One of the easiest ways to keep your car reliable, safe and running efficiently is to service it regularly. Yet many Australian drivers aren’t sure how often they should service their vehicle, especially if they don’t drive many kilometres each year.
The truth is that servicing isn’t just about changing your engine oil. Regular maintenance helps identify worn components before they fail, improves fuel efficiency, extends your vehicle’s lifespan and reduces the risk of an unexpected breakdown.
We’ll explain how often you should service your vehicle, what influences servicing schedules and why regular maintenance is one of the best ways to avoid being stranded on the side of the road.
The General Rule: Every 10,000 -15,000 km or Every 12 Months
For most modern petrol vehicles, manufacturers recommend servicing every 10,000 to 15,000 kilometres. This differs for some European vehicles which specify an interval of up to 20,000 km. If you drive less than these amounts, it’s still recommended to service every 12 months.
Time Matters Just as Much as Kilometres
Many drivers assume if they don’t drive much, they can delay a vehicle service. However, engine oil deteriorates over time, even when a vehicle isn’t regularly driven. Moisture can also build up inside an engine, rubber seals age and batteries slowly discharge.
If you only drive 5,000 – 8,000 km per year with short trips around town and the ocassional weekend outing, you should still service your vehicle every 12 months.
Vehicles That May Need More Frequent Servicing
Your vehicle can need additional maintenance based on age, driving style and external conditions such as road quality and weather.
For example, you may need require more frequent servicing if you experience:
- Repeated heavy stop-start traffic that affects your brakes
- Additional stress from towing caravans or trailers
- Regularly drive on unsealed country roads
- Frequently carry heavy loads
- Drive or park your vehicle in extreme heat
- Make many short trips which can effect your battery
Electric Vehicles – EV Servicing Requirements
Electric vehicles generally require less maintenance because they are built differently to petrol cars.
There is no servicing or replacement needs for the following components:
- Engine oil
- Oil filters
- Spark plugs
- Timing belts
However, they still require servicing and inspection for:
- Tyres
- Brakes
- Suspension
- Cabin air filters
- Coolant systems
- Battery health checks
- Functionality issues not related to performance
Most manufacturers recommend servicing EVs every 12 – 24 months.
A benefit of EVs is that they can receive over the air software updates, which can resolve common issues and improve performance and efficieny.
OTA updates can usually be done at home and do not require a visit to a service center.
What Happens During a Regular Service?
A standard petrol vehicle service may include:
- Engine oil replacement
- Oil filter replacement
- Air filter inspection
- Fluid top-ups
- Brake inspection
- Tyre pressure check
- Battery test
- Steering and suspension inspection
- Lights and wiper inspection
- Cooling system check
- Diagnostic scan (for modern vehicles)
Major services include additional items such as:
- Spark plugs
- Fuel filters
- Transmission fluid
- Timing belt inspection or replacement (where applicable)
Services are generally split into minor and major. A major service is recommended every 30,000 kms or every 2 – 3 years. It often incurs a greater cost due to replacement of more components.
Signs Your Vehicle Needs Servicing Sooner
There’s no need to wait until your scheduled service if you notice any of the following issues:
- Engine warning light
- Strange noises or vibrations while driving
- Reduced fuel economy
- Difficulty starting your vehicle
- Excessive exhaust smoke
- Grinding or squealing brakes
- Oil leaks
- Overheating
- Steering that feels out of alignment
Early attention can often prevent much larger repair bills.
What Happens If You Skip Services?
Skipping scheduled maintenance increases the risk of:
- Engine wear
- Poor fuel economy
- Brake problems
- Battery failure
- Cooling system issues
- Unexpected breakdowns
- Reduced resale value
- Invalidating parts of your manufacturer’s warranty
Small maintenance issues are usually much cheaper to fix than major mechanical failures so sticking to your service schedule is highly recommended.
Don’t Forget These Maintenance Items
Regular servicing isn’t the only maintenance your car needs. To keep on top of potential issues, you can check the following items yourself.
Every Month
- Inflate your tyres to keep them in line with manufacturer requirements. This improves efficiency and performance.
- Check your engine oil level for fluctuations.
- Inspect your coolant level.
- Replace windscreen washer fluid when running low.
- Test exterior lights and replace bulbs where required.
Every Six Months
- Keep an eye on your battery condition and drops in performance.
- Inspect your tyre tread depth as bald tyres can be a safety hazard.
- Replace wiper blades if these become noisy due to worn out padding.
- Monitor brakes for squealing or reduced performance.
These items can help you catch problems before they become serious and budget for upcoming services.
Even Well-Serviced Cars Can Break Down
Regular servicing greatly reduces the chance of mechanical problems, but it can’t eliminate them entirely.
Unexpected issues can still occur and that’s why it’s worth having a roadside assistance backup plan in place.
Unlike traditional annual memberships, Road Angels offers on-demand roadside assistance, allowing you to request help only when you actually need it. There’s no ongoing subscription fee, making it a cost-effective option for drivers who want peace of mind without paying every year.
Whether you’re dealing with a flat battery, flat tyre or another common roadside issue, help can be requested quickly through Road Angels when the unexpected happens.