Minor car service checklist
- Test the battery to see it's holding charge.
- Replace the engine oil and oil filter.
- Check the brakes and top up the brake fluid.
- Inspect the tyres for damage and wear, and rotate them if needed.
- Test the lights, steering, suspension, wiper blades and air conditioning.
- Check the air, fuel and pollen filters.
- Check the leads and spark plugs.
- Check the belts, hoses, exhaust and transmission.
- Top up, flush or change coolant, washer, power steering, transmission and clutch fluids as required.
What a major service adds
- A full check and test of engine performance.
- Flushing and changing the fluids and oils that are due.
- Cleaning and adjusting the brakes.
- A wheel alignment and suspension check, where necessary.
- Repacking wheel bearings, where necessary.
- Replacing parts that have reached their recommended lifespan, such as tyres, the timing belt, filters, hoses and spark plugs.
What isn't usually included
A service is preventative. The RACV draws the line this way: repairs fix something that's already broken, and servicing is there to stop that happening. So a service finds the worn brake pad, but replacing it is usually extra.
Tyres and brake pads are the classic example. The RACV says makers' capped price programs usually leave out wear and tear items like those. Even a major service list that names tyres and a timing belt only means replacing them if they're due, so check what's on your estimate.
A service isn't a roadworthy either. The rules differ by state, and only that state's own licensed or approved testers can issue one.
Three kinds of service, three different lists
| General service | Logbook service | Electric car service | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who sets the list | The workshop | Your car's maker | The maker. The RACV describes a routine annual visit |
| Engine oil and filter | Yes | Yes, at the intervals listed | No engine oil to change |
| Brakes, tyres, steering, suspension | Checked | Checked as listed | Checked |
| Fluids | Topped up as required | Changed at the listed intervals | Cabin filter, brake fluid and driveline fluids may be replaced |
| Battery | Tested | Tested | Terminals checked, and the high-voltage pack read by a diagnostic machine |
| Written up in the logbook | Ask | Yes, stamped or updated | Ask how it's recorded |
The items with long intervals
Some parts don't come up every time, and those are the ones people miss. RAA says air filters are generally replaced every 40,000 km, or earlier if the car's been in dusty conditions. The RACV says timing belts may fall at their own intervals, which it says could be 60,000 km, 105,000 km or 180,000 km.
A good mechanic will look a service or two ahead and tell you what's coming, so nothing lands as a surprise.
How to check the work was done
Get a written estimate first
Consumer Affairs Victoria says to ask for one before any work is done. It should name the service and list the main items.
Ask for a report
RAA says most reputable mechanics will report on your brake pads at each service. Ask for the tyre tread and battery result as well.
Read the invoice
It should name the oil by grade, list the filters changed, and show anything extra separately.
Check the logbook
See that the page has been stamped or the digital record updated, with the date and odometer reading.
Look under the bonnet
A new oil filter and fresh oil on the dipstick are easy to spot. The washer bottle should be full.
Questions to ask before you say yes
- Is this a minor, a major or a logbook service?
- Does it follow my maker's list for this interval?
- What's not included that I might assume is?
- Which oil and filters are you using?
- If you find something, will you call me before doing it?
What you can do, and what to leave
You can
- Keep the service book in the car and bring it along.
- Tell the mechanic about any noises, warning lights or vibrations.
- Check the oil and tyre pressures on a cold car between services.
- Compare the invoice with the estimate before you leave.
Leave to the mechanic
- Everything on the service list.
- Measuring pads, tyres and fluids against the maker's limits.
- Reading stored fault codes.
- Anything under the car or on the cooling system.
Our take
Don't shop on the name of the service. Minor, major, standard and premium mean different things at different workshops. Ask to see the list. If your car's under warranty, ask for the maker's list for that interval and have the book stamped. If it's an older car out of warranty, a general service is fine, as long as someone's keeping an eye on the long-interval items like the timing belt.
Who should do your service?
An everyday car can go to any good local mechanic. A newer European car, a hybrid or EV, or a diesel 4WD that works hard is better with someone who sees that kind of car all week, because the maker's list and the diagnostics are more involved. Independent mechanics can buy the same service and repair information as dealers for cars made from 2002 onwards, though it's fair to ask if they have it for your make.
Tell us the car when you're ready. A local mechanic who specialises in your car.