Car price guide
How much does a full car service cost?
Typical UK price, depending on car size
Figures last reviewed 7 September 2026.
A full service is the comprehensive, usually annual service in your car’s schedule - typically every 12 months or 12,000 miles, though many modern cars use longer or variable intervals, so the schedule in your handbook or service app is what counts. It goes well beyond an oil change, and it’s the service a buyer expects to see in a “full service history”.
Typical prices by car size
| Car size | Typical price | How well sourced |
|---|---|---|
| Small (up to 1.2L) | £150 - £250 | Reasonably sourced |
| Medium (1.3-2.0L) | £200 - £350 | Reasonably sourced |
| Large (over 2.0L) | £300 - £450 | Estimate |
Check a quote for a small, medium or large car.
Prices are for mainstream brands. Premium brands, and garages in London and the South East, usually charge more - the Quote Checker adjusts for your car's brand and region. Where these figures come from:
- Checkatrade car service cost guide (small/mainstream-car examples), cross-checked against Bumper.co's national range (published 2026-05-15, reviewed 2026-09-07) - Size-banded examples (Fiesta/Polo-class), not a single quoted figure for this exact band.
- Checkatrade car service cost guide (3-Series/A4-class examples), cross-checked against Bumper.co's national range (published 2026-05-15, reviewed 2026-09-07) - Bumper.co's own national average (£280) sits inside this band.
- Checkatrade car service cost guide (prestige-car examples) (published 2026-05-15, reviewed 2026-09-07) - "Prestige" examples span a very wide range in the source - widest band of the three sizes on purpose.
Been quoted for a full service?
Enter the price you were quoted and get a straight answer - fair, high, or worth a second opinion - against these same benchmarks, adjusted for your car. Free, no account needed.
Check my quoteWhat’s usually included
- Engine oil and oil filter change
- Air filter replacement, and usually the cabin (pollen) filter
- Spark plugs on petrol cars, or the fuel filter on many diesels, when your car’s schedule says they’re due
- Brakes checked: pads, discs, pipes and the condition of the brake fluid
- Steering, suspension, wheel bearings and exhaust inspected
- Tyres checked for tread depth, damage and pressure
- Lights, wipers, horn and battery tested
- Coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid and screenwash checked and topped up
What changes the price
- Engine size and oil - bigger engines hold more oil, and many modern engines need a specific, manufacturer-approved oil that costs more.
- Brand - parts and labour cost more on premium makes. The table covers mainstream brands.
- Main dealer or independent garage - main dealers generally charge more for the same work, often considerably more.
- Where you live - garage labour rates are highest in London and the South East.
- What’s due this year - spark plugs, a fuel filter or new brake fluid can each add to a particular year’s bill.
How to make sure you're paying a fair price
- Compare the checklist, not just the price - one garage’s “full service” can be another’s interim.
- Check the quote includes the oil and filters your car needs, and VAT.
- Ask the garage to call you before doing any extra work, so nothing lands on the bill without your say-so.
- Keep the itemised invoice. A documented full service history adds real value when you sell.
- If your car is under warranty, you don’t have to use the main dealer: UK competition rules let an independent garage service it, provided they follow the manufacturer’s schedule and use parts of matching quality.
Red flags
- Extra work on the bill that you didn’t agree to beforehand.
- Engine flushes and fuel-system “treatments” sold as standard when they aren’t on your car’s schedule.
- An invoice that doesn’t list the parts and oil actually fitted.
- Being told something “failed” without being shown it, or given a measurement.
Questions people ask
How much does a full car service cost?
Typically £150-£250 for a small car (up to 1.2L), £200-£350 for a medium car (1.3-2.0L), £300-£450 for a large car (over 2.0L), for mainstream brands. Premium brands, and garages in London and the South East, usually cost more.
What’s the difference between a full and an interim service?
An interim service is a lighter oil-and-safety-check service for higher-mileage drivers, usually every six months or 6,000 miles, in between annual services. A full service is the annual one: it adds filter replacements and a much wider set of inspections.
How often does a car need a full service?
Usually every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first - but many modern cars use longer or variable service intervals, so follow your own car’s schedule.
Do I have to use a main dealer to keep my warranty?
No. UK competition rules let you use an independent garage without affecting your warranty, as long as the work follows the manufacturer’s schedule and uses parts of matching quality. Keep the invoices as proof.
More car price guides
RoadVerdict price guides are benchmarks from named, dated sources, not a quote for your car. Every figure shows how well sourced it is, and where no source prices a job directly we say so.