Car Clinic Grimsby Ltd

Unit 1 Flour Square, Grimsby DN31 3LS

Tel: 01472 361690
info@carclinicgrimsby.co.uk

What's included in a car service and how much should it cost?

Customer Advice

 Tyres being checked at service garage

 Servicing your car regularly keeps it in good health
 Any service you need will depend on the age, mileage and model of your car
 Getting your car serviced is a crucial part of owning a car for a variety of reasons. Other than
keeping your car running smoothly, servicing will also be a requirement to keep aftermarket
warranties.
 A full-service history is also a big plus when it comes to selling your car as it’ll show buyers
you’ve stayed on top of maintenance, meaning you can ask for the full asking price.
However, lots of drivers are unsure about the specifics of car servicing.

What's included in a car service?

Our car service depends on the type of service. All services will involve visual checks to your car, like
looking for external damage, brakes and gearbox.

Checks during a car service can include the engine oil, oil filter, lights, tyres, bodywork, exhausts,
brakes, steering, fluid and coolant levels, suspension and 12V battery. Your garage will replace
certain worn car parts and fluids during your service, but how many replacement parts and changes
you get depends on the type of service you book.

How much does a car service cost?

The average cost of a car service varies from garage to garage and depends on what part of the
country you’re in. Prices at independent garages will vary the most, though they’ll be cheaper than
at the main dealer.

An interim service could cost around £75 to £125. A full service could cost £150+. The cost of the
service won’t include certain parts if they need replacing. It’s also worth bearing in mind that your
warranty is upheld by following the car’s set servicing schedule — which brings us to another
important question…

Do you have to have your car serviced at a manufacturer-authorised dealer?

Put simply, no — you don't have to have your car serviced at the main dealer or the like. If you'd
prefer to leave your car's servicing in the hands of an independent garage, you need to make sure
you keep thorough records of the services undertaken in case you need to make a warranty claim.
Essentially, you'll need to be able to prove that the services were in line with the manufacturer’s
guidelines — including having genuine parts fitted. The proof will usually take the form of a written
invoice.

It's worth noting that there are lots of benefits to having your car serviced by a manufacturer-
approved dealer. For example, a car with a full-stamped dealer history will tend to be more desirable
to buyers than one without - which means you tend to get the full asking price when selling or part-
exchanging.

A car serviced by an approved manufacturer dealer will also be worked on by staff who are trained
to manufacturer factory standards. It is also common for carmakers to issue software updates, which
will upgrade your car's infotainment, engine and/or fuel economy. An independent garage may not
have access to these manufacturer-approved upgrades, which means your car may miss out if it is
serviced outside of the dealer network.

Some premium car brands like Audi will also offer free health checks and wash your car as part of
the deal.*

Read more: car service: dealer vs independent

How long does a car service take?

It’s best to ask the garage how long it’ll take at the time you book your service. But as a rough guide,
an interim service will take around one and a half hours.

A full service requires more checks so it'll take longer, around three hours is normal. Depending on
the garage, the service could happen while you wait or you might need to drop your car off and pick
it up later in the day.

Can I service my car myself?

To an extent, you can service your car yourself if you’re fairly competent at understanding the work
that needs doing. However, modern cars are increasingly governed by complex electronics so the
majority of the work you can do will be under the bonnet.

There are a couple of important things to consider, too. For example, if your car is has a fully
stamped service history, you could negatively impact its future value if you start to service it
yourself. Even if you’re an accomplished mechanic, used buyers rightly put a lot of value on a full
service history when looking for cars.

Secondly, you need to consider if you have the capability, the tools and a suitable location to carry
out your servicing. Working in a garage is ideal and a driveway is fine as long as it’s not raining — but
working on a car on the public road is illegal. You’ll also need some means of lifting the car, such as
axle stands or ramps, as you should never work under a car with the jack supplied.

What’s a service plan?

Instead of paying for your services when they are required, a service plan guarantees certain
elements of servicing over a set period for a fixed price. On new cars, this is often a lump sum
bundled into the total price.

Is a service plan worth the extra cost?

If you hate the thought of big bills, service plans can be a sensible option because they allow you to
spread the cost of servicing into a monthly payment.

The only caveats to this are what is and isn’t included. It’s highly likely that you’ll need to pay for the
replacement of some consumable items, like tyres and brake discs, so you need to factor this into
your budget.

*Sometimes we show a link with a * next to it as it can sometimes result in a payment or benefit to
the site.