An interim service is the smaller of the two services. At Windmill Garage, an interim service is what we call a small service. It covers the essentials, while a full service goes further with extra parts and a more thorough brake check.
Which one saves you more depends on how much you drive and what your car is due for. The cheapest service today is not necessarily the right service for the car.
What is an interim service?
An interim service, sometimes called a minor or small service, is a lighter service covering the main routine essentials.
Different garages use different names and include different things. That matters. One garage’s “interim service” is not necessarily identical to another’s, so it is worth looking at the actual checklist rather than the name on the booking button.
At Windmill Garage, we call ours a small service. It includes:
- a road test
- standard oil and oil filter change
- all lights and levels checked
- brake discs and pads checked
Standard oil is included. Long-life or non-standard oil is charged additionally where required.
It’s a useful way of keeping on top of the things that need regular attention without paying for the additional work included in a full service.
What is a full service?
A full service includes the checks and work from the small service, then goes further.
At Windmill Garage, a full service includes:
- road test
- oil and oil filter change
- air filter replacement
- spark plugs renewed on petrol vehicles
- all lights and levels checked
- all wheels removed
- brakes checked and cleaned
For diesel vehicles, the fuel filter is charged as an extra.
That last distinction is worth knowing before comparing prices. A headline “full service” price does not tell you much unless you know what is actually included.
Interim vs full service: what’s included?
Here is the simplest way to compare the two services we offer.
| What’s included | Small (interim) service | Full service |
|---|---|---|
| Road test | Yes | Yes |
| Standard oil and oil filter change | Yes | Yes |
| Lights and levels checked | Yes | Yes |
| Brake discs and pads checked | Yes | Yes |
| Air filter replaced | No | Yes |
| Spark plugs renewed on petrol vehicles | No | Yes |
| All wheels removed | No | Yes |
| Brakes checked and cleaned | No | Yes |
| Diesel fuel filter | No | Extra charge |
Long-life or non-standard oil may also cost extra.
If you’re comparing an interim service with a full service elsewhere, check the actual list. Service names are useful shorthand, but the spanners care rather less about what the package is called.
How much does an interim car service cost?
At Windmill Garage, our small service currently starts at £181.54, with the price based on the size of the vehicle.
Our published prices are:
| Vehicle size | Example cars | Small (interim) service | Full service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Micra, Polo and similar | £181.54 | £221.19 |
| Medium | Astra, Megane and similar | £193.41 | £240.70 |
| Large | BMW, people carriers and similar | £208.48 | £255.78 |
You can always check the latest figures on our prices page:
If you are not sure which size category your car falls into, call us on 02392 571003 and we’ll confirm it before you book.
Why does a full service cost more?
There is more work involved.
The air filter is replaced, petrol vehicles have their spark plugs renewed, and all four wheels are removed so the brakes can be properly checked and cleaned. A small service checks the brake discs and pads but does not include that same level of brake work.
For a small car, the difference between our currently published small and full service prices is £39.65. For medium and large cars, the difference is £47.29 and £47.30 respectively.
So it is worth making the decision on what the car needs, rather than automatically picking the smaller number.
Which service does your car actually need?
There isn’t one answer for every car.
Your mileage matters, but so do the age of the car, how it is used and its own servicing schedule. If the manufacturer specifies particular maintenance at a particular mileage or age, that should be taken into account rather than relying on a generic rule.
If you’re unsure, check the service book or vehicle information, or ask us. We’d rather tell you the smaller service is enough than sell you work the car does not need.
If you do relatively low mileage
For a lower-mileage car, alternating between a small and full service can be a sensible way to keep maintenance up to date without automatically paying for the full service every time.
That does not mean every low-mileage car should follow exactly the same pattern. Age-related maintenance can still become due even when the mileage barely moves.
A car that spends most of its life parked does not become immortal. Sadly.
If you do high mileage
Higher-mileage cars need closer attention because they reach mileage-based servicing points sooner.
If you cover enough miles to reach your car’s full-service interval each year, a full service each year may be the right choice. Depending on the vehicle and mileage, an additional small service between full services may also make sense.
The important bit is not to stretch a lighter interim service into a substitute for maintenance that is actually due.
If you do lots of short journeys
Mileage alone does not tell the whole story either.
Repeated short trips can still be demanding on a car, particularly where the engine spends a lot of its running time warming up rather than sitting at normal operating temperature. Stop-start driving also gives brakes and other components plenty to do.
Check the manufacturer’s servicing schedule and tell the garage how you actually use the car. Ten thousand motorway miles and ten thousand miles of short local journeys are not quite the same working day.
So, which service saves you more?
For a low-mileage driver, paying for a full service every time when the car does not need one can be unnecessary. Alternating small and full services, where that fits the vehicle’s schedule, can reduce servicing costs while still keeping routine maintenance covered.
For a high-mileage driver, repeatedly choosing the small service simply because it costs less can be false economy. If the car has reached the mileage or maintenance point for a full service, that is the service it needs.
In other words, the service that saves you more is the one appropriate for the car at that point in its maintenance schedule.
We tell customers what needs doing now and what can wait. No point changing something before its time. Equally, there is little sense saving £40 or £50 on the service if it means skipping work that is actually due.
Is a service the same as an MOT?
No.
An MOT checks whether a vehicle meets the required road safety and environmental standards at the time of the test. It is not a general mechanical inspection and it does not replace servicing.
A service is maintenance. It deals with items such as engine oil, filters and other checks intended to keep the vehicle properly maintained.
You can have your MOT and service around the same time for convenience, but they are doing two different jobs.
Before you choose, check these three things
1. When was the last full service?
If you cannot remember, have a look through the service history. That gives you a much better starting point than simply choosing the cheapest option.
2. How many miles have you covered since then?
Mileage can bring maintenance items due before another year has passed, particularly on cars that spend a lot of time on the road.
3. What does the car’s service schedule say?
This is the important one. Manufacturers set servicing requirements for particular vehicles, engines and maintenance items.
If you are unsure what yours needs, ask. We can talk it through before you book rather than guessing from a drop-down menu.
Interim vs full service FAQs
Is an interim service the same as a small service?
At Windmill Garage, yes. Interim service is what many drivers search for, while our website and booking system call it a small service. It is our lighter servicing option covering the routine essentials.
What does an interim service include?
Our small service includes a road test, standard oil and filter change, checks of all lights and levels, and checks of the brake discs and pads.
How much is an interim service?
Our small service starts at £181.54 for a small car, rising to £193.41 for a medium car and £208.48 for a large car at our currently published prices. Long-life or non-standard oil is charged additionally where required.
See the current price list at https://www.windmillgarage.co.uk/prices/
How much is a full service?
Our currently published full service prices are £221.19 for a small car, £240.70 for a medium car and £255.78 for a large car.
Do I need a full service every year?
That depends on the vehicle’s servicing schedule and how much you drive. High-mileage cars may reach full-service intervals sooner, while lower-mileage drivers may be able to alternate small and full services where the vehicle’s schedule allows.
Can an MOT replace a service?
No. An MOT is a test against legal road safety and environmental standards. It is not the same as servicing and does not check the car’s general mechanical condition.
Book your MOT or service in under a minute
Not sure whether yours needs a small or full service? Give us a ring and we’ll help you choose the right one, rather than the dearer one by default.
Book online any time at https://www.windmillgarage.co.uk/book-in-your-car/?rec=service or call us on 02392 571003 (Mon–Fri, 8.30am–5pm).