Car servicing: what a service includes and how often you need one

What a service includes#

The exact list is set by the manufacturer for each model and engine, and you'll find it in the service book. On most cars, a regular service has these parts:

• Engine oil and oil filter: the oil should match the type and specification the manufacturer asks for, not just "the right viscosity".
• The engine air filter, which keeps dust out of the intake.
• The cabin (pollen) filter, which the ventilation air passes through; a clogged one shows up as a musty smell and windows that are slow to demist.
• The fuel filter, at the manufacturer's intervals; on some engines it's a separate part, on others it's built into the pump.
• Checks: brake pads and discs, the level and condition of the brake fluid and coolant, tyres and their pressure, lights, wipers, drive belts, the battery, oil or fluid leaks, and the suspension and steering seen from underneath.
• Resetting the service indicator on the dashboard, on cars that have one, so it counts down correctly to the next service.

The checks matter: with the car on a lift, a mechanic can spot a nearly worn brake pad or a small leak before it becomes a big repair. Ask what they found, even if nothing needs replacing yet.

How often to service the car#

There is no interval that fits every car. The manufacturer gives it in the service book or the owner's manual, usually as "every X kilometres or Y months, whichever comes first". If you drive little, the time limit matters: oil ages even when the car sits still. How to work out the month of your next service from your mileage is in our guide to service intervals.

• The service book is the first source. If you've lost it, a franchised garage for the make can usually look up the maintenance plan from the VIN (the chassis number).
• The service indicator on the dashboard, on cars that have one, works out when the service is due; on some models it also takes your driving into account.
• Severe operating conditions: many service books have a separate plan for short trips, city traffic, dusty roads or towing a trailer, with shorter intervals. Check whether that's you.
• A used car you've just bought: if you don't know when it was last serviced, have a full service done straight away so you know where you stand.

Minor and major service, in plain words#

"Minor service" (revizie mică) and "major service" (revizie mare) are not official terms, and each garage uses them a little differently. In practice, most mean this:

Because the names vary, don't rely on them: ask for the list of parts and operations. For the timing belt, a bigger and more important job, read the timing belt kit guide.

Servicing and a new car's warranty#

Many drivers believe they lose the warranty if the car is serviced outside the dealer network. The European Commission has explained, in its guidance on competition rules for the motor vehicle sector, that the manufacturer's warranty may not be made conditional on having repair and maintenance work that the warranty doesn't cover done within the authorised network. Nor can the warranty terms require the manufacturer's own brand of parts for replacements the warranty doesn't cover.

• Repairs covered by the warranty are still done within the authorised network.
• A service at an independent garage should follow the plan and specifications in the service book, with the right parts and oil. If badly done work damages something, that fault may not be covered.
• Keep the proof: the invoice listing the parts and oil used, the mileage and the date. Without it, it's hard to show you followed the plan.

Read the terms of your warranty, and of any extended warranty. The Commission's guidance doesn't replace your rights under consumer protection law.

What to ask the garage before the service#

1. What exactly the service includes: which parts are replaced and what is checked, for your car and engine.
2. Which oil they use: the specification the manufacturer requires, not just the brand.
3. Which parts they fit: original or equivalent, and from which maker.
4. Whether they'll call you before any work beyond what you agreed, with its price.
5. Whether they record the service in the service book or in the make's digital service history, where there is one.
6. What warranty they give on parts and labour.

Why you keep the invoice and the service history#

A service history helps three times over: you know what was changed and when, you have proof for the warranty, and an argument when you sell. A careful buyer asks for the invoices and checks that the mileage rises sensibly from one service to the next.

Always ask for an invoice listing the parts, the oil used and the mileage on the dashboard. A service without paperwork is, for the warranty and for the next buyer, a service nobody knows about.

How CariX helps with servicing#

In the free driver account you add your car with its plate, VIN, engine and mileage, and CariX keeps track for you.

• Mileage: you enter it yourself, it comes from garage jobs and fill-ups, or you answer the monthly "How many km is the car on?" email with one tap. CariX works out your monthly average and estimates when the next mileage-based service is due.
• The garage's reminder: after a job, the garage can leave the interval to the next service and you get the reminder by email. From it, "Book" takes you to that garage, or to the search with your car already selected.
• The car passport keeps the history of jobs recorded in CariX by the garages that did them, with the mileage they confirmed; you can't edit it, which is why it carries weight when you sell the car.
• "Is the price fair?" shows an indicative price range for a service in your city, from the prices listed on CariX; the real price depends on the car and the parts.