Everything you need to know before scheduling your next car service appointment

Luckily, there are ways to ease the potentially high costs associated with taking your car for its services, and by taking certain steps ahead of time, you may be able to reduce the costs associated with keeping your car in good condition.

Taking your car in for a car service in Reading can be a stressful experience, especially for new drivers or those who have older vehicles. While regular services are critical if you want to ensure that your car is safe to drive and performing as efficiently as possible, they can also be expensive if your vehicle requires extensive work.

Furthermore, unless you are reasonably knowledgeable about automobiles, you may be unaware of which types of maintenance and repairs necessitate specialised knowledge and skills and which jobs you can safely learn to do yourself.

Don't put it off for too long.

Vehicles do not need to be serviced on a regular basis. Unlike a MOT, which is a legal requirement and can be passed or failed, a service is only suggested. For many drivers, the only time they will consider a service is right before their MOT, and while a car cannot fail a service, it can be an expensive endeavour if minor issues have been ignored for an extended period of time.

Furthermore, after your service, you may choose to disregard all of the advice given by your service technician, but this will almost certainly reduce the lifespan of the vehicle and may even jeopardise your safety.

If you don't use your car very often or drive long distances, an annual check up may be all that is required; however, if you drive a lot, it may be worth getting your car serviced more frequently. A full service should be scheduled once a year or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Booking interim services may also be beneficial. It is recommended having these checks every six months or 6,000 miles to keep your car roadworthy and safe in between full services. They are especially useful if you use your car for a lot of short trips around town or if you have a high mileage and want extra peace of mind that everything is in good working order in between its annual check-ups.

Certain problems, if detected early enough, can be easily and quickly resolved. Allowing them to worsen could instead result in a massive dent in your finances as well as putting you and other road users at risk in the interim.

What should you bring with you when you have your car serviced?

Before you leave to have your car serviced, there are a few things you should make sure are in the car. To begin, bring the vehicle service book with you so the car mechanic can stamp it once the service is completed. Each time you have your vehicle serviced, a stamp in your service book shows potential new owners that the car has been well-maintained and increases the resell value.

The second item you should bring is your locking wheel nut key, especially if you are having a full service. This will allow the car mechanic to remove your wheels and thoroughly inspect the braking system. If your service only includes a visual brake check, you may not need the locking wheel nut key, but it's a good idea to keep it in the glove box in case you get a puncture and need to remove the tyre.

Learn some basic upkeep

Learning some basic repairs and maintenance techniques may enable you to do some of the more simple tasks yourself, saving you a significant amount of money. This could save you from having to make major and costly repairs later on.

You don't have to be a mechanical genius to keep your car in good shape. Keeping an eye on oil levels, screen wash levels, and tyre pressures, as well as checking and changing air filters, are tasks that anyone with a little knowledge can do.

You will be able to quickly familiarise yourself with everything from where and how to check and top up your oil to exactly what pressure each tyre should be and when you should check your tyre pressure on a flat surface, when your tyres are cold, by consulting your car's manual or even watching short tutorials online.

It is also a good idea to keep an eye on your tyres and check them every few weeks to ensure they are still roadworthy. If your tyres are dangerously worn or have a tread depth that is less than the legally required limit of 1.6mm, you should replace them as soon as possible. If you do not then you risk a £2,500 fine and three points on your licence for each tyre that does not meet this standard. Keep in mind that if you arrive at a service with worn tyres, you must factor in the additional cost of having them replaced.