How often should you actually
service your car?

"It still runs" is the most expensive phrase in car upkeep. A service on time costs little and prevents big breakdowns. Here's how to tell when it's due.

Read the interval in the manual, not on a forum

Every manufacturer sets an interval, in kilometers or in months, whichever comes first. For cars that run little, time matters, not just distance: the oil ages anyway.

Short city driving wears it faster

Short trips don't let the engine reach temperature, and the oil degrades earlier. If you mostly drive in town, shorten the service interval a little.

A missed service doesn't show today. It shows a year from now, in the repair bill.

What a point-by-point check catches

Besides oil and filters, we look at the brakes, belts, fluids and tires. That's how we catch small things early, before they turn expensive.