What does a car service cover?
A service is a set of checks and replacements done at a set point in the car's life. A minor one, RACV says, covers oil and the oil filter, a battery test, brake checks, tyres, and a look over the lights, steering, suspension, wipers, air conditioning, filters, belts, hoses, exhaust and transmission.
A major one adds engine performance testing, flushing and changing fluids, cleaning and adjusting the brakes, and replacing parts that have reached the end of their recommended life. Where it's needed, that can include a wheel alignment and repacking the wheel bearings.
Some big items sit outside the usual rhythm. RACV says timing belts can fall due at 60,000 km, 105,000 km or 180,000 km depending on the vehicle, so check where yours sits before a service, not after.
Which service does your car need?
| What to ask for | Why | |
|---|---|---|
| New car, still under warranty | The logbook service for that interval | It follows the maker's checklist and gets recorded in the book |
| Out of warranty, normal driving | The next service on the maker's schedule, minor or major | RACV calls the maker's schedule the guide to follow |
| Short trips, towing, dust or heavy loads | Ask about going around every six months | RACV says these conditions may call for it |
| Electric car | A hybrid and EV service | RACV says these need a mechanic with specific knowledge and equipment |
Does your driving change when it's due?
Yes, and the odometer doesn't tell the whole story. RACV lists frequent short trips, towing, heavy stop-start traffic, dusty or unsealed roads and regular heavy loads as reasons to service around every six months.
A low-kilometre car still has a date to meet. It's why the schedule says "whichever comes first", and RAC WA says a car that rarely moves can have trouble with its battery, fuel quality and tyres.
We wouldn't stretch the gap either. RAA says makers' recommended intervals are already at the outer limits.
Don't wait for the service if you notice these
- A warning light that stays on. If it's red, stop when it's safe and call roadside assistance.
- A new noise or vibration, or brakes that feel different.
- Excessive exhaust smoke, or a fluid leak under the car.
- Hard starting, or fuel use that's crept up.
- Steering or suspension that doesn't feel right.
Dealer or independent mechanic?
You choose. A qualified independent mechanic working to the maker's schedule and specifications doesn't by itself void your new car warranty, and our guide to logbook servicing and your warranty goes through it.
There's one catch worth checking. RACV says some extended warranties are conditional: its example is Mitsubishi, where years six to 10 depend on servicing at a franchised dealer. If your car has a deal like that, read the terms first.
For everything else, RACV's tip is to look for a mechanic who works on your make and model. They'll know its schedule without looking it up, and they'll have seen what tends to come due next.
What a good written estimate for a service shows
- Which service it is, and whether the quote is based on your logbook.
- The work, the parts and labour, and when the car will be ready.
- The oil grade and any filters going in.
- A promise to call you before anything beyond the estimate.
- An itemised invoice afterwards, with any follow-up work listed.
What you can check between services
You can
- Look at the coolant reservoir every 4 to 6 weeks on a cold engine, as RAA suggests.
- Check the brake fluid level at the same time, against the lines on the reservoir.
- Keep an eye on tyre wear and the washer bottle.
- Jot down the kilometres at each service, so you're not guessing at the next one.
Leave to the mechanic
- Oil and filter changes, unless you've got the gear and somewhere safe to do them.
- Belts and radiator hoses, which RAA says get checked by the mechanic.
- Anything to do with brakes, steering or suspension.
- Fluid flushes and anything under the car.
Where we'd start
We'd open the service book or the dash reminder and find out which service is next, then be honest about how the car gets driven. If it's all short trips or a tow bar's getting a workout, we'd say so up front and ask whether a shorter gap makes sense. Then we'd compare what's on the written estimate with what the book asks for. Send us the car and postcode whenever you're ready, and there's no rush if the service isn't due yet.