Interim, Full or Major Service: Which Do You Need?

What an interim service usually involves

An interim service is the lighter option, intended to sit between bigger services. It normally includes an oil and filter change and a set of basic checks on items such as lights, tyres, brakes, fluid levels and the condition of belts and hoses that can be seen.

It suits drivers who cover high mileage, because engine oil does a lot of work and can wear out well before the next annual service. Taxi-style use, long commutes and heavy town driving all fit that pattern.

Full service: the yearly benchmark

A full service builds on the interim. As well as fresh oil and a new oil filter, it generally adds replacement of the air filter and other wear items due at that interval, plus a longer inspection list covering brakes, steering, suspension, exhaust, battery and so on.

For many cars, this is the right choice once a year or every 12,000 miles or so, whichever suits the manufacturer's recommendation. Check your handbook, since intervals differ between makes and engines.

A sensible pattern for many drivers is to alternate: a full service one year, then an interim at the mid-point if the mileage is high enough to justify it. Cars that cover very little distance can often manage with a single full service a year.

• Oil and oil filter replaced
• Air filter and other service items replaced where due
• Wider checks of brakes, steering, suspension and exhaust
• Fluid levels topped up and lights checked

Major service: the deeper job

A major service includes everything in a full service plus the items that only need doing every couple of years or at higher mileages. Depending on the vehicle, that can include spark plugs, fuel filter, pollen filter, and a change of brake fluid or coolant.

It is the one that is most easily mixed up, because garages use the term differently. Ask for a written list of what is included, and compare it against the service schedule in your handbook.

Mileage, time and how you drive

Service intervals are normally given as a distance or a time, whichever comes first. A car that does very few miles still needs servicing, because oil ages and fluids absorb moisture even when the car is parked.

Driving conditions matter as well. Lots of short trips, stop-start traffic, towing, dusty roads and sitting in queues for the Tyne Tunnel or the A19 all put more strain on oil and mechanical parts than steady motorway running. If most of your driving is like that, the lighter interim service in between is a good idea.

Age counts for as much as mileage. A ten-year-old car that has done modest miles will have rubber parts, hoses and fluids that have aged regardless, which is why a time limit sits alongside the distance in most schedules. If you have bought the car second-hand and have no records, treat it as overdue for a proper look and talk to us about starting with a full service.

Following the manufacturer schedule

Your vehicle's manufacturer sets out what should be done at each mileage or age. Some cars alternate between two service types, others have a time-based schedule with extra items at set points, and newer cars may display a service indicator that counts down.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we offer interim, full and major servicing as well as manufacturer-schedule servicing, so we can match the work to what your handbook calls for. If you are unsure, tell us the age, mileage and how you use the vehicle and we will advise what is sensible.

Frequently asked questions