What Happens If You Miss a Car Service | UK Guide
Car servicing is something that you shouldn’t miss. It’s like a routine health check-up for your vehicle. It may not feel urgent, but the consequences can be costly.
Regularly skipping servicing can reduce your car’s safety, reliability, and value. It also means higher fuel consumption, unexpected breakdowns, and failed MOTs.
In this guide, we discuss what could happen if you miss a car service and will cover the risks, warning signs, and how to avoid missing servicing.
Let’s get started!
Why Regular Car Servicing Matters
Regular car servicing is an investment that protects your car from costly repairs. Eventually, it saves you money in the long run. However, a car service is not just about changing oil and checking tyre pressure, but inspecting every detail of the car.
Regular car service means spotting issues before they become major problems. It helps prevent unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs. It also helps in running your car smoothly and more efficiently.
There are different types of services you may need at different intervals. For example, an interim service is usually done every 6 months, a full car service is required after every 12 months, and a major car service follows the exact schedule recommended by your car’s maker.
Servicing is also important for the MOT, which keeps your car legal on UK roads.
Risks of Missing a Car Service
1. Mechanical Problems
If you think ignoring a car service saves you money, you’re wrong. Over time, this leads to far more dangerous and expensive fixes. For example, if you miss changing oil regularly, your car engine gets damaged due to contaminated oil. And this is one of the most common reasons for breakdowns.
There are more risks, like filters getting clogged, rusty spark plugs, misaligned belts, or suspension issues.
2. Safety concerns
Not regularly servicing your car puts your safety at risk. It not only puts your life at risk but also the lives of passengers and other road users. Tyres, steering, and brakes need to be checked regularly, and issues should be spotted early before they become dangerous.
Brake pads are the most common issue, and mechanics replace them before they fail. If you skip your car servicing for months or years, you may not notice the wear and could risk your safety.
3. Reduce performance and efficiency
Missing car servicing also reduces the performance and efficiency of your car. For example, an unchecked engine oil, where the oil gets thicker and loses its protective qualities. This results in more friction, and the engine hardly produces more power.
However, due to poor efficiency, you may encounter more stops at petrol stations. The fuel consumption will be more than your car’s average mileage, and it will cost you more than a regular car servicing.
4. Unexpected breakdown
When you regularly miss a car service, there is a greater chance of unexpected breakdowns. Because car services fix problems before they lead to unexpected breakdowns, whether you are on the motorway or on the way to the office.
5. Lower resale value
Missing a car servicing can seriously harm your car’s value because buyers look for a full car service history. They want to know how well this car has been kept. If there is any gap, buyers step back from buying your car.
In fact, a car’s value can drop by up to 20% if there is a gap in its service history. It’s a big loss, especially for expensive car owners.
Warranty and MOT issues
Lastly, missing a service can create problems with your warranty and MOT. Most of the cars come with a manufacturer’s warranty that requires regular car servicing. If you miss a scheduled service, you may void the warranty.
Not regularly servicing can also affect your MOT. An MOT is a legally required inspection that checks safety, emissions, and key components such as brakes, tyres, and lights. If you miss car servicing, there may be a greater chance of failing the MOT test.
Signs You Might Need a Service Sooner
There are different signs that you should know sooner before it gets too late.
a. Warning lights: Unusual warning lights on the dashboard that need your attention. For example, a red light indicates an issue needing immediate action, while an amber light means it’s less urgent but should still be checked.
b. Strange noises: If you hear any noise like grinding, knocking, or squealing, get it checked quickly. This could be the noise of worn brakes, an engine problem, or a suspension issue.
c. Smoke and strong smell: If you witness any irregular smell from the exhaust, it means there is a problem that needs to be checked quickly.
d. Drop in fuel economy: Sudden higher fuel use often means the engine isn’t running efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive if I miss a service?
Absolutely, you can drive if you miss your car servicing. However, it may increase the chances of unexpected breakdowns and fail to identify hidden faults, which may lead to a major repair cost. Also, skipping service can harm your car’s reliability and resale value.
How long can you delay a car service?
You can delay for a few weeks, but no more than 4 to 5 weeks from the scheduled service. Because the more you’re delayed, the more your car will face problems, and the more costly its repairs will be. So, the best practice is to never delay your car service.
What happens if you miss a car service for years?
Skipping a car service can seriously damage your car and lead to issues like engine failure, poor fuel economy, and safety system faults. This makes your car unsafe to drive, fail the MOT test, and even harm its resale value.
Can I still sell my car if I missed a service?
Yes, you can still sell your car, but at a lower price. Because dealers and buyers expect a full car service history, and by skipping it, your car value will drop up to 20%.
Does MOT count as a service?
No. An MOT is an inspection that is performed by the government. It’s a legal check of roadworthiness, safety, and emissions. That said, regular car service enables you to pass an MOT test without any hassle.
Conclusion: What Happens If You Miss a Car Service
Car servicing is about keeping your car safe, efficient, and reliable. Missing a service might save you money in the short term, but the risks outweigh the savings. Skipping services could lead to unexpected breakdowns, safety risks, and costly repairs.
The simple truth is that regular car servicing protects your car, your wallet, and your safety.
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