How often should you service your car?

By RPM Autocare, Newton Abbot · Published 26 October 2026

It is one of the most common questions garages are asked, and the honest answer is that it depends on the car. There is a sensible rule of thumb, and there are a few things that should override it. This guide covers how often to service your car, the differences between the main types of service and how to avoid paying for more than you need.

The short answer

Most manufacturers specify a service at a set mileage or time interval, whichever comes first. For many cars that works out at roughly once a year for a full service. Some cars have flexible or long-life schedules where a service indicator on the dashboard tells you when it is due. The exact schedule for your car is in the service book or handbook, and following it is the safest way to look after the car.

Cars that do very few miles still need servicing, because oil and fluids age whether or not the car is used. And cars that do a lot of miles, or mostly short journeys, may benefit from more frequent oil changes than the minimum schedule suggests.

The three common types of service

Interim service. An oil and filter change plus a set of safety checks. It suits drivers who cover a lot of miles and want something between full services.

Full service. The yearly service for most cars. It includes oil and filters as due and a thorough check of brakes, steering, suspension, tyres, lights and fluids.

Major service. A full service plus the parts that are due less often, such as spark plugs, fuel filter or brake fluid, depending on your car.

Which one you need depends on your car and its schedule, not on a one-size list. Check the service book, or give us your registration and mileage and Russ will tell you.

Does an independent garage affect my warranty?

This worries a lot of people. In the UK, you are free to choose where your car is serviced. As long as the service follows the manufacturer's schedule and uses parts and oils of matching quality, it should not affect your manufacturer warranty. If you have a specific warranty with special conditions, read its terms or check with the provider, and keep your receipts and stamps or records up to date.

What a good service should include

• Oil and filter changes to the correct specification for your engine.
• A look at brakes, steering, suspension, tyres, lights and fluids.
• Checks for leaks, worn components and anything that will need attention soon.
• A clear explanation of what was done, what needs doing now and what can wait.

On every service at RPM Autocare we follow the schedule for your car, put the car on the ramp, look it over and tell you what we found. Nothing extra is done without your say-so.

Signs you should not wait for the next service

Servicing intervals are a minimum, not a promise that nothing will go wrong in between. Get the car checked sooner if you notice:

• A warning light that stays on. See our guide to warning lights.
• Noises, vibrations or pulling under braking.
• Fluid leaks under the car.
• Smoke, a burning smell or loss of power.
• An oil level that keeps dropping.

Why servicing matters more on some engines

On engines with a wet belt, such as Ford's 1.0 EcoBoost and the 1.2 PureTech in Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Vauxhall models, using the correct oil and changing it on time is especially important, because the timing belt runs in the oil. For these cars, a missed oil change is not just a missed box on a form. Our guides to EcoBoost wet belt warning signs and PureTech wet belt warning signs go into the detail.

Diesels with a particulate filter can also suffer if regular short trips are combined with missed servicing, so see our DPF guide if that applies to you.

Cambelts and other items outside the service

A service does not always include everything. A timing belt, for example, is a separate job on a separate schedule. If you have bought a used car with no record of the belt being done, ask. See our timing belt vs timing chain guide for how to find out what your car has.

Do I need an MOT as well?

The MOT test is separate from a service. RPM Autocare does not carry out the MOT test itself, but we can arrange one for you alongside a service, so just ask when you book. Having the car serviced before the test is a sensible way to catch brake, light and tyre issues before they cause a failure. Our guide to MOT brake failures explains what to check.

Booking a service

You can book a service online through BookMyGarage and see the price for your car straight away, or call Russ. We can normally get you booked in within 2 days. If you need to stay mobile while the car is with us, ask for our Fiat 500 courtesy car when you book (subject to availability).

Our servicing page has more detail on what is included. We service all makes and models at our unit on Milber Trading Estate in Newton Abbot, and customers come from Kingsteignton, Torquay, Paignton and across South Devon. You can book in or contact us with your registration and mileage and we will tell you which service your car needs.

Related services: Servicing · Diagnostics · Brakes · Courtesy car