Maintenance is the servicing and mechanical repair of your vehicle

The car or van manufacturer of your vehicle will have set out a schedule of maintenance for the vehicle, typically at timed intervals or when a vehicle has travelled a particular mileage.

This is usually to perform annual or similar servicing and check that the vehicle's condition is satisfactory (irrespective of any vehicle testing requirement such a Department of Transport inspection).

For vehicles which are still covered by the manufacturer's warranty the servicing interval will usually be specified according to time or mileage and may include inspection of mechanical fittings and/or the bodywork.

Service Intervals

Service intervals will vary between manufacturers and models, but are typically every 12 months or 12,000 miles (whichever comes sooner).

Some manufacturers specify longer intervals, for example every 15,000 miles or 18 months, though vehicles which perform arduous task (particularly vans) may have shorter intervals, for example every 6 months or 6,000 miles.

Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) typically have lower maintenance costs than internal combustion engine vehicles, as they have fewer moving parts.

As a result they do not require oil changes or other routine maintenance associated with traditional combustion engines.

However, EVs still require regular maintenance, such as tyre rotations, brake inspections, air conditioning fluid checks and battery checks.