Car service cost: How much does a car service cost?

Getting your car serviced can make a dent in your hip pocket, but an unserviced car could cost you a lot more in the long run than sticking to a regular service schedule. To help you budget for your car service, we look at how much you can expect to pay.

How much does an average car service cost?

According to AutoGuru, the average car service cost in Australia is around $224 for a minor service and $397 for a logbook service, but the make and model of the car, mechanic and type of service all influence the cost.

Given all these factors, it can be difficult to predict with certainty the “average” cost you can expect to pay.

To make things a little easier for new car owners, several car manufacturers have introduced capped price servicing. Under the scheme, the cost of standard servicing is capped at a fixed upper limit for a period of time, as long as certain conditions are met, such as getting the car serviced by an approved mechanic.

This can give car owners a greater understanding of what they’ll be paying and therefore, how much to budget.

Average car service costs around Australia

Location may also impact the price you pay, with costs varying around the country.

The table below shows a snapshot of the average cost of a car service by state and territory.

Be mindful that this data is inclusive of all service types (basic and logbook), all makes, all models, and all regions within each state or territory.
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Source: data supplied to Canstar by AutoGuru, January 2024

What factors affect the cost of your car service?

There are a number of factors that influence the cost of a car service, which is why it could be beneficial to ask a few mechanics for estimates before booking any work. Typically, the car’s make and model, the mechanic, and the type of service will have the most influence on your bill.

Here’s how:

Car make and model

Every car is manufactured differently, and the age, quality and accessibility of parts can play a role in the cost of servicing it.

The recommended logbook service intervals vary between manufacturers and vehicle models. Where some cars are only required to be serviced in 12-month intervals, some manufacturers recommend six-month intervals.

If your car is covered by a capped price servicing scheme, you’ll know upfront how much you can expect to pay for your scheduled services during the period of the plan, so you can work the cost into your budget and prevent a blowout.

If your car is older, or not included in a capped price servicing scheme, it’s a good idea to contact a few mechanics in advance to request a quote for comparison.

Type and timing of service

The timing of your service depends on whether your car needs a major or minor service.

Motorama suggests as a rough guide, a minor service should occur every 10,000 km whereas a major service should occur every three years or 30,000 km.

The scheduling of major services is typically based on how many kilometres your car has travelled and/or the car’s age. The older your car gets, the more expensive it can be to maintain, as there’s likely to be more wear and tear and part replacements.

Major car services involve a full inspection and tune up of your vehicle as per the service directions in your logbook. They can typically include things such as:

• wheel alignment
• spark plug replacement
• wheel bearings
• suspension check
• brakes and brake fluid check
• filter checks and replacements
• engine and transmission oil testing and replacement
• battery tests and other general checks

Minor car services are typically more of a surface inspection initially, engine oil and filter change, fluid replacements, adjustment of tyre pressure and other small repairs. They generally don’t cover the replacement of parts, use of special tools or time-intensive repairs that may be picked up during the service.

This is how the condition of the car can impact the cost and type of service if, during basic maintenance, parts are identified as needing to be replaced. These services may be requested based on a timeframe (e.g. every six or 12-months) or distance based (e.g. every 10,000km), or whatever comes first.

The mechanic

The total amount you pay will vary depending on the standard hourly labour rates charged by the mechanic you use, and potentially whether you go with a private mechanic or car dealership.

The choice between the two is now more of a level playing field with the introduction of the Motor Vehicle Information Scheme in 2022. It allows independent Australian motor vehicle repairers to have fair access to information that previously, only car manufacturers and their affiliated repairers had.

All repairers now have equal access to service and repair information, including:

• information needed to service and repair cars or provide training
• software updates that help to connect a new spare part with a car
• information and codes for computerised systems from a car manufacturer

It aims to improve competition within the industry and provide more choice for consumers to shop around for a car service and mechanic.

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Is it better to go with a dealership or private mechanic?

Choosing whether to get your car serviced at the dealership or through a private mechanic will depend on your vehicle and personal needs and circumstances.

Some people may think car owners will void the manufacturer’s warranty should they get the car serviced at an independent garage, but that’s not the case.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says consumers have a right to choose who carries out repairs and service on their cars under the manufacturer’s warranty, subject to the work being performed in accordance with the manufacturer’s standards.

But if an issue is identified while your car is under warranty, the dealership will most likely need to manage the repairs.

It’s also not necessarily true that servicing with a dealership will cost you significantly more, since the introduction of capped price servicing has provided transparency and in some cases, manufacturers subsidise the dealership for that work. Under the law more independent mechanics can compete with the dealerships.

As costs can vary based on a number of factors, it’s best to do your research and compare your options.

→Compare new car servicing brands and car servicing chains with Canstar Blue

How can car owners keep service costs down?

One way to keep car service costs down is with regular servicing. This can help ensure your car is reliable and safe to drive. It can also help you pick up on any issues that require future attention before they become an expensive problem requiring major repairs.

Cover image source: A_stockphoto/Shutterstock.com