Most garages and service centres offer two main types of service: a full car service and an interim car service.
It’s important to be sure of which you may need at any one time as, while arranging to have your car tested and checked is not a legal requirement (MOTs, on the other hand, are), it’s still the best action to take as a responsible driver.
So what’s the difference between the two types of service? What’s included in an interim car service, and what makes up a full one? The servicing specialists at Dronsfields have the answers.
What is the Difference Between a Full Car Service and an Interim Car Service?
A full service is a fairly comprehensive set of checks and adjustments that your car should ideally undergo once a year, or once every 12,000 miles (whichever comes first).
If you drive more than 2000 miles a month, an interim car service may come in handy too. This type of service repeats many of the basic checks involved in a full service to make sure that your car is still performing well in the meantime. It’s recommended that you book an interim car service every six months.
You may not need an interim service if you don’t drive particularly regularly, or you don’t use your car in heavy traffic or over long distances or rough terrain.
However, it’s important to remember that an interim service does not replace a full one – there will be elements of your vehicle’s operation that are not checked during an interim service, and may go totally unattended to in this situation.
You may decide to book an interim service between full services if your vehicle is making funny noises or handling differently, as getting this checked out as soon as possible may save you money.
What’s Included in an Interim Car Service?
An interim service usually involves:
- – Checks for damage and wear (body, wheels and trims, brakes, steering)
- – Engine checks and servicing (replacing oil and filter, sump plug seal or full plug replacement check, timing belt check, spark plug check, coolant check and top up, undertray check)
- – Checks for oil and fluid leaks
- – Fuel filter checks
- – Clutch, gearbox and driveshaft gaiter checks, clutch fluid replacement
- – Lights and horn checks
- – Battery checks
- – Steering and suspension checks (power steering reservoir top up, steering rack gaiter checks, wheel bearings checks, shock absorber testing
- – Exhaust checks
- – Brake checks and adjustments (callipers, service brake shoes, wheel cylinders, hydraulic system, handbrake checks and lubrication, brake discs, brake fluid top up
- – Tyres and wheels checks and adjustment (tyre fitting, tread depth, pressure, wear, wheel balance, wheel nut torque)
- – Windscreen and wiper checks (wiper condition checks, windscreen washer position, screen wash top up)
- – Interior checks (cabin filter, dash lights)
For an interim car service, the average cost is around £125.
What’s Included in a Full Car Service?
In a full service, your car will undergo all the checks it would receive as part of an interim service, along with:
- – Extra engine checks and adjustments (radiator condition, leaks, cap seal, coolant hoses, cooling fan, alternator belt and auxiliary drive belts and air filter replacement)
- – Greasing prop shaft, axle oil checks and top up
- – Gearbox fluid checks and top up
- – Extra electrical checks (diesel heater plug indicator, battery checks and terminal lubrication, High Tension leads checks, alternator charging checks)
- – Steering and suspension greasing
- – Bonnet catch lubrication
- – Extra brake checks (brake servo, fluid boil test)
- – Extra visibility checks (windscreen chips and cracks, mirror condition, number plates condition)
- – Extra interior checks (seatbelts, door locks, door hinge lubrication)
This type of servicing often costs around £200 to undergo.
How Long Does a Full Service Take, and How Long Does an Interim Car Service Take?
It will usually take around an hour and a half to complete an interim service, while a full car service takes around three hours. However, this can vary if a serious fault is found, as it may need to be fixed immediately.
Why Should I Get My Car Serviced?
There are a number of benefits to having your vehicle regularly serviced. The first is safety. It’s important to keep on top of any potential problems with your car. If one is likely to worsen and cause a major fault, you may be putting yourself and the other drivers around you in danger as a result.
Another benefit is cost. While booking regular services may seem costly in the short term, having to fork out for major repairs or – in the worst case – buying a new vehicle is an expense that most people could definitely do without.
Keeping your vehicle well maintained will save you money in other ways too. A fully functional engine and properly inflated tyres can improve your vehicle’s mileage and fuel consumption by up to 50% and 10% respectively.
Finally, keeping your car well maintained will mean that it is more likely to pass its MOT when the date comes around, and it’s also likely to retain more value if you decide to sell it.
Which Car Service Should I Choose?
If you’re still wondering “which car service should I choose?”, the easiest way to decide is by asking yourself the following questions:
- – “When was my last service?” – if it’s coming up to a year since you last took your car for a check and tune-up, you should arrange for a full service. If it’s closer to six months, you’ll need an interim.
- – “How do I usually use my vehicle?” – if you drive less than 2000 miles per month, you’re likely to be fine sticking with one full service every 12 months (or every 12,000 miles). Any more than that, and it’s worth booking an interim service in between.
- – “It hasn’t been a year since my last full service. Is my car performing as it should?” – if you’re noticing anything wrong with how your vehicle handles between full services, you should seriously consider taking it in for an interim service.
In the end, the decision to take your vehicle to be checked and tweaked is down to you. However, to keep it running as smoothly as possible, to save money and to keep you and those around you safe, we recommend booking annual full services at the very least.
Additionally, if you know that your vehicle is likely to accrue more wear and tear than average, it’s definitely a good idea to take it for interim servicing too.