How often should you service your car?

In this article, we cover how often you should service your car and types of car servicing. 

How often should you service your car?

Your car logbook or owner manual should inform you of how often your vehicle requires servicing. Your car manufacturer will usually recommend maximum times and distances to leave between servicing intervals; and will consider factors such as the age, make and model of your vehicle. Professional servicing is generally recommended every six months or 10,000km (whichever comes first), but this may vary. If you have an older car, you might choose to service it more regularly, such as every 5,000km or three months.

What is included in a car service?

What’s included in a car service often differs depending on what type of service you require. Mechanics will often make a distinction between major and minor car services, as well as interim servicing. Minor services can be relatively quick (taking as little as an hour and a half), and can include testing the car’s oil and oil filter, the steering and suspension, lights, windscreen wipers, spark plugs, leads, air conditioning, brakes and brake fluid.

In contrast, a major service can often take most of the day. It may involve the same servicing requirements of a minor service, as well as repacking wheel bearings, checking all external engine belts and hoses, and inspecting the vehicle for safety issues.

Interim servicing can include, performing an engine oil and engine oil filter change in between normal service intervals.

What is not included in a car service?

If other faults are found during a service your mechanic will often give you a quote for these separate issues. These issues could include the replacement of tyres, brake discs or pads, or other major work.

Compare Car Insurance

Why should you service your car?

Not servicing your car can lead to safety issues. As well as being costly, an emergency breakdown can put you, or anyone in your car, at risk on the road. Issues such as worn out tyres or faulty brakes bring potential to create major safety hazards.

If you service your car regularly, it can help reduce the likelihood that you’ll need to spend money to cover emergency repairs that are needed at short notice for your car. RACQ, the peak Queensland motoring body, says routine car maintenance, including basic DIY car checks, can also help you to reduce the risk of a breakdown. Regular servicing can help ensure your vehicle remains safe and reliable over time.

Find out: What is the cost of a car service?

What service intervals apply for a new car?

For a new car, your car manufacturer will generally specify maximum time and maximum distance intervals between services, with most sticking to around the six-month or 10,000km mark. If you buy a new car, you can speak with your car dealer for more information about your recommended car service schedule. You may also have capped-price servicing included as part of your new car purchase.

Compare Car Loans

What is capped-price servicing?

Capped-price servicing is a broad industry term for a common service, in which you are told what the cost will be before work starts. A manufacturer will provide you with a servicing schedule which will cover part of your ownership period. This could be three, six or five years, or for the life of your vehicle.

Online service calculators

As well as checking your logbook, you may be able to find out when your new car is due for a service by entering relevant details on the manufacturer’s Australian website. Many major car manufacturers provide an online owners’ service calculator to give you an idea of when your car needs to be serviced, as well as the approximate cost for capped price servicing.

Who should service your car?

Did you know that if you buy a new car, you aren’t obligated to have it serviced by any particular car dealership during the factory warranty period? It’s up to you, as the owner of a car, to decide who services it. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says consumers can typically choose who carries out repairs and services on their cars under the manufacturer’s warranty, subject to the work being performed in accordance with the manufacturer’s standards. Consumer guarantees still apply under Australian Consumer Law (ACL). But keep in mind that there’s a difference between servicing and warranty work.

Factory warranties, genuine parts and car servicing

A vehicle manufacturer can “refuse a warranty claim where there is evidence of lack of maintenance, inappropriate work practices or where a non-genuine replacement part has failed or caused other damage” says the RACQ. Although there can be savings with using non-genuine service parts, it can sometimes be worthwhile using original equipment parts—or at least comparable quality parts for car repairs—particularly if your vehicle is covered by a new car warranty.

What service intervals apply for a used car?

The recommended service intervals that apply for a used car are typically every six or 12 months, or each 5,000km or 10,000km. This can vary depending on your make, model and how you use your vehicle. If you are in doubt, check your logbook or speak to a professional mechanic for expert advice.

What happens if you miss a car service?

Think about how long it’s been between car services, plus the issues that have come up since then, and the overall condition of your car. Could there be hidden issues or problems you aren’t aware of? Servicing your car regularly can help ensure it runs smoothly, and ensure that your car is safer and runs for longer.

Car dealerships could push back about covering repairs under warranty if you miss multiple services. On the flipside, if you’re just a little bit late in having your car serviced and your car otherwise has an excellent service history and is in great condition, it may not be such a big deal. If you aren’t sure about your servicing schedule or the urgency to get your car serviced, you may find it helpful to speak to a qualified and reputable mechanic.

Cover image source: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com