Interim or full service: what’s the difference?

“Interim” and “full” get used a lot when people talk about servicing, and they don’t always mean the same thing from one garage to the next. Here’s what each one means at ours, and how to work out which your car needs.

What both services include

Whichever you choose, your car gets a full, comprehensive check-over. That covers a pre-MOT check, plus checking and adjusting all the lights, levels and serviceable items.

What a full service adds

A full service includes everything in an interim service, and then goes further:

• The wheels are removed, cleaned and greased
• All filters are fitted
• Any extras your vehicle needs are fitted

Which one do you need?

Start with your vehicle’s service schedule, in the handbook or service book. Manufacturers usually set intervals by time and mileage, whichever comes first, and following them helps keep the car reliable and gives it a proper service history when you come to sell.

As a rough guide, a full service suits most cars once a year. An interim service is often chosen by higher-mileage drivers, who cover the schedule’s mileage before the year is up, as a check-over between full services. It can also make sense for a car that has a full service once a year but does a lot of short trips, towing or hard work in between.

If you’re not sure which your car is due, give us a call with the registration and mileage and we’ll talk it through with you.

Servicing and the MOT

People often mix the two up, but they do different jobs. The MOT is the yearly legal check that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards. It doesn’t cover the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it doesn’t replace anything. A service is maintenance: it keeps the car in good order between MOTs.

Because both our services include a pre-MOT check, booking a service shortly before your MOT is a good way to catch problems before the test. Have a look at how to prepare for your MOT for the things you can check yourself.

Hybrid and electric vehicles

We service hybrid and electric vehicles as well as petrol and diesel. An electric car has no engine oil to change, but it still has tyres, brakes, suspension, steering, lights and wipers that need checking, and it still needs an MOT once it’s old enough. Hybrids have a petrol or diesel engine alongside the electric motor, so they need much of the same care as any other car.

While your car’s with us

You’re welcome to wait in our waiting room with a complimentary drink, or leave the car with us. Local collection and drop-off is usually possible, so just call to arrange it. If you need a courtesy car, they’re £25 + VAT a day; ask in advance so we can make sure one is available.

Our workmanship is fully guaranteed, and most parts come with a one-year warranty, depending on the supplier.

Useful links

• Car servicing
• MOTs
• How to prepare for your MOT
• How the MOT test works (GOV.UK)
• Check MOT history (GOV.UK)