Approved Garages has a network of over 1,200 car service and repair garages across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. To find an expert car service and repair mechanic in your area, find your location from the search bar below.
Our network of car service and repair providers can help you get your car back to its best in no time.
Our garages can help in everything automotive repair related, including services with MOTs, diagnostics, tyres, electronics, batteries, alloy wheels and everything in between.
Regular servicing will often diagnose and review your vehicle’s needs for repairs. Repairs can also be a part of the servicing process, but ultimately, servicing covers car maintenance, whereas repairs are the act of fixing a broken vehicle.
It's important to have your car serviced every 12,000 miles or at least once a year. The best times to schedule a service might be before a long drive or after a period of non-use. You may also want to consider having your car serviced before or after a sale, if you notice that it's feeling sluggish to drive, or is producing a strong scent after use.
Our Approved Garages typically service your vehicle before an MOT. This is because a service will ensure that your vehicle is in good, working order, making it more likely to pass its MOT. However, if you have just purchased the car, it may be worth putting it through its MOT first, to assess its condition at the point of sale, and then having it serviced after the fact.
A standard service may take as many as 3 hours to complete, assuming no major faults are discovered. If you drop your car off in the morning, it will likely be available to you by midday, or by the next morning, if an issue is encountered.
Typically, full service includes an oil change, an oil filter change, and an inspection of fluid levels (brake fluid, coolant, window wash etc.). Garages will also check your brake functionality and air filter(s). EV services may differ.
Not regularly servicing your vehicle may lead to a number of issues further down the line. The main issue you will encounter if you do not regularly service your vehicle is a buildup of engine oil, which will contain particulates, and eventually cause your engine to seize. This will potentially lead to complete engine failure, which is sometimes beyond repair.
A minor service is ideal for cars covering high mileages each year (25,000+), to be carried out in-between Full Services. It includes an oil change, inspection of safety critical components, and brake fluid top-up (if required).
A full service is to be carried out annually, or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
It includes a more comprehensive vehicle inspection, oil change plus further replacement parts, and an enhanced level of fluid top-ups (if required).
