Typical UK service prices
Prices are for independent garages at around £70 an hour. Franchised dealers typically charge 40 to 80 per cent more, though fixed-price servicing on older cars narrows the gap.
| Job | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Interim service (oil, filter, checks) | £90 to £160 |
| Full service | £160 to £320 |
| Major service (with plugs and extra filters) | £280 to £600 |
| Main dealer full service | £250 to £550 |
| MOT test | £40 to £54.85 |
| Brake fluid change | £50 to £100 |
| Coolant change | £70 to £150 |
| Gearbox oil change (automatic) | £200 to £450 |
What affects the cost
Service level
An interim service is oil, filter and safety checks, usually every six months or 6,000 miles. A full service adds air, fuel and pollen filters and a longer inspection list. A major service adds spark plugs and fluids.
Oil specification
Long-life fully synthetic oils to a specific manufacturer spec cost far more than generic oil. On a big engine, the oil alone can be £70 to £120.
Dealer or independent
An independent garage using genuine or OE-matching parts and stamping a digital service record protects your warranty under block exemption rules, usually at a much lower price.
Age and condition
Older cars need more consumables replaced, and anything seized or corroded adds labour. Newer cars under warranty may need specific dealer software updates.
What a good full service should include
- Engine oil and oil filter replaced with the correct specification oil.
- Air filter, pollen filter and, where fitted, fuel filter renewed.
- Brake inspection with pad and disc measurements written down.
- All fluids checked and topped up, tyres checked and pressures set.
- A written report of anything found, with prices, before extra work is done.
How to pay a fair price
Book your service and MOT together to save a second trip, and ask for a written list of anything found rather than agreeing to work over the phone. Comparing two or three local garages on what is actually included, not just headline price, is where the real saving is.
Compare local quotesFrequently asked questions
Related guides
Common MOT failures and what they cost to fix
The most common MOT failures in Britain and roughly what each costs to put right.
Car battery replacement cost in the UK
UK price ranges for a supplied and fitted car battery, plus the signs yours is on the way out.
Clutch replacement cost in the UK
What a new clutch costs by car type, including dual-mass flywheels and DSG clutch packs.