Service your car as often as your owner's manual says: it gives a distance and a time, such as every so many kilometres or every 12 months, and whichever comes first is the one that counts. If you don't have the manual, a common rule of thumb is about once a year or every 10,000 to 15,000 km, whichever comes first.
That's the starting point. How you drive can move it.
How do I read my service schedule?
Your owner's manual or service book has a schedule from the maker. It usually lists:
- A regular interval, by distance and by time.
- Bigger services at set points, where extra items like spark plugs, coolant or brake fluid are due.
- A "severe" or "special conditions" schedule with shorter intervals.
The time limit matters even if you hardly drive. Oil and fluids age sitting in the car, and rubber parts dry out. A car that does 4,000 km a year still needs its service on time.
Many newer cars also show a spanner or "service due" message on the dashboard. That's a reminder set by the car, not a fault, and it's usually reset after the service.
If you've lost the book, ask us and we'll help you find the maker's schedule.
Do short trips and Auckland traffic count as "severe"?
Often, yes. That surprises people. Makers commonly class these as severe or special conditions:
- lots of short trips where the engine never fully warms up
- stop-start traffic and long idling
- towing a trailer, boat or caravan
- dusty or gravel roads
- carrying heavy loads
A lot of North Shore driving fits the first two: school runs, the drop to the shops, and the crawl onto the motorway at Constellation Drive. Check what your manual says for severe use, and if it applies, follow the shorter schedule. If you're unsure which applies to you, ask us and we'll tell you straight.
What about older or high-kilometre cars?
Older cars still follow their maker's schedule, but they reward closer attention. Seals, hoses, bushes and the cooling system don't get younger. A regular service is where we spot a small leak or a tired part before it leaves you on the side of the road.
Two things to know for older cars:
- The cambelt. Many engines have a cambelt that must be changed at a set distance or age. It's separate from the regular service and easy to miss if the car has changed owners. We check the due date at every service. More in When should I change my cambelt?
- Fewer WOFs doesn't mean less care. From 1 November 2026, many cars registered on or after 1 November 2019 only need a WOF every two years. That's two years without a safety inspection, so the service becomes the regular check-up. Here's how the two differ: What's the difference between a WOF and a service?
Quick questions
Do I have to service at the dealer to keep my warranty?
It depends on your warranty's terms, so read them, and keep every service recorded in the book.
Is an oil change the same as a service?
No. An oil change is one part of a service. A service also checks the brakes, tyres, fluids, battery, belts and suspension.
What does your service include?
Our Platinum service covers the oil and filter, fluids, brakes with the wheels off, tyres, suspension, battery, an engine management scan, the cambelt due date and a road test. See the full list.
Car servicing in Albany and the North Shore
Midas Albany, 3C Saturn Place, Albany. Family owned since 2004, MTA Assured. Call with your make and model and we'll give you the price before you book. If we find anything extra, you get the price first and nothing is done without your written OK.
Call Robin on 09 415 6595, book online, or request a callback. Monday to Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm, Saturday 8am to 12pm.
Written by the Midas Albany team.