If you’re considering taking your vehicle for some checks for the first time, you may be wondering you’ll be needing an interim or full car service or MOT. If you’re not sure of the difference between a service and MOT, it’s important to be sure which you require before you book.
To help you, the automotive experts at Dronsfields – which is also an approved MOT centre – will explain the differences involved, which you’re likely to need and when, the average cost of each and how long they take. This way, you can be fully informed when you contact your garage or MOT provider.
What is a Car Service?
Full or interim services are available to those who wish to have their vehicle checked and minor tweaks made to improve its performance. A full service is usually undertaken once a year and an interim service once every six months, but you may choose to arrange this more regularly if your vehicle is in regular, heavy use.
During a service, you may have something as simple as your oil and filters checked and changed, tyre tread depth examined and pressure adjusted, but more in-depth services may also see your car undergoing brake fluid boil tests, door hinge/bonnet catch lubrication and more, depending on the type you choose. All services usually include:
- – Checks for general damage or wear and tear
- – Examination of all lights & horn
- – Engine checks and oil replacement
- – Coolant checks and top up
- – Spark plug checks
- – Fuel filter checks
- – Clutch and gearbox checks & clutch fluid top up
- – Battery checks
- – Steering checks
- – Exhaust checks
- – Brake checks
- – Wheel and tyre checks including pressure and tread depth
- – Visibility checks including windscreen and mirrors
If more in-depth, specialist work is required, you’ll need to arrange and pay for that separately.
Different garages and service providers may perform slightly different checks and tweaks, but what they offer overall is fairly similar.
An interim service is likely to take around an hour and a half, while a full service takes around three hours due to its extensiveness.
What is an MOT?
An MOT is a series of checks that are required by the UK government to be undertaken on vehicles that are over three years old. They must be taken annually, as close to the same date as possible. While you are permitted to book your car’s MOT for up to a month (minus one day) before its due date, there is no grace period after that time. If you are found driving without an up to date MOT certificate, you may be fined up to £1000 on the spot. Your insurance will also be invalidated and will not pay out if you have an accident or if your vehicle is damaged.
Exactly the same checks are performed at each approved MOT centre, as the purpose of these tests are to establish a car’s roadworthiness, performance and safety. These checks involved ensuring that the following operate correctly and are in good condition:
- – Registration plate and vehicle ID number (presence and legibility)
- – All lights
- – Steering and suspension
- – Brakes
- – Tyres and wheels
- – Windscreen, wipers and washer bottle
- – Mirrors
- – Horn
- – Seatbelts
- – Seats
- – Exhaust and emissions
- – Fuel system
- – Doors
- – Bodywork and structure
An MOT usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour, as it involves visual checks and no tune-ups. However, you will need to prepare for what might happen if your car is found to have any “dangerous” faults during its MOT, as this means that you will not be able to drive it away, and it may require repairs then and there.
What’s the Difference Between a Service and an MOT?
The principle differences between these two options are their purposes. An MOT is a mandatory routine of tests to ensure that your car is safe to drive on the road. A service is an optional – but still highly advisable – series of checks and adjustments that will keep it running smoothly. It can prevent minor issues from worsening, help to reduce emissions, ensures your safety and helps your car to retain as much value as possible should you wish to sell it.
Interim/Full Service and MOT Average Costs
Service prices can differ depending on the size of a car’s engine. An interim service costs, on average, around £125. A full service is likely to cost a little over £200.
The maximum fee for an MOT is £54.85, and this is what a large number of garages charge. However, you may find centres that offer the tests for as little as £25.
It is possible to seek out MOT and service deals whereby you can book both together and save money.
In conclusion, an MOT is an annual mandatory set of visual checks that allow your vehicle’s safety and functionality to be monitored, and advice on any necessary adjustments and repairs to be made in order for your car to run safely, smoothly and in a way that is environmentally friendly.
A service is an optional annual or six-monthly set of tests and physical tweaks that enable you to ensure that your car continues to run in the way you would wish it to. It will also help to improve your vehicle’s safety.
For more information about booking MOT and service deals, get in touch with Dronsfields today.