What is Manufacturer Approved Servicing?

When you buy a new or used vehicle from a dealership, you’ll be advised to get your car or van regularly serviced in-line with the manufacturer’s warranty or any type of extended warranty you may have purchased. 

It may be that you’ve bought your vehicle from a franchise dealership like ourselves here at Wilsons Epsom in Surrey. We’ve been a manufacturer approved dealership since 1904 and currently represent 11 new car brands which we can care for at our state-of-the-art service centres.

In this article all about manufacturer approved servicing, we explain what it is in more detail as well as answering your most asked questions about servicing in general. Read on to find out more…   

Manufacturer approved servicing explained

Manufacturer approved servicing differs slightly from a manufacturer service in the respect that you will be getting your car serviced by a dealership approved by the manufacturer, rather than directly by the manufacturer of the brand of car you drive (for example, Fiat or Peugeot).

What’s important to understand is that you’ll be getting the same level of service from an approved dealership, as you would from a dealership owned by the manufacturer. Any manufacturer approved servicing dealership will have manufacturer-trained technicians and mechanics working on your vehicle. 

They’ll also be required to work with only genuine manufacturer-approved replacement parts as well as the latest servicing equipment. All-in-all, you’ll be getting the exact same experience, but perhaps with a little more convenience.

When it comes to booking your car or van in for a service, then you’ve no doubt got a few questions that may need answering. To help, we’ve answered the most frequently asked questions when it comes to vehicle servicing… 

Do I have to get my car serviced at the dealership?

This is a question we often get asked and the simple answer is, no, you do not need to get your car serviced at the dealership from where you purchased it, but this isn’t necessarily the right thing to do. 

Whether you’ve purchased your vehicle outright or have it on finance, you will either be advised or contractually obligated to get your car serviced at regular intervals. This will either be determined by mileage or a period of time (for example - every 12,000 miles, or every 12 months).

For safety reasons, we’d always recommend you get your car or van serviced at least once a year and if possible, book in for a summer or winter health check too. Manufacturer approved dealerships like ourselves offer the same level of technical experience as the manufacturer themselves, with the added benefit of service plans.  

Should I get my car serviced by the manufacturer?

As long as you choose to get your vehicle serviced by an approved dealership, it doesn't really make too much difference as to whether you have it serviced directly by the manufacturer, or by a manufacturer approved service provider. 

It’s really down to personal preference, taking into consideration convenience and cost. It could be that a manufacturer approved service centre like ourselves is closer to you or on your way to work, and we might be cheaper too. 

What is the average cost of a full car service in the UK?

When you invest in a new or used car, it’s helpful to plan your motoring costs for the year ahead so that you can get a better idea of how much to budget on a monthly basis. Looking back at 2022, data from Checkatrade shows that a full service on a small-sized car averaged a cost of £170, a full service on a medium-sized car averaged a cost of £210 and a full service on a large-sized car averaged a cost of £395. 

From this data, a full car service in the UK will cost you between £200 to £400 on average - depending on the size of your car. Of course we’d recommend you contact a manufacturer approved dealership like ourselves for a bespoke and more accurate quote.    

How often should I get my car serviced?

To keep your vehicle working at its best, the manufacturer or dealership from where you bought your car or van will recommend how often you need it serviced. As a general rule of thumb, most manufacturers will advise having your car fully serviced either once a year or every 12,000 miles (whichever comes first). If you drive your car regularly and on long trips, then you’ll need to get it serviced more frequently than if you don’t use it often. 

How long does a full car service take?

When you book in your vehicle for a service, you’ll no doubt want to know how long the service centre will need your car for. Most dealerships will allow you to wait while your car is serviced, and it may be that you’re offered a courtesy car if one is available.

Although most full car services take around two hours to complete, allow up to three hours for the work to be completed. Some service centres may even ask to keep your car for the day if they are busy.    

What’s included in a full car service?

A ‘full’ car service is the most thorough type of vehicle servicing available and is usually recommended once a year. As such, your car will undergo a whole host of different inspections to ensure it is in good working order. It could be that the service centre advertises an ‘80-point inspection’ which means the technician(s) check the condition of up to 80 of the most crucial parts and components. 

A full car service can vary slightly depending on the dealership you use, but generally includes the following:

• Oil change
• Oil filter replacement
• Fuel filter replacement
• Drive belt inspection
• Alternator hose inspection
• Brake pad inspection
• Wheel checks and tyre inspection   

Will my car get cleaned as part of the service?

This is a question that gets asked more than you may think! While a car clean doesn’t necessarily come as standard when you book your vehicle in for a service, most manufacturer approved dealerships will offer to vacuum the inside of your car as an added bonus.

Is my car warranty void if I don't get it serviced?

While getting your car serviced regularly or on an annual basis isn’t required by law (unlike an MOT), you could risk voiding any warranty you may have on the vehicle if you don’t adhere to the manufacturers rules and recommendations. 

Always check with the dealership from where you purchased your car or van and read the small print to make sure you can fulfil the service plan as recommended by the retailer. Failure to keep up with the manufacturer's service plan could void any warranty on a new car, or an extended warranty package on a used car.  

Manufacturer approved servicing at Wilsons Epsom

Our extensive network of dealers means that we now proudly represent some of the biggest and best manufacturers in the business. As such, we provide manufacturer approved servicing for all makes and models of Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Dacia, Fiat, Hyundai, Jeep, MG, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, and Vauxhall. 

Whether you drive a car or van, you can rely on our team of manufacturer-trained technicians to service and repair your vehicle to the highest standards. We want to make sure that your car or van spends as much time on the road as possible, so rest assured you’re in safe hands. 

Find out more about our Manufacturer Approved Servicing and how a Wilsons Service Plan can help you spread the cost of servicing so you can confidently manage your vehicle finances.