How often should your car be serviced? How frequently should you maintain your car? This is a question posed by car owners who are unsure whether or not to spend money on a service. Although it is not a legal obligation, maintaining your car can provide several long-term safety and financial benefits. You can detect any difficulties early on so that they do not impede the operation of your car, but you can also detect and repair any safety concerns that may harm you later on. When it comes to determining how frequently and when to maintain your car, each vehicle type is slightly different. We recommend maintaining your automobile or van at least once a year, especially if it is more than three years old. For motorcycles, we recommend every 4,000 miles or every 6 months, whichever comes first. Enquire now for choosing an expert vehicle repair service garage. What’s the distinction between an MOT and a service? Although you may believe that an MOT and a service inspect the same sections of your car, this is not the case. A MOT is a yearly legal obligation, and each vehicle has a set date by which a MOT must be accomplished. It is not optional and is a technical safety assessment to ensure the vehicle’s roadworthiness. A service inspects the vehicle for wear and tear and will identify any components or fluids that need to be replaced to guarantee that your car is not only safe but also functions optimally for you. Although a MOT is a legal obligation, it does not examine a vehicle as thoroughly as a service, which is why it is recommended that you have both inspections performed on your car. How frequently should I maintain my car? Manufacturers and mechanics alike suggest that an automobile be maintained every 12,000 miles or every 12 months, whichever comes first. Some cars will also include a self-diagnostic system that will alert you when your vehicle is due for a service; please do not disregard any warning lights, even if your vehicle hasn’t traveled 12,000 miles since the previous service. Motorcycle manufacturers and mechanics recommend servicing these vehicles every 4,000–6,000 miles or every 6 months, whichever comes first. If you are unclear, your motorcycle will come with an owner’s handbook in which the manufacturer will specify how frequently you should get your motorcycle serviced. If you were advised after your last service that your car or van would require an "interim service," this means you should schedule another service 6 months or 6,000 miles later. This is most likely because anything that is worn on your automobile or van will be serviced by the technician, who wants to make sure everything is in working order. It is a preventative measure. An intermediate service for a motorcycle will be between 2,000 and 3,000 miles. This is to guarantee that your motorcycle is as safe as possible for you to ride. If you simply use your motorcycle as a backup vehicle, you may not need to get it serviced on a regular basis. However, if you use a motorcycle as your primary mode of transportation, servicing will be required considerably more regularly. Why should I have my vehicle serviced? There are various reasons to get your car maintained, but determining if a vehicle needs servicing is based on its type, age, mileage, and driving style. The safety of you and your passengers is most likely the most crucial reason for using a service. It can help you spot potential problems before they become genuine problems that will cost you an arm and a leg to solve. Servicing your car can provide you with peace of mind, knowing it is roadworthy. You may think you’re saving money if you don’t maintain your vehicle on a regular basis, but you’re not. As with everything, if you identify an issue sooner rather than later, it will be less expensive and easier to fix (most of the time). Engine oil is an excellent example; you need it to lubricate and preserve the moving components within your engine, and if you don’t have it, your engine might seize and cost thousands of dollars to fix or replace. Servicing your car not only makes it safer and less expensive to use, but it may also extend the life of the vehicle. The better you care for your vehicle, the longer it will last. How much does it cost to have a vehicle serviced? Prices vary depending on the garage and the car. According to some websites, a complete service on a car might cost roughly £186.32 depending on the vehicle type, which is mostly determined by the type of oil used by the manufacturer. We recommend using a website like Who Can Fix My Car, which will compare prices for car, van, or motorcycle services based on your registration number, the service you require, and your postcode. Services are essential, and they are much less expensive and less stressful than breaking down on the side of the road. So keep an eye on your miles and book one when the time comes.