How Much Does a Car Service Cost?
In 2026, you can expect to pay around £100 to £180 for an interim service, £180 to £300 for a full service and £250 to £450 for a major service at an independent UK garage. Main dealers generally charge more, and the exact price will depend on your car. Unsurprisingly, a small hatchback such as a Corsa will usually cost less to service than a large premium SUV. Where you live, the age of your car and the parts and oil it requires can all affect the final bill for your car service too.
Interim, full and major service: what’s the difference?
Not all car services include the same checks and maintenance, so it’s important to know what you’re actually paying for.
Interim service
An interim service is a smaller service aimed mainly at drivers who cover a lot of miles. You might have one around six months after your main annual service.
It usually includes an oil and filter change, fluid checks and top-ups, plus inspections of important components such as your brakes, tyres, lights, steering and suspension.
If you don’t cover particularly high mileage, you may not need an interim service. Always check your manufacturer’s recommended schedule.
Full service
A full service is the standard annual option for many cars.
It generally includes everything you’d expect from an interim service, along with additional checks and maintenance. The garage may replace the air filter and carry out more detailed checks of the cooling system, drive belts, battery and exhaust.
Many garages will also run diagnostic checks on newer cars to look for stored faults.
Major service
A major service is the most comprehensive option and usually takes place at longer intervals, often around every two years or 24,000 miles.
It includes the checks from a full service, along with maintenance items that don’t need replacing every year.
Depending on the car and its service schedule, this could include a new cabin filter, diesel fuel filter, spark plugs and brake fluid.
How much does a car service cost by car size?
The type of car you drive makes a noticeable difference to servicing costs. As a rough guide:
• Small car (Fiesta, Corsa, i10): Interim £90 to £140, full £150 to £230
• Family car (Focus, Golf, Octavia): Interim £110 to £160, full £180 to £280
• Large or premium car (3 Series, XC60, Discovery Sport): Interim £140 to £200, full £250 to £400
Electric cars work slightly differently because they don’t need engine oil, spark plugs or traditional fuel filters. As a result, routine servicing can sometimes cost less.
However, EVs still need regular inspections. Components such as tyres, brakes, suspension and cooling systems all require attention, just as they do on petrol and diesel cars.
Service or MOT: which one do you need?
Ideally, both. An MOT and a car service might seem similar, but they serve very different purposes.
An MOT checks whether your car meets minimum legal roadworthiness and environmental standards at the time of the test. It doesn’t include routine maintenance or automatically replace worn parts and fluids.
A service focuses on maintaining the car and helping prevent problems from developing in the first place.
For example, your car could potentially pass its MOT despite having old engine oil that’s well overdue for replacement.
Many garages allow you to book an MOT and service together and may offer a better price for doing both at the same time. It’s also convenient because the mechanic can look at any MOT advisories while your car is already in the workshop.
Does skipping a service actually save money?
Skipping a service might save you money today, but it could end up costing you considerably more later.
Old engine oil becomes less effective at protecting moving components. A clogged air filter can affect performance and fuel economy, while neglected fluids and filters can eventually contribute to larger mechanical problems.
Regular servicing also gives a mechanic the chance to spot developing issues before they turn into expensive repairs.
Then there’s resale value to think about. Buyers often look for a good service history, particularly when purchasing a newer or more expensive used car.
Missing several services can make a car harder to sell and may reduce the amount a buyer or dealer is willing to pay for it.
How to pay less for a car service
You don’t necessarily need to take your car back to a main dealer every time it needs servicing.
Independent garages can often carry out the same scheduled maintenance for less. If your car is still under warranty, make sure the garage follows the manufacturer’s servicing requirements and uses the correct specification of parts, fluids and oil.
It’s worth comparing two or three quotes rather than automatically booking with the first garage you find. Just make sure you’re comparing the same level of service, as one garage’s “full service” may include different items from another’s.
Check that the quote includes the correct oil specification for your engine and ask what’s included before booking.
Finally, keep your invoices and receipts. A clear record showing regular maintenance can be useful when you eventually come to sell the car.
Are car service plans worth it?
Service plans can be useful, but they’re not automatically the cheapest way to maintain your car.
Dealers and garage chains often offer monthly plans that spread the cost of scheduled servicing over a longer period. This can make budgeting easier and may protect you against future price increases.
However, check exactly what’s included before signing up.
For example, if a two-year plan costs £30 a month, you’ll pay £720 in total. If the services included would only cost around £500 when booked separately, you’re paying extra for the convenience of spreading the cost.
A service plan can make sense if it offers a genuine saving, includes worthwhile extras or fixes today’s servicing prices for a car you plan to keep.
Otherwise, putting the same amount of money aside each month could give you more flexibility.
Car servicing FAQs
How often does a car need servicing?
For many cars, a service is recommended around every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
If you cover a lot of miles, you may also benefit from an interim service between annual services.
However, every car is different, so always follow the service schedule provided by your vehicle’s manufacturer.
How long does a car service take?
An interim service can take around an hour, while a full service may take two to three hours.
A major service involves more checks and replacement items, so it could take several hours.
Most garages should still be able to return your car on the same day, provided they don’t find any additional problems.
Is a car service a legal requirement?
No. Unlike an MOT, there isn’t a legal requirement to service your car every year.
However, regular servicing helps keep the car in good condition, can reduce the risk of expensive repairs and helps maintain its service history.
If your car is under warranty or finance, you should also check whether your agreement requires you to follow the manufacturer’s servicing schedule.
What happens if the garage finds extra work?
The garage should contact you and explain any additional work it recommends before carrying it out.
Ask for a price and find out how urgent the repair actually is before agreeing to anything.
You don’t have to approve every recommended job immediately. If the work isn’t urgent, you can take some time to compare prices or get a second opinion.
Do electric cars need servicing?
Yes. Electric cars still need regular servicing, even though they have fewer traditional engine components.
You won’t need routine engine oil changes, spark plugs or fuel filters, but the garage still needs to inspect components such as the brakes, tyres and suspension.
Depending on the vehicle, its service schedule may also include checks or replacement of cabin filters, brake fluid and coolant used within the battery or thermal management system.
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