help reduce the risk of MOT failures.

A Quick Note on Electric and Hybrid Servicing

Electric and Hybrid vehicles still need servicing, but they have fewer moving parts and different service inspections. Again, this is why it is recommended to go by the manufacturer’s schedule as opposed to generic services.

Checks on an EV or hybrid vehicle include:

• Brakes
• Battery and cables
• Suspension and tyre inspections
• Cooling system
• Air conditioning
• Sundries (lights, levels, wipers)

There’s no real engine on an electric vehicle, so there’s no need for oil changes. This means a service is required less often than with petrol and diesel cars; however, it is still just as imperative. You might be asking: “Can normal garages service hybrid and electric vehicles?” The good news is, you don’t have to go to the main dealer, as, yes, there are independent garages that offer this service. The technicians working on these vehicles must be specially trained and certified. This requires further qualifications, so there are only a handful of local garages able to work on electric and hybrid vehicles at the moment.

Common Car Servicing Mistakes to Avoid

• Skipping services to save money
  This may result in the opposite and cost you more in the long run.
• Ignoring warning lights
  A warning appears on your dashboard for a reason – get it checked as soon as possible at a garage that can do diagnostics.
• Not keeping service records
  Most cars will come with their own service books, where your garage can record what service they have done on the vehicle and the date. Newer cars may use an online platform to keep service records, and not all garages will have access to this. Keeping service records ensures you can remember what has been done on your vehicle in the past and helps you to sell it in the future.
• Delaying fixing minor issues until they become major
  As much as it’s tempting to put things off, when it comes to vehicles, it’s always best to sort out any reported issues sooner rather than later to prevent further damage.
• Assuming all services are the same
  As explained, services come in all shapes and sizes depending on the vehicle’s make and model, mileage, usage, and age. What your vehicle needs service-wise will almost certainly be different year to year and compared to others on the road.
  

Car servicing doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. Understanding the basics helps you make smarter, informed decisions, avoid unnecessary costs, and keep your car running safely for years. Regular servicing is an investment, not an expense, and it pays off every time you turn the key.