When managing car finance with less than perfect credit, maintaining your vehicle is crucial not just for safety, but also for retaining its value and ensuring it runs smoothly. Here’s a comprehensive guide to car servicing and how it plays a role in car finance with bad credit.
What is a Car Service?
A car service is a regular check-up where a mechanic inspects your vehicle for wear and tear. This includes checking parts such as brakes, oil, filters, and lights. For those with bad credit, maintaining a well-serviced car is essential as it can impact your car’s resale value and reliability.
How Often Should You Service Your Car?
It is generally recommended to service your car every 12,000 miles or every 12 months, whichever comes first. However, you should check your manufacturer’s manual as the frequency can vary by model and other factors such as fuel type and engine. Regular servicing helps catch minor issues before they become major problems, ensuring your vehicle remains reliable and safe to drive.
Types of Car Service
Interim Car Service
Designed for high-mileage drivers, an interim service is typically needed every 6 months or 6,000 miles. This service includes an oil change, top-ups of engine and brake fluids, and inspections of critical parts like windscreen wipers, lights, and tyres.
Full Car Service
Recommended every 12 months or 12,000 miles, a full service is more comprehensive. It includes everything in an interim service plus checks on air filters, spark plugs, fuel filters, radiator, coolant hoses, and electrical components like the battery and alternator, as detailed on the AA Car Servicing Guide. A full service helps maintain vehicle efficiency and prolongs its lifespan.
Major Car Service
The most thorough service, required every 2 years or 24,000 miles, includes all aspects of interim and full services. Additionally, it involves the replacement of brake fluid and cabin filters, and checks on the gearbox fluid, drive belt, external door locks, hinges, and fuel cap. More information can be found on Honest John. This service ensures every part of your vehicle is functioning correctly and safely.
Servicing Low Mileage Cars
Even if you drive less, it is still recommended to service your car every 12 months to maintain its warranty and ensure it runs efficiently. Check your manufacturer’s handbook for specific guidelines. Regular servicing is crucial to prevent problems caused by infrequent use, such as oil degradation and battery issues.
Cost of Car Service
The cost of a car service can vary depending on the size of your engine, the type of oil used, and the specifics of your vehicle model. Here’s an estimate:
- Interim Car Service: £75-£125
- Full Car Service: £150-£250
- Major Car Service: £250+
Note that these costs may not include replacement parts. Always confirm with your garage what is included to avoid unexpected expenses. It’s essential to budget for regular servicing to avoid larger repair costs in the future.
Time Taken for a Car Service
- Interim Car Service: Approximately 1.5 hours
- Full Service: Approximately 3 hours
- Major Car Service: Approximately 4 hours
Assuming no significant issues are found, you should have your car back the same day. Planning your service on a less busy day can help ensure quick turnaround.
What’s Included in a Car Service?
Interim Car Service:
- Fluid checks
- Top-up of brake fluid, oil, and screen wash
- Vehicle safety inspection
Full Car Service:
- All interim service checks
- Engine oil change/replacement
- Steering alignment
- Battery condition test
- Coolant system check
- Suspension checks
Major Car Service:
- All full service checks
- Top-up gearbox fluid
- Drive belt condition examination
- External door locks and hinges check
- Fuel cap condition assessment
- Air filter assessment
Importance of Car Servicing for Part Exchange
Regular servicing ensures your vehicle remains reliable and retains its value, which is crucial when considering part exchange. A well-maintained car can be more attractive to dealers and may result in a higher trade-in value. Additionally, a documented service history can significantly enhance your car’s appeal to potential buyers, making it easier to trade or sell when upgrading your vehicle.
Having a thorough service record indicates that the car has been well looked after, reducing the perceived risk for the dealer. This can potentially lead to better offers and smoother negotiations during the part exchange process. Proper maintenance also helps avoid costly repairs, ensuring that your car is in good condition and ready for its next owner, thereby improving its resale value and marketability.
For further insights, you can refer to Citizens Advice on Car Finance, which discusses how maintenance impacts trade-in value.
Checking Service History
Keep your service book up to date. This log records all services and mileage, showing potential buyers that your car has been well-maintained, a point emphasised by the RAC. An accurate service history can significantly increase your car’s resale value and appeal.
Conclusion
Maintaining your car through regular servicing is essential for safety and longevity. A well-serviced vehicle retains its value and reliability. Regular servicing can prevent unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs, ensuring you stay on the road with peace of mind.
For more helpful information on how to keep your car safe why not check out our recent blog post on how to look after your car in autumn or how to perform a car safety test.
