Whether you’re commuting to work, taking regular road trips, or simply doing the school run, your car plays an important role in your daily life, and to keep it in top shape inside and out, it’s essential you get it regularly serviced.
In this short blog post, we take a deeper look at car servicing, including what car servicing is, the benefits of car servicing, when you need to get your car serviced, and what to look for when choosing a garage to carry out the service.
Simply put, car servicing is a maintenance process that involves a series of checks, adjustments, and replacement of components to keep your vehicle running smoothly and to help prevent future breakdowns. Contrary to the belief of some, a car service isn’t just a routine oil change or brake check; a car or van service goes much further, and usually addresses a whole range of aspects essential to preserving the longevity of your vehicle.
Safety is always a top priority when it comes to car or van servicing. During a service, your mechanic thoroughly inspects critical safety components, such as brakes, tyres, lights, steering and suspension. Any issues or wear and tear are identified and addressed promptly, helping to reduce the risk of accidents caused by faulty components, such as brake failure, or serious steering or suspension issues.
Regular servicing is one of the best ways to prevent unexpected breakdowns and to keep your car reliable, especially if you need it for the school run, weekly shopping trips, or more essentially, for work. The main way in which servicing improves reliability, is by identifying issues, such as oil leaks, water leaks, or electrical problems, before they become more serious, and possibly result in a breakdown.
Your car is one of your most significant investments, so you want it to last as long as possible. A car service, which includes changing essential fluids such as oil and coolant is a highly effective way to prolong the life of vital engine parts.
This preventative approach to maintaining your vehicle isn’t only essential for longevity, in many cases it is a requirement of the warranty, to ensure that if something does go wrong, you’re covered for any unexpected costs.
It’s no secret, that a well-maintained vehicle is more fuel efficient than a vehicle that isn’t properly maintained. When you get your vehicle thoroughly serviced by a good mechanic, their goal will be to ensure your engine is running optimally.
This benefit of car servicing isn’t only good for your pocket with the fuel savings you’ll make, but it also helps to reduce the harmful emissions your vehicle pumps out, therefore helping lower your carbon footprint and protect the environment.
If you plan to sell your car in the future, a correctly documented service history can significantly increase its resale value, as prospective buyers are more likely to trust a vehicle that’s been regularly serviced.
The frequency of car or van servicing may vary depending on your vehicle's make and model, as well as your driving habits, however, as a general guideline:
Annual Service: Most vehicles will benefit from a full service once a year, which should include a comprehensive check of all components.
Interim Service: Between full services, an interim service is recommended every six months, and will usually involve essential checks to help maintain performance.
Mileage: Some manufacturers recommend servicing based on mileage. This will usually be around 10,000 miles, but it’s best to check your owner's manual.
Choosing a reputable car servicing provider in Leighton Buzzard or beyond is crucial to ensure the quality and integrity of the service. Here are some of the things you should look out for when making your choice:
Experience: Look for a well-established service centre with experienced mechanics, who are familiar with a wide range of vehicle makes and models.
Certifications: Ensure that the mechanics at your chosen garage are certified, and have the necessary training to carry out a service on your specific vehicle.
Customer Reviews: Read plenty of online reviews, and ask around for recommendations, especially from family and friends, and other people you trust.
Transparent Pricing: Make sure to choose a vehicle servicing centre or mechanics, that provides clear and transparent pricing for their services.
If you’re looking for a reputable car or van servicing specialist in Leighton Buzzard, look no further than Jackson & Phillips, one of the area's most trusted garages, offering a wide range of services for cars, vans and some minibuses.