How long does a car service take?
Get the details on how long it takes to service a car in our guide
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By Tia Harrison-North
Last updated: 1 May 2025
If you’re a stickler for car maintenance but short on time, ‘how long does a car service take?’ is a reasonable question.
Car servicing isn’t a legal requirement in the UK (like MOTs), but it does help keep your car in the best possible condition and can help it retain value.
Find out how long car services take in our guide below.
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How long does it take to service a car?
There are three different types of car servicing that are common in the UK – minor, full and major services.
Each of these takes a different amount of time, but on average they shouldn’t be longer than four hours.
You might still need to factor in waiting time at the garage for the admin and paperwork, but if no major issues are encountered then you’ll be out of there pretty sharpish.
How long does a minor service take?
A minor service is recommended every six months or 6,000 miles. It’s the service option that will give you the lightest touch, but still helps upkeep your car and spots issues before they develop into something worse.
A minor service typically includes things like an inspection of the car, fluid level checks and replacements, plus filter changes.
You can expect a minor car service to take one to two hours, providing there are no issues.
We don’t currently offer minor services at cinch, but you can book in for a full or major service at one of our stores.
How long does a full service take?
A full service at one of our cinch stores includes an engine oil changes, fluid top-ups, and filter changes – plus an in-depth inspection.
Full services are recommended every 12 months or 12,000 miles, and usually take around three hours to complete. This can vary but is a guideline for how much time to set aside for your service.
How long does a major service take?
A major service is the big one. It’s recommended for every 24-months or 24,000 miles and really gets into the details of your car.
At major service at a cinch store includes everything from a full service, plus brake fluid changes, power steering and clutch fluid top up, and a full diagnostic scan.
As it’s the most in-depth option, you can expect a major service to take around four hours. Again, this can differ but it’s a handy guideline.
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How long will my car be in the garage?
There’s no guarantee on how long your car will be in the garage, as it can depend on many things.
You’re obviously going to need to set aside more time if you’re booking in for a bigger service, and this can go on longer if there are any issues found with your car in the process.
If the garage is particularly busy, that can also add to your waiting time.
You’re typically able to sit and wait for your car if you’d like to or can pop back later and pick it up once it’s done.
We think it’s best to set aside a day where you can be without your car when it’s time for a service. If it’s done quicker then take it as a bonus.
If you book in for a service at a cinch store, then you can take advantage of our waiting areas - with free drinks and Wi-Fi while you wait.
Book a service at cinch
How long a car service takes isn’t a simple question to answer, but it shouldn’t take longer than a day at the most.
Book in for a service at a cinch store for a reliable and faff-free experience.