The annual checklist at a glance
A full annual check picks up the items a car needs once a year regardless of mileage. Some you can do at home, others need garage equipment. Here is the full list, grouped by system, then explained below.
- Tyres and brakes: tread depth, pressures, brake pad wear, disc condition, fluid moisture.
- Battery and electrical: battery load test, alternator output, terminal corrosion, all bulbs working.
- Fluids and filters: engine oil and filter, coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid, air filter, cabin filter.
- Lights and visibility: headlights, indicators, brake lights, wipers, washer jets, windscreen condition.
- Under the bonnet: belts, hoses, exhaust, suspension joints, leaks.
Most of this is what a full service covers. The garage items below are flagged.
Tyres and brakes
Tyres and brakes are safety-critical. They are also the items that cost the most when ignored.
- Tread depth: UK legal minimum is 1.6mm. Wet-road grip starts falling off well before that, so most garages recommend replacing at 3mm.
- Pressures: check monthly when the tyres are cold. The right pressures are on the driver's door sticker (separate values for loaded driving).
- Brake pads and discs: a garage check looks at remaining pad material and disc thickness. Both wear together.
- Brake fluid moisture: brake fluid absorbs water from the air. Once moisture passes 3 percent, the boiling point drops and brakes can fade under hard use. Garage equipment tests for this in seconds.
Battery and electrical
- Battery age: most car batteries last 4 to 5 years. A battery over 4 years old should be load-tested annually.
- Alternator output: a weak alternator looks like a weak battery. Garage equipment separates the two.
- Terminal corrosion: green or white build-up around the terminals causes slow starts. Clean and re-tighten.
- All bulbs working: walk around the car with the lights on. Check sidelights, headlights, fog lights, brake lights, indicators, reverse lights and number plate lights.
Fluids and filters
- Engine oil and filter: change at the interval set by the manufacturer. Most modern cars are 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- Coolant: level and condition. Brown or rusty coolant signals corrosion in the cooling system.
- Brake fluid: moisture-tested annually, replaced every 2 years on most manufacturer schedules.
- Air filter: a clogged air filter hurts fuel economy. Inspected at every full service.
- Cabin (pollen) filter: if the heater output smells musty, the cabin filter is overdue.
Lights and visibility
- Headlight lenses: cloudy lenses cut light output by 50 percent or more. Restoration kits help, but badly clouded lenses need replacement.
- Wiper blades: replace at the first sign of smearing, juddering or skipping. Cheap to do, big safety win.
- Washer jets: aim should hit the windscreen in the wiper sweep area.
- Windscreen: any chip in the driver's line of sight is an MOT fail. Repair early before it cracks across.
Under the bonnet
These are the items a garage will find on a full inspection.
- Drive belts for cracking or glazing
- Coolant hoses for swelling or weeping
- Exhaust system from manifold to tailpipe for leaks, corrosion and loose mounts
- Suspension joints and bushes for play
- Any fluid leaks, drips or wet patches
Booking a full service in Worthing
The full service is built around this checklist. If you have not had your car looked at in 12 months, that is the right starting point.
Book a full car service in Worthing, or read more: