How often should you service your car

Whether it's teamed up with your MOT test or a standalone job, having your car serviced is extremely important to your vehicle's health - and your safety on the road. If you're wondering when to service your car, or which type of service your car requires, find out everything you need to know today from PTA Garages.

How often should you service your car?

It is recommended by manufacturers that a car should be serviced every 12 months, or every 12,000 miles - whichever comes first.

Some newer vehicles feature a self-diagnostic system which will advise the driver of when the service is due via the dashboard. This may sometimes be before 12 months or 12,000 miles - however, drivers are advised to not ignore these warnings.

Remember, it's always recommended to pair up your annual MOT test with your car service - that way, your car is getting thoroughly checked over for its health and roadworthiness, and both tests will be due at the same time the following year.

Which type of service does my car need?

So, now you've established how often a car should be serviced, which kind of service should it have? At PTA Garages, we provide two different car services:

• Interim Service
  An interim service is required after 6 months or every 6,000 miles. Interim services are usually carried out on vehicles that are used for shorter journeys. However, if your car is suddenly experiencing unusual noises or your driving pattern has changed (for example, changing from short to long distance driving), an interim service may be in order. Find out everything an Interim Service checks today.
• Full Service
  A full-service generally checks everything that an interim service does - with a few additional checks, too. This is a more thorough service that is yearly as opposed to every six months. Full services are usually carried out more on vehicles that are used for longer journeys, as opposed to shorter journeys (like an Interim Service would cover). Now you know how often you should service your car, book in your service online today with PTA Garages.