Why Should I Get My Car Serviced?
Making sure that your vehicle is in top condition is an important part of the routine of car ownership. It might feel like a hassle to take it into the garage on a regular basis, and you may find yourself asking the question, “Why should I get my car serviced?” We explain how it can save you money and prevent any dangerous, unwanted accidents.
A Service is Different to an MOT
First things first, an MOT is not a service. It does not cover the same aspects that a service does. In fact, the two work best in tandem. An MOT makes sure your car is safe to drive without potentially causing a risk to yourself and others, while a service checks the condition of various parts of your vehicle, noting any wear and tear and notes if anything needs repairing or replacing. If you think your car’s fine just because it passed its MOT recently, think again. Getting a service might uncover underlying issues that need attention right away. We covered MOTs in full last month, so be sure to check that out if you’re unsure on what an MOT covers.
A Service Will Save Money
It might be tempting to skip a service if you’re tight on money or just have a feeling that the car doesn’t need one, but the healthier a car is the less likely you’ll be hit with a hefty repair bill in the future. Taking good care of your car pays off. An unserviced vehicle could have any number of problems bubbling under the surface which, while not causing any noticeable trouble right now, will build up to cause major malfunctions later on.
In the end it’s much cheaper to shell out for an oil change than it is for a whole new engine, so if your car hasn’t had a check up for a while, it’s a good idea to get it booked in sooner rather than later.
Unserviced cars also run less efficiently, so they are more likely to have a much higher fuel consumption rate. A service will rectify this, saving you money on fuel costs – which will definitely add up – and helping the environment at the same time.
Safety First
A service will thoroughly check the core components of your car to make sure they are running properly and will flag up any problems before it all goes wrong, so you have time to decide how best to fix and finance the issue. Regular servicing is important in spotting gradual deterioration of parts. What doesn’t come up in one service might be easily noticeable in the next, and skipping a service might be a case of pushing your luck.
Keeping it regular gives you the best chance of having your car constantly healthy and safe. Ignoring regular servicing is not worth the risk. It’s far safer to test your car in a controlled environment than field testing it out on the open road where, if things go wrong, it could be fatal.
Resale Value
If you’re thinking of selling your car privately, one with evidence of regular servicing will have a leg up on the competition. It can be a competitive market, and people buying privately will likely be more cautious than buying from a dealership. If you have a full service history to hand for your car, then you might attract more potential buyers and justify a higher selling price.
Insurance
Not having your car serviced could have an adverse impact on your insurance. If you’re putting in a claim then you may be left out of pocket when your insurer discovers that your car is overdue for a service. Estimation of pre-accident value could be lower if it hasn’t had a recent service, so in the case of a total write-off the value of your car might be much less than you were expecting. That’s definitely a scary prospect.
Wyatt Auto Services offer thorough car servicing and repairs to customers in Barnsley and South Yorkshire. Our family run garage gives a personal touch to car maintenance no matter the make or model. Our friendly, experienced team will make sure you’re roadworthy in no time so don’t hesitate to get in touch today.