The right servicing interval for your car depends on several factors: the manufacturer recommended schedule, how many miles you cover, the type of driving you do, and the age of the vehicle. Here is a clear guide.
The standard guide
For most petrol and diesel cars built in the last 20 years, the standard recommendation is a full service every 12 months or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you drive more than 12,000 miles per year, an interim service at the halfway point (around 6,000 miles or 6 months) helps keep oil fresh and catches wear early.
Variable service intervals on newer cars
Many modern cars, particularly German and Scandinavian brands from the last 10 to 15 years, use variable or condition-based service intervals. An oil quality sensor monitors the state of the oil and tells the car when a service is due, which can be anywhere between 10,000 and 20,000 miles depending on driving conditions. This is displayed as a warning light or a countdown in the instrument cluster.
Variable intervals are fine when they work correctly, but many independent garages see cars come in well past the point where the oil has degraded significantly. If your car uses a variable interval system, we still recommend capping it at 12 months regardless of the mileage displayed.
Older and higher-mileage vehicles
For vehicles over 10 years old or with more than 100,000 miles, servicing every 6 months or 6,000 miles is advisable regardless of the manufacturer schedule. Older engines are less tolerant of degraded oil, and the risk of small issues developing into expensive problems is higher.
The risk of skipping services
Oil degrades over time and with use. Old oil loses its protective properties, allowing metal-on-metal wear inside the engine that shortens engine life significantly. Skipping a service also means filters, spark plugs and other wear items go longer than intended without replacement, reducing efficiency and reliability.
Our full service starts from £199 + VAT and our interim from £144 + VAT. Book online or call 0131 554 3423.