What service does my car need?
Not sure what service your car needs? Here’s a rundown of your options
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By Tia Harrison-North
Last updated: 2 June 2025
If you’re asking ‘what service does my car need?’ - your car is probably due a bit of maintenance.
Car servicing isn’t a legal requirement in the UK (unlike MOTs), so it can be easy to forget.
Your car will often give you a reminder on the dash, and some garages might send their own reminders.
If servicing is on your mind but you’re not sure which one to go for, take a look at our breakdown of service options below.
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What servicing does my car need?
There are three types of servicing you’ll need to consider – minor, full and major. These are carried out at different intervals and offer varying levels of upkeep.
Every six months/6,000 miles – interim/minor service
Every 12 months/12,000 miles – full service
Every 24 months/24,000 miles – major service
Interim servicing helps to upkeep your car between the more in-depth full and major services, where a lot more maintenance takes place.
Usually an interim/minor service will include an engine oil and filter change, plus a comprehensive check of the car. We don’t currently offer minor servicing at cinch, but you can book in for a major or full service.
The type of service you need will depend on when your car was last serviced. If you’ve just bought a used car with little to no service history, it’s best to kick things off with a full or major service.
Car servicing at cinch
We offer full and major servicing at cinch on all petrol, diesel and electric cars.
You can book your car for a cinch service even if it wasn’t purchased from us.
Full service
Service intervals: every 12 months/12,000 miles
Recommended for: a used car under two years old with little to no service history, a car that has had a minor service approximately six months ago, or a car that hasn’t recently had a major service
What’s included at cinch:
Engine oil change
Filter changes
Fluid top-ups
Our 49-point cinch check
Major service
Service intervals: every 24 months/24,000 miles
Recommended for: a used car over two years old with little to no service history, a car that has had a minor service approximately six months ago, or a car that hasn’t recently had a full service
What’s included at cinch:
Everything from a full service
Brake fluid change
Clutch and power steering fluid top-up
Full diagnostic scan and report of any issues
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How do I know what service my car needs?
Lots of modern cars have a service light on the dash, so you might just need to wait for it to pop up.
Other signs that your car is due some maintenance might include:
Warning lights on the dash
Noises like squealing, knocking or grinding
Loud or smoky exhaust
A stronger smell of oil or petrol than usual
Excessive noises, smoke or smells might need immediate attention. Don’t wait for your service if you suspect something is seriously wrong.
What servicing does an electric car need?
Electric car maintenance can be easier than fuel-powered cars as there are fewer oily engine parts to upkeep, but you should still get an EV serviced regularly.
Electric car servicing focuses on maintaining the electrical components of the car, like the battery and motor.
Generally, EVs can be serviced less often than fuel-powered cars. Each manufacturer has its own recommendation. For example, Volkswagen advises a service for the ID.3 every 18,000 miles.
Why get regular servicing?
Regular servicing keeps your car in the best possible condition, and that keeps it running at its best. You’ll get the best fuel efficiency and smoothest drive.
A full service history is also attractive to future buyers if you plan on selling your car in the future.
You might also spot a smaller issue with your car before it progresses into something larger, saving you money and stress in the long run.
Book servicing at cinch
You can easily book in for a car service with cinch at one of our stores.
We offer full and major services and will let you know if any additional work needs carrying out – with transparent costs and no pressure to get the work done with us.
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