Save money by servicing your car

Wednesday 14th August 2019

Is your car due an interim or full service? Although servicing isn’t a legal requirement, the benefits of keeping your car in good health are renowned. But can servicing your vehicle regularly benefit your finances in the long run? From decreasing your chance of running into long term mechanical problems to handy service preparation tips, find car service tips and ways to save money from servicing your vehicle today.

So, how can you save money by servicing your car?

• Increased vehicle resale value – by servicing your vehicle regularly and having components fixed or replaced when issues are identified, it’s much more likely you’ll get a decent price when you sell your vehicle on. By not keeping your car in good condition and not maintaining a regular service history, you’re running the risk of decreasing the resale price longer term. Buyers will likely always be interested in purchasing a used car with a service history. So, by keeping your service history up to date, you’re already on the right track to a smoother selling process!
• Fuel efficiency – servicing your car can also improve your average miles per gallon (mpg). There are often various elements that can prevent a vehicle from running in the most effective way – and these can also affect fuel consumption. By having any such issues addressed during a service, you’re likely to improve your fuel efficiency to enable you to get more miles to the gallon, as well as prolonging the lifespan of the vehicle in the long run.
• More servicing, fewer problems – having your car serviced more regularly addresses concerns before they become potentially larger issues. By not having regular services, your vehicle may have areas which continue to deteriorate – which would then mean that instead of merely maintaining them, they may need replacing entirely, which could mean forking out a lot more money!

Car service tips

Not only can you save money longer-term by having your car regularly serviced, but you can save money before your car service, too. By undertaking regular maintenance checks to your vehicle, you could save yourself having to spend money on several things simultaneously – which wouldn’t be the case if you perform simple checks throughout the year. Some service preparation tips include:

• Windscreen – whether your windscreen has a small chip or crack, or your windscreen wipers need replacing, keeping on top of your windscreen maintenance is important as ignoring any defect, no matter how small is likely to cost you. Get any chips or cracks looked at straight away and consider replacing your wiper blades if necessary.
• Oil levels – the oil level of your vehicle should ideally be checked about once a month. This is done by using the dipstick located in or around the engine. Here, you can also top up your car oil if necessary - but ensure not to overfill.
• Keep your car clean – not only does this make the car look better, but it also prevents build up of road salt, bird droppings and other external dirt which can lead to corrosion of the bodywork.

Is your MOT due at the same time as your service? Read our guide on MOT preparation tips which highlight more car service tips you can also check ahead of your test.

Ready to book your car service online now? Locate your nearest Formula One Autocentres today.