Interim, full or manufacturer service: which does your car need?

"Service" can mean different things depending on the garage. This guide explains the three types you'll usually see, and how to choose between them.

A service is not an MOT

An MOT checks the car is safe and legal on the day. A service replaces worn items and checks the car over so it keeps running well. You can have either without the other, and some garages offer both together. A service isn't a legal requirement, but a car that's serviced regularly is usually cheaper to run and easier to sell.

Interim service

An interim service is a lighter check, typically recommended every six months or 6,000 miles. It suits drivers who cover a lot of miles. It normally includes:

• an oil and oil filter change
• a check of the battery, cooling system, steering and suspension
• a look at the tyres, wheels and brakes
• a check of the lights, exhaust, wipers and washer fluid
• a check of safety items such as the horn and seat belts

Full service

A full service is the more thorough annual one, typically every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. It covers everything in an interim service, plus extras such as:

• a new air filter
• power steering fluid top-up
• a fuel filter check
• a diagnostic check of the engine management system
• a fuller check of the electrical systems

Manufacturer (or "main dealer") service

This follows the exact schedule in your car's handbook. The schedule changes with the age and mileage of the car, and it includes time-critical items that interim and full services may not cover, such as a cambelt or a brake fluid change at set intervals. Some of these jobs are expensive if you skip them.

Which one do you need?

• Look in your handbook or service book first. It lists what's due and when.
• If you drive a lot of miles, an interim service between full services can be worthwhile.
• If your car is under warranty, you can generally have it serviced at an independent garage without losing the warranty, as long as the work follows the manufacturer's schedule, uses parts of matching quality and is recorded. Check your warranty terms to be sure.
• Ask the garage for a written list of what's included. The names "interim" and "full" aren't standardised, so one garage's full service may differ from another's.

Questions worth asking a garage

• What exactly is included, and what costs extra?
• Which oil grade will you use, and does it match the handbook?
• Will you stamp the service book or record it digitally?
• Will you call me before doing any work that wasn't quoted?