Car service is an essential part of having a car for numerous reasons. Service is needed to keep your vehicle running well, and your warranty is valid for both manufacturer and aftermarket warranties. But many people need to learn what a car service includes and how much it will cost. If your car needs a regular checkup or you think it might have a problem, a local car garage or mechanic can help.
A full-service history is also a big plus when you’re trying to sell your car. It shows buyers that you’ve kept up with maintenance, which means you can ask for the total asking price. But many drivers don’t know much about caring for their cars. We’ll tell you what to expect and how to take care of your garage.
| Maintenance | Frequency | Estimated Cost |
| Oil change | Every 5,000-7,500 miles | $35-$75 |
| Tire rotation | Every 5,000-8,000 miles | $24-$100 |
| Tire replacement | Every 6 years | $50-$300 |
| Basic inspection | Every 5,000 miles | $150-$250 |
| Air filter replacement | Every 20,000-60,000 miles | $20-$75 |
| Brake pad replacement | Every 30,000-50,000 miles | $115-$300 |
| Battery replacement | Every 3-5 years | $60-$200 |
| Wiper replacement | Every 0.5-1 year | $10-$45 |
| Serpentine belt replacement | Every 50,000 miles | $150-$500 |
| Spark plug replacement | Every 100,000 miles | $100-$400 |
Full Service: What it Includes?
When your car gets full service, all of its basic parts are checked to ensure they work well and run well. Full car service includes changing the oil, fluids, air, and fuel filters, checking and rotating the tires, and ensuring the sensors and emission controls are working. During a full-service maintenance check, mechanics will also do a multipoint check. The inspection includes that.
You might have to pay more money if the mechanic finds something wrong with the car. Things like spark plugs and fuel filters that need to be replaced as part of the maintenance plan are included in the original cost. Especially if you go to a dealer or the car is still under warranty. But, depending on your car, warranty, and the garage, they may be outside of routine maintenance. Some people add certain things as extras or a major tune-up, which will cost more.
Changing the oil and filter and rotating the tires can be done between scheduled maintenance. Every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, the oil, and filter should be changed, and the tires should be rotated every 3,000 to 7,000 miles. This stuff can cost anywhere from $20 to $100. If you keep up with them, your maintenance checks will cost less because there will be fewer problems to fix. This practice will also mean less money spent on repairs over the life of your car.
Replacing parts
After a full inspection, a mechanic might say that some parts need to be replaced. This is just advice, and you don’t have to do it right then, but your mechanic will tell you how long your current part is expected to last and how much it will cost if it breaks down.
Some of the planned costs of owning a car are new tires, wiper blades, a new battery, an engine air filter, new brake pads, and a new battery. Each tire can cost between $50 and $300, but each wiper blade only costs between $7 and $15. Depending on the make and model of your car, air filters can cost between $20 and $25, and brake pads can cost between $100 and $350. The price of a battery can range from $60 to $100.
You should keep up with all these things between inspections and replace them as needed. Most of these parts have mileage or expiration dates on their warranties that show when they need to be changed. If something is wrong with your car, it will let you know before you have to replace parts. Some of these basic parts may need to be replaced if your dashboard lights are on, your car is hard to start, or it runs rough.
Importance of Full Service
Even if you take care of your car’s basic needs, you can still benefit from a full-service inspection. One of the main benefits is that your mechanic can catch a problem before it gets worse and costs a lot to fix. This lets you know so you can fix it quickly and save money. Overall, full-service maintenance saves you money because it keeps you from paying for expensive repairs down the road.
Other Types of Car Services
There are basically three kinds of car service: Interim, Full, and Major. When you go to different garages and dealerships, they may give their packages different names to try to make it their own. Don’t be confused by this; a tiered pricing structure always has three levels.
Interim
Different auto shops or garages include different things in their interim service. It can generally involve a visual check of about 35 crucial parts of a car. Some of these are the ABS, how often the timing belt needs to be changed, the power steering, the battery, the steering and suspension, the brake pads, the fuel lines, and many more. These are on top of changing the oil and filter and topping off or replacing fluids. Getting your car serviced every 6 months or 6,000 miles is best, whichever comes first.
Major Service
This is almost like a full-service. Some garages don’t offer this service because their full car service already covers it. For those who do, it includes everything in full service and changing the spark plug and other car parts that wear out over time.
What is an MOT?
An MOT is a test done once a year to make sure your car is safe and can be driven on the road. It’s a legal obligation if your car is older than three years. Without a valid MOT, you can’t drive your vehicle on the road.
Cost of Car Services
The service cost depends on how big your engine is and what kind of oil you want. Your car’s make and model will determine the service cost, so it’s always a good idea to get a quote before you bring your car in. This table shows the starting cost of each service.
| Service Type | 0cc-1199cc | 1200cc-1799cc | 1800cc-2499cc | Over 2499cc |
| Interim Service | $136.68 | $160.45 | $184.22 | $196.11 |
| Interim Service and MOT | $166.39 | $190.16 | $213.94 | $225.82 |
| Full Service | $207.99 | $231.76 | $255.54 | $267.42 |
| Full Service and MOT | $231.76 | $255.54 | $279.31 | $291.19 |
| Major Service | $267.42 | $291.19 | $314.97 | $294.76 |
| Major Service and MOT | $285.25 | $309.02 | $332.79 | $344.68 |
What is the cheapest car service?
The Interim Service will be the most affordable car service. On the other hand, drivers who want peace of mind that their car is safe to drive should get their oil and filters changed.
Wrapping Up
Service is meant to keep your car safe to drive by keeping all its parts in good shape. A service should find any signs of excessive wear and tear that could lead to a breakdown. It will also replace any parts that are close to breaking or are already broken.
When choosing your car service, ask yourself a few questions to see if you’ll get good value for your money. Don’t always go for the cheapest service first. How much do you charge for something you do? What comes with the price of a service? Do you only utilize genuine vehicle parts for repairs? Who will get my car fixed? How you drive your car affects how much maintenance it needs. If you let your car sit still a lot, pull heavy loads, or drive when it’s very cold or hot, you’ll need to do more maintenance.
