Why Are Annual Car Services Recommended?

Owning a car can feel like a money drain sometimes, particularly when you take into account the essentials like tax, insurance, and MOTs. That’s why it’s often tempting to let the things that aren’t a legal requirement slide - which is why regular servicing often goes out of the window.

Having your car serviced can seem like a financial nuisance, but there are many reasons why it's important to make sure you do it - plus, it can even save you money in the long-run.

Why do I need to service my car?

Servicing your car is a good idea for a number of reasons. Firstly, and often most importantly, it helps to make sure that your car is working as it should. All of the key mechanical and electrical parts of your car will be inspected and evaluated, in order to make sure that they’re working as they should be.

On top of this, the technician carrying out the service will also do a thorough health check of your car - looking at things like the condition of the brakes, the suspension, the tread on the tyres, and many other elements that are all crucial in a car running safely and smoothly. Spotting problems in a service can help to bring them to light quickly, allowing them to be fixed before they cause a potentially major issue.

Finally, it’s also a good chance for you to mention anything that you might have noticed while driving that’s giving you cause for concern. Perhaps you’ve noticed that your brakes feel a bit strange, or that you hear a clunking noise when you turn to one side - whatever it is, flagging it during a regular service can give the technicians a chance to investigate and get ahead of the problem.

How frequently should I service my car?

It’s best practice to service your car annually, or every 12,000 miles – whichever comes first. This is the recommended minimum when it comes to servicing. It’s also a good idea to service your car every 6 months or 6,000 miles depending on the type of driving that you do – for example, if you do high mileage or a lot of town driving you should get it serviced sooner. If you’re not sure what type of servicing best suits your car, chat to an expert.

While this may feel like a lot of work to maintain this regular schedule, there are lots of benefits to doing so. For one, regular servicing can increase your car’s lifespan – particularly as the car gets older, and wear and tear increases.

Regular servicing can also mean that your car holds its value, and is then worth more if you want to sell. Some studies have shown that a full service history increases the resale value of a car anywhere from 15% to 40%, depending on the age and model, so it’s a worthy investment!

Finally, regular servicing helps your car to run better – which inevitably makes it safer on the roads, both for you and other road users. A well-running car means better fuel economy, safer driving, and less likelihood of experiencing costly surprise breakdowns or faults - saving you both money and time.

Book your car in for a quality car service with Tyre Pros here!