Time to service the car? This is what you need to know!

Servicing your car regularly is crucial to extending its lifespan, avoiding expensive repairs and driving safely. But how often should you actually service your car, how much does it cost and why do prices vary so much between garages? Here we explain everything you need to know to take best care of your car.

Why should you service your car?

Many people think that servicing at a garage is unnecessary, especially if you can already check your oil, tire pressure and fluids yourself. But a car service is about much more than that.

During a service, the mechanic goes through the working parts of the car. Following a fixed checklist, important parts are replaced and other parts are checked. During the service, the mechanic can detect faults before they actually occur, and it is usually much cheaper to fix an incipient fault before something happens than to wait until something breaks down.

Another reason not to skip servicing is insurance. Many car insurance policies require documented service to be fully valid. In addition, many garages offer extra benefits such as free assistance if you service your car at their location.

Regular servicing reduces the risk of expensive car repairs

By servicing your car, you ensure that it is safe. Being on the highway at 120 km/h can be life-threatening if something breaks. A service technician can probably spot the risk before anything happens, and warn you that something needs to be replaced soon.

The service simply buys you some time to think about how to fix the problem before it's too late. Instead of having to pay tens of thousands of kronor for a broken engine, you can get away with a couple of thousand kronor to replace a part in the engine that is at risk.

The service thus acts as insurance against unexpected problems, and it also helps the car last longer and have a better resale value.

Troubleshooting a car at the workshop is better than ordering a specific job

If you bring your car in for service and already suspect something is wrong, feel free to describe what you are experiencing, but let the mechanic do the actual troubleshooting.

If you order a specific job yourself, such as replacing a water pump, the workshop will charge for that – even if the problem turns out to be somewhere else. By instead telling them about noises, vibrations or warning lights, the technician can make an accurate diagnosis and find the real cause.

It's better to talk to the service personnel about what you've noticed. Describe it as best you can, and then let the mechanic do their own troubleshooting on the car.

How often should the car be serviced?

The service interval varies between different car brands and models. Most commonly, the car should be serviced every 1,500 kilometers or once a year, whichever comes first.

If you drive a lot, for example 3,000 kilometers per year, this means two services per year. If you drive less than 1,500 kilometers, once a year is enough. You can always find exact information in the car's owner's manual.

Some modern cars also have so-called condition-based service, where the car itself senses when it is time. If you drive aggressively or often in heavy traffic, the service indicator may alert you earlier.

How much does it cost to service the car?

The price of a car service varies greatly depending on the car brand, model year and type of workshop. A branded workshop is usually more expensive than an independent workshop, but in return may offer extra guarantees and benefits.

An article from auto motor & sport (2025) reports that the difference in hourly rates between authorized brand workshops and independent workshops can be over SEK 2,000 per hour. The difference is rarely about the quality of the work itself, but rather about brand value, specially trained personnel and any additional services.

The service content should be the same regardless of the workshop, and a new car warranty normally applies even if the service is carried out at an independent workshop. However, there may be additional benefits to servicing your car at a branded workshop, such as an extended rust protection warranty or free roadside assistance. It is up to you to decide whether these benefits outweigh the higher cost.

The difference between car service and inspection

A car service is not the same as a car inspection. You should not neglect to leave your car for service just because it has been recently inspected. The inspection really only shows that the car is safe to drive on the roads right now , while a service checks important wear parts and replaces anything that is at risk of breaking.

In short, you can say that the service ensures that you have a safe and working car, while the inspection checks – and approves the car or gives it a driving ban. Inspection must be done according to law, while it is entirely up to you to service the car.

Car service checklist

What do you actually do when your car is serviced? Well, the car's service book carefully states which items are included in the various service events for that particular car. Depending on the event (not everything is checked and replaced every time), these are some of the items that are included:

• Lamps: Checking and replacing all of the car's exterior lights.

• Liquids: Check the level and top up or replace if necessary. Oil and oil filter, washer, radiator, brake and power steering fluid.

• Deck: Check tire pressure, visible damage and tread depth.

• Brakes: Complete inspection of brake pads, brake fluid and brake lines. Replacement if necessary.

• Instruments: Electrical components in the car are checked, such as tachometer, speedometer, horn and warning lights.

• Electronics: The most important things are checked for damage and leaks, such as the battery, wiring, starter motor, and alternator.

• Engine: All parts of the engine are carefully checked, including hoses, lines, filters, shafts, spark plugs, exhaust systems and more.

• Interior: The inside of the car is also checked. This includes checking seat belts, mirrors, car seats, handbrake, doors and locks, etc.

• Trial run: Once all parts according to the checklist have been checked, a test drive is also done. This is to make sure that everything works as it should and to check that no problems arise during driving.

Also read: 8 tips when changing your oil.