How often should your car be serviced?
Having your car serviced can seem like a financial burden, but keeping it regularly maintained will extend its life and help it retain more of its value. When you come to sell the car, being able to show that your car has been serviced according to its maker’s recommended schedule will make it more appealing and boost its resale value. And if your car is written off after an accident, its insurer is likely to pay out more for a car with a full service history.
The technicians working on your car will inspect the condition of the brakes, suspension, tyres and other crucial parts, and this will enable them to identify any potential problems and recommend fixes before they get too serious.
In most instances, you should have your car serviced annually or before it reaches a certain mileage outlined by the manufacturer (typically 12,000 miles), whichever comes first. Most cars will remind you with a warning light or a message on the dashboard when it’s time for a service, but you can also check the service interval information in your car’s handbook.
The work carried out during a service depends on the service interval your car has reached. Most initial services for new cars involve an oil and filter change and visual inspection of safety-related items, then the next service will also include the replacement of components with a 24-month lifespan, such as brake fluid and interior pollen filter. In addition, depending on the model, other items such as fuel filters and spark plugs (for petrol cars) will need replacing based on time or mileage.
It’s important to take your car’s service booklet to the garage or dealership so they can stamp it and record the date the service was carried out, as well as noting exactly what work was performed. A growing number of cars come with no physical handbook, but the servicing agent should be able to log into the car maker’s online portal and add in information about the service that has been performed.