Published November 2026.
A regular service is the best way to keep a car reliable and to keep its value when you sell it, but the different service types and intervals can be confusing. Here’s how often you should service your car, what interim, full and major services include, what they cost, and how a service is different from an MOT.
How often should you service your car? The short answer
- Follow your car’s service schedule in the handbook or service book first. Many modern cars set their own intervals and show a reminder on the dashboard.
- As a rule of thumb, the RAC suggests a full service every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- If you drive a lot, add an interim service every 6 months or 6,000 miles in between.
Interim, full and major services compared
| Service | How often | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Interim | Every 6 months or 6,000 miles | Oil and filter change, fluid top-ups, tyres, brakes, lights, wipers, seat belts |
| Full | Every 12 months or 12,000 miles | Everything in an interim, plus a wider check of the brakes, steering, suspension, exhaust and more; often the air filter |
| Major | Usually every 2 years or 24,000 miles | Everything in a full service, plus items due less often, such as the fuel filter, spark plugs, brake fluid or cabin filter, depending on the car |
What’s included varies between garages, so check the checklist before you book. The manufacturer’s own schedule may also add specific items at certain mileages, such as a cambelt change.
Full service vs interim service: which do you need?
An interim service is a lighter check-up between full services. It makes sense if you cover high mileage, do lots of short trips or towing, or have an older car. If you drive less than about 10,000 miles a year, a full service every 12 months is usually enough.
How much does a car service cost?
The RAC’s July 2026 guide gives these typical full service prices:
| Car size | Full service |
|---|---|
| Small car | £170 to £210 |
| Medium car | £210 to £300 |
| Large car | £400 or more |
It says an interim service usually costs around a third to half as much as a full service. Its RAC mobile mechanic quotes from late 2025 averaged about £277 for a Ford, £284 for a Vauxhall and £316 for a BMW. A main dealer service usually costs more than an independent garage. Prices vary a lot by make, model and region, and London and the South East are usually dearest, so get two or three itemised quotes.
Is a car service the same as an MOT?
No. The MOT is a legal test of whether a car meets minimum safety and environmental standards on the day. Most cars need one every year from their third birthday (GOV.UK). A service is maintenance: changing oil, filters and worn parts to keep the car running well. It isn’t a legal requirement, but skipping it makes MOT failures and breakdowns more likely. Many garages offer both on the same day.
Our free MOT history check shows a car’s past test results and advisories, which are a good guide to what needs attention at the next service.
Do I have to use a main dealer to keep my warranty?
Usually not. Under competition law, now the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Order in force since June 2023, and the Competition and Markets Authority‘s guidance on it, manufacturers shouldn’t make your warranty depend on having the car serviced at their own dealers. An independent garage can service a car under warranty, as long as the work follows the manufacturer’s schedule and uses parts and oil of matching quality.
Keep every invoice and make sure the service book or digital record is updated. Repairs paid for under the warranty itself are still carried out by the manufacturer’s dealers, and some extended or used-car warranties set their own servicing conditions, so read yours.
Why servicing matters when you sell or buy
- A full service history adds to a car’s value and makes it easier to sell.
- Buyers look for regular services at the right intervals, with invoices, not just stamps.
- Service records show mileage, so they help confirm the odometer is genuine: compare them with our mileage check.
Our guide to checking a car’s service history shows how to spot gaps and fake stamps, and our guides to the cambelt replacement cost, brake pads replacement cost and clutch replacement cost cover the bigger jobs a service can flag. Diesel owners should also read our guide to DPF regeneration.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you service your car?
Follow the manufacturer’s schedule. As a guide, the RAC suggests a full service every 12 months or 12,000 miles, with an interim service every 6 months or 6,000 miles for higher-mileage drivers.
Is servicing a car a legal requirement?
No. The MOT is a legal requirement for most cars over three years old; servicing isn’t, but it’s strongly advised.
What’s the difference between a full service and an interim service?
An interim service is a lighter check with an oil and filter change. A full service is more thorough and covers more parts and checks.
Does servicing at an independent garage void my warranty?
No, as long as the garage follows the manufacturer’s schedule and uses parts of matching quality. Keep the invoices.
How much is a full service?
The RAC’s 2026 guide puts a full service at about £170 to £210 for a small car and £210 to £300 for a medium car.
- RAC: how often should I service my car? (January 2026)
- RAC: cost of car servicing (July 2026)
- Motor Vehicle Agreements Block Exemption (No. 2) Order 2023
- CMA: motor vehicle block exemption
- GOV.UK: getting an MOT
- How to check a car’s service history
Check a car’s MOT history and advisories for free with our MOT history check.
