When is my car service due?

Not quite sure when the next service is due and how often should you service your car? We are here to help.

Service intervals can vary slightly for every make/model. A lot of new cars and modern cars don’t require servicing that often. Your annual mileage will also determine how often you should service your car.

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Typical service intervals on UK cars

Service Type	Service Indicator
Regular Maintenance	When oil and the oil filter need replacement
Interim Service	Every 6 months or 6,000 miles (whichever comes first)
Full Service	Every 12 months or 12,000 miles (whichever comes first)
Manufacturer Service	As per manufacturer service schedule, check your car manual or use our product to find out

To find out when your next service is due check your car manual or local garage for more information. You can also use Car Guide to find out what service is due next and what services should have been done in the past.

What is the difference between Interim and Full Service?

The main difference is the number of things that get checked at the interim service and full service. Check a detailed breakdown of what’s included.

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Why is regular car servicing important?

Although cars got more reliable over the years, that doesn’t mean that a regular servicing is not needed.

At Car Guide, we believe that every car benefits from an annual service. An annual service is essential to ensure that your car is safe and healthy. It can also identify potential problems early on which will reduce the risk of more serious and costly problems in the future.

What is the difference between an MOT test and a car service?

Many people think that a service is just an MOT. However, an MOT and a service are two very different things. An MOT is a legal requirement which provides a technical inspection of the vehicle. Whereas a service ensures your car is safe for the road by checking and replacing wear and tear parts and fluids.

What is service history and why is it important?

Service history is a record of all the maintenance work and repairs that were carried out on a vehicle. It tells you exactly when and where these repairs took place.

Checking service history is key when buying a used car. A well-maintained car not only depreciates less but also could cost less in the long-run. The only way to find out service history is to ask the current car owner or the dealer/garages where the car gets serviced.

Tip: You can negotiate a better deal if the car doesn’t have a full history or is due a major service.

What should a service history look like? And when is my service due?

Not sure what the service history should look like or what service is due soon? Try Car Guide! With our personalised car check you will be equipped with the information you need to negotiate the best deal! On top of service schedules and MOT history you will also find out what service is due next, what is your car likely to fail the next MOT on, and you can see the true cost of ownership. Buy like a pro with Car Guide.

Note: There is no central database of service history, therefore the only way to find out real service history is to ask the current car owner or the garage/dealer where the car gets serviced. Car Guide can only provide you with what the service history should look like based on manufacturer service schedules.

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Frequently asked questions

How often should you service your car?

Manufacturers typically recommend having a car serviced every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Some manufacturers have more specific service schedules and you can check this for any car here.

How long does a car service take?

This depends on the type of a service you are getting done, i.e an interim, full or major. Typically a service should not take longer than 3 hours but the best thing to do is to call your local garage and check which service is recommended and how long it will take. We also provide this information here.

How much is a car service?

On average a typical car service costs around £125 in the UK. This doesn’t include any repairs or new parts. The average hourly labour rate for a franchised dealer is £92 whereas for an independent garage it is £63. It is worth shopping around but if your vehicle is under warranty you want to ensure that only approved parts are used in order not to invalidate your warranty. We include service schedules and repair costs in our paid check. Check your car today.

What does a full service include on a car?

Typically a full service will include oil change, oil filter change, air filter replacement, top-up of fluids i.e. brake/power steering/coolant and a number of visual checks to see if the car is developing any major wear and tear issues. It is highly recommended to get your car serviced at least once a year.

Check car service history

If you want to know what service should have been done on a car, you can use our vehicle check which includes manufacturer service schedules. Please note that there isn’t a central database of service history, therefore we can’t provide you with an actual service history of a car. If you know where the car was usually serviced, you could phone up the dealership or garage and ask them.