No-one looks forward to the time of year when your service is due. Maybe you are looking to save on the running costs by putting it off for a month or two (or not at all), or are considering doing it yourself at home – either way, the last thing you want is to break down in the middle of nowhere or end up causing an accident.
Here are six good reasons why you should invest the money and get your car serviced by a professional.
1. Safety
A regular service by a trained professional is crucial from a safety perspective, as faulty parts can put you and other road users in a dangerous position. By taking it to someone who knows the make and model of your car inside out and who uses the latest diagnostic and technical tools you’ll reduce the risk of problems occurring while you’re out on the road.
By getting your car regularly checked, you can replace any parts that need replacing and make sure major components such as drivetrains, brakes, and suspension and exhaust systems are in good working order. Experienced technicians also have access to all the latest software updates for your vehicle and details of any recalls. That way you can leave your home and get to your destination safely every time.
2. Optimal Performance
Servicing your car helps to check that all the parts are in excellent working condition and it’s running at optimum performance. Having the oil and filters changed at regular intervals is important as oil quality deteriorates over time. This also prevents any dirt or dust getting into the engine and potentially causing major issues. It will prolong the engine's longevity and ultimately the car's overall life span.
Making sure the tread count and depth of your tyres is road legal will give you better traction on the road, and prevent you from skidding. The legal tread depth limit is 1.5mm, but you should consider changing your tyres at around the 3mm mark in order to maintain adequate performance on the road, especially in cold and wet weather.
3. Saves You Money
By taking your car in for a regular service, the technicians can identify any small problems that need fixing before they turn into larger ones. Catching these out earlier means they’ll be cheaper to fix, as opposed to it becoming a big expensive problem, where you’ll need to fork out a large sum of money to repair the issue.
4. Fuel Efficiency
If you’re not looking after your car, you could be throwing your money down the drain. A poorly maintained car will empty your fuel tank much quicker, meaning you’ll have to make more frequent trips to the petrol station. By regularly servicing, you are maximising the fuel-efficiency of your car and it will have better fuel economy over an unserviced vehicle.
5. Protects Car Value
Buying a car is one of the most expensive purchases you’re going to make. Making sure your car is in tip top condition helps to maintain its value and your investment, which comes in handy if you decide to sell it in the future. Regularly servicing your car prolongs its life and when you have a full service history it can be sold to a prospective buyer at a competitive price.
Some customers will only purchase a used vehicle if they can view the service history to be confident that the vehicle will operate as expected. Also, if the car is written off in an accident, the insurance company may pay out a lower-than-expected sum because they'll say the car is worth less without a proper service history.
6. Maintains Your Warranty
By having services carried out at, or before, the correct intervals, you protect your manufacturer’s warranty. Servicing outside of the manufacturer's guidelines can invalidate the warranty, possibly leaving you to pick up the repair bill if something should go wrong.
With all this talk about servicing, you should check when your car is due for a visit to the service centre. If you’ve clocked more than a few kms or it’s almost been a year since your last one, it’s time to get it done! While we’ve all been guilty of throwing our owner’s manual to the side, you’ll find some useful information in there to teach you how to take care of your car.
If you’ve got more burning questions on how to take care of your car at home, we’ve got a few tips to help you look after it. For more information on finding the right car for you, download our Complete Guide to Buying a New Car today!
