When your car starts every morning and drives as it should, getting it serviced can easily slip down the list. There’s always something else to spend the money on.
But servicing isn’t just for cars with something wrong. It’s about keeping up with maintenance before you’re dealing with a problem.
For many cars, servicing is due every 12 months or around 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. That isn’t the same for every vehicle, though. Some need attention sooner, while others have longer or variable intervals. Your manufacturer’s schedule is what matters.
At Oxbys Autos, we can help you work out what’s due based on your registration, mileage and service history.
Go by the Date as Well as the Mileage
“I’ve hardly driven it this year” doesn’t necessarily mean you can leave the service another year.
If your car’s schedule says 12 months or a set mileage, it means whichever you reach first. Equally, if you cover plenty of miles, you could need servicing before the year is up.
Your handbook, previous service invoice or dashboard reminder is a good place to start. If you’re unsure, give us a call. You don’t need to know which service to book before speaking to us.
Do Short Journeys Make a Difference?
They can. A car doing school runs, short commutes and trips to the shops gets used differently from one spending most of its time on longer journeys.
Repeated short trips can affect oil-change requirements, so low mileage doesn’t always mean the car has had an easy year.
Tell us how you normally use it when booking. A few miles around Chesterfield each day and a long motorway commute might call for different advice, even with similar cars.
Do You Need an Oil Change or a Full Service?
An oil change and a service aren’t quite the same thing. The right choice depends on what your car needs and what was done last time.
Oil and filter change: This replaces the engine oil and oil filter, using oil suited to your vehicle’s specification. It doesn’t replace the other maintenance your car may be due.
Interim service: A smaller maintenance visit that can suit higher-mileage drivers between more comprehensive services.
Full service: A broader maintenance check, with the work depending on the vehicle and the service agreed. It doesn’t automatically mean every filter, fluid and wear item gets replaced.
We’d rather help you book the right work than have you guess. Take a look at our oil change and car servicing in Chesterfield for more about the options.
Does an MOT Count as a Service?
No, and it’s an easy one to get mixed up.
An MOT checks whether your car meets the required road safety and environmental standards. A service deals with scheduled maintenance.
Passing an MOT doesn’t mean your oil has been changed, your filters have been replaced or your service schedule is up to date.
Having both done around the same time can make them easier to remember. Just don’t put off an overdue service to wait for the MOT.
Don’t Leave Brake Problems Until Your Next Service
If something feels different when you brake, mention it when you contact us. Don’t assume it can wait because the next service is a few months away.
Also, remember that checking the brakes and replacing parts are separate jobs. New pads, discs or brake fluid aren’t automatically included in every service.
Our brake repair team can check a concern and explain what needs doing. We also carry out brake pad and disc replacement where needed.
Not Sure When It Was Last Serviced?
This is worth sorting out, particularly if you’ve recently bought the car.
Have a look through the paperwork for an invoice showing the date, mileage and work carried out. “Serviced recently” doesn’t tell you much on its own, and a reset dashboard reminder isn’t proof of what was replaced.
Bring us whatever records you have. We can help establish what’s due without simply assuming everything needs doing again.
Once it’s serviced, keep the invoice with your vehicle records. It makes the next visit easier and gives a future buyer a clearer picture of how the car has been maintained.
Book Your Car Service at Oxbys Autos
Not sure what your car needs? That’s fine. Tell us your registration, current mileage and anything you know about the last service, and we’ll take it from there.
We offer oil changes and car servicing at our Chesterfield garage, with clear advice about the work being booked. If we spot something that needs further attention, we’ll explain it before carrying out additional work.
Call 01246 720395 or get in touch to arrange your car service.
