Quick answer: which service for which mileage
UK garages typically offer three service tiers. Picking the right one depends on your mileage and how long it has been since your last service.
- Interim service: every 6 months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes first. Good for high-mileage drivers.
- Full service: every 12 months or 12,000 miles. The standard annual service for most drivers.
- Major service: every 24 months or 24,000 miles. Includes everything in a full service plus deeper-replacement items like spark plugs, brake fluid and the air filter.
If you cannot remember the date of your last service, your service book or digital service record will list it. If you are unsure, book a full service to bring the car back to a known baseline.
What an interim service includes
An interim service is the lightest tier. It covers the items most likely to need attention twice a year:
- Engine oil and oil filter change
- Top-up of brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant and washer fluid
- Visual brake check (pads, discs, lines)
- Tyre tread depth and pressure check
- Battery health check
- Lights, wipers and basic safety check
Interim services suit drivers covering high mileage, anyone with a long daily commute, or drivers who tow or carry heavy loads.
What a full service includes
A full service covers everything in an interim service, plus more thorough checks across the rest of the car:
- Air filter replacement
- Fuel filter check or replacement
- Engine cooling system check
- Exhaust system inspection
- Steering and suspension component inspection
- Drive belt inspection
- More detailed brake inspection
This is the right service for most drivers covering normal annual mileage. It is also the service most manufacturers reference when they talk about following the service schedule.
What a major service includes
A major service includes everything in a full service plus deeper-replacement items that come due every other year:
- Spark plugs (petrol engines)
- Brake fluid replacement
- Cabin (pollen) filter
- Coolant (where due per the manufacturer schedule)
Major services protect the car against the wear items that quietly cause bigger problems if left. Drivers who skip them tend to see brake fluid moisture, weak spark plugs and clogged filters caught later in life as faults rather than caught early as scheduled maintenance.
How to know which service your car is due
Three quick checks:
- Check the service book or digital service record for the date and mileage of the last service.
- Compare against the manufacturer's schedule in your owner's manual or on the manufacturer's website.
- Watch for warning signs. Dashboard service-due lights, unusual noises or longer stopping distances mean the car is overdue regardless of the calendar.
If you would rather a garage take a look and recommend the right tier, that works too. A good independent garage will inspect the car and quote for the service it actually needs rather than default to the most expensive option.
Booking a car service in Worthing
Stedmans Garage in Worthing offers all three service tiers across petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles. Independent garage with DVSA-approved MOT testing on site, so you can combine a service and MOT in one visit.
Book a car service in Worthing or read more on related topics: