The short answer: most cars need a service every 12 months or 10,000–15,000 km, whichever comes first. But the right interval for your car depends on the make, model, year and how you drive it.
Here is how to work out what your car needs, what the different service types cover, and what actually happens if you skip one.
Check your logbook first
Your owner’s manual or service logbook has the exact schedule your manufacturer set for your car. It specifies:
- The interval — time-based (e.g. every 12 months) and distance-based (e.g. every 15,000 km). You go by whichever comes first.
- What is done at each interval — minor services alternate with major services. A major service includes more items (spark plugs, brake fluid, transmission fluid, filters) and costs more.
- The parts and fluids — manufacturer-specified oil grade, filter types and coolant type.
If you have lost the logbook, send us your rego and we will look up the schedule for your exact vehicle.
Logbook servicing vs general servicing
These are two different things, and which one you need depends on your car’s age and warranty status.
Logbook servicing
Logbook servicing follows your manufacturer’s exact schedule. It uses the specified parts, fluids and oil grade, and the service is stamped and recorded in your logbook. This is what protects your new-car warranty.
A typical logbook service includes:
- Engine oil and filter change (manufacturer-spec grade)
- All fluid levels checked and topped up
- Air filter and cabin filter inspected or replaced
- Brake pad, rotor and tyre condition check
- Battery health and charging system test
- Belts, hoses and cooling system inspection
- Suspension and steering safety check
- Service book stamped and digitally recorded
General servicing
A general service covers the essential maintenance that keeps any car reliable. It is not tied to a specific manufacturer schedule, which makes it ideal for older cars that are out of warranty or past their logbook period.
A typical general service includes:
- Engine oil and filter replacement
- Fluid levels checked and topped up
- Brake, tyre and battery inspection
- Lights, wipers and safety check
- Clear report of anything found
Either way, you get the same qualified technicians and the same standard of work. Book a service at our Oakleigh South workshop.
Will servicing at an independent workshop void my warranty?
No. This is one of the most common misconceptions in Australia, and dealers sometimes imply otherwise — but the law is clear.
Under Australian Consumer Law, you can have your car serviced at any qualified independent workshop without voiding your new-car warranty, as long as:
- The manufacturer’s service schedule is followed
- The correct parts and fluids are used
- The service is recorded and the logbook is stamped
The ACCC has taken action against manufacturers who have tried to tie servicing to their dealer network. You can read the ACCC’s position on new car warranties and servicing.
We follow your exact schedule, use the right parts, stamp the logbook and keep digital records. Your warranty stays fully intact.
What happens if you skip a service?
Skipping a service does not mean your car will break down tomorrow, but it does mean:
- Small problems go unnoticed — a worn belt, a low fluid level or a cracked hose caught during a service costs a fraction of the breakdown it turns into.
- Warranty risk — if you are still under warranty, a missed service interval can give the manufacturer grounds to decline a warranty claim on the affected components.
- Resale value drops — a complete service history is one of the first things a buyer or dealer checks. Gaps in the history reduce what your car is worth.
- Oil degrades — engine oil breaks down over time even if you are not driving much. Old oil loses its ability to protect moving parts, which accelerates wear.
Signs you should not wait for the next interval
Even if your next service is not due yet, book it in if you notice:
- A warning or check-engine light — worth a diagnostic scan to read the fault before it gets worse.
- Unusual noises — knocking, squealing, grinding or whining that was not there before.
- Vibration — through the steering wheel, brake pedal or body of the car.
- Brakes feeling different — soft pedal, longer stopping distances or pulling to one side. See brakes and tyres.
- Fluid under the car — any puddle that was not there last week.
- It has been over 12 months — even if you have not driven many kilometres. Time-based degradation still applies to oil, coolant and brake fluid.
How long does a service take?
A standard logbook or general service is usually finished within 3–4 hours. Most drivers drop the car off at 8am and it is ready by lunch.
If we find anything unexpected during the service, we call you before doing any additional work. You get a clear explanation and a quote — nothing extra happens without your approval.
How to book
Send your rego via our contact page or call us on 0424 156 703. We will confirm the right service schedule for your car, quote it clearly, and book you in. View all servicing options.