How often should I service my car?
An MOT is a legal minimum safety check. A service is how you keep the engine, brakes and fluids in the condition the manufacturer intended. At Strand Motor Company we follow the handbook first. Where the handbook is silent, these intervals are the ones we use for most petrol, diesel and hybrid cars in Croydon.
Standard intervals
- Interim service: every 6 months or 6,000 miles
- Full service: every 12 months or 12,000 miles
- Major service: every 24 months or 24,000 miles
High-mileage drivers (taxis, delivery cars, lots of M25 or A23 running) usually need the interim visit. Low-mileage cars still need a full service every year because oil and brake fluid age even when the car sits.
What happens if you skip it
Oil breaks down. Filters clog. Small leaks become expensive failures. A missing service stamp also knocks money off the car when you sell it. Skipping a service does not save money; it delays a larger bill.
Service and MOT on the same day
Many Croydon customers book both together at 156 Handcroft Road. We can often do that on one visit. Enter your registration on the booking page for a live price, or call 020 8686 0868. See also full vs interim service and MOT and service on the same day.