FAQs

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It used to be normal to change the oil every 3,000 miles, but with modern lubricants most engines today have recommended oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Moreover, if your car’s engine requires full-synthetic motor oil, it might go as far as 15,000 miles between services.

This gets to the heart of shopping around for servicing. The good news is that you’re free to have your car serviced by whichever garage you like. This is thanks to a law passed in October 2003. Before that date, car makers could insist your car was serviced by their dealers during the term of their new car warranty.

Most manufacturers recommend having a full car service once a year or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. But this depends on your car and how you drive it. You can check your service book to see when your car was last serviced – and it should be updated or stamped by the mechanic after completion of a service.