Do you need to service your car for insurance?

A common misconception among UK drivers is that regular car servicing is a legal requirement in order for you to remain compliant with your insurance or road tax requirements.

However, this is not a legal requirement in the UK.

You are not legally required to service your vehicle, in order for you to retain your insurance, or in order to pay your vehicle tax.

But, you do need to have a valid MOT to tax your vehicle.

It is worth remembering that car servicing is vital to keeping your vehicle safe, and ensuring predictable performance. Furthermore, it also frequently plays a key role in keeping your vehicle consistently compliant with the expectations of vehicle insurers.

In this article, our vehicle experts have outlined the role car servicing plays. We’ve explained what your legal obligations are, and listed the benefits of investing in regular vehicle servicing.

Is car servicing required for insurance or tax?

From a legal perspective, No – car servicing is not required for insurance or tax.

Insurers do not require proof of servicing as a condition of holding a policy, and the DVLA does not require a service history in order to issue road tax.

However, that is not to say that certain maintenance standards are not expected.

If your vehicle is poorly maintained, and this contributes to an accident, insurers may investigate whether neglect in maintenance played a role.

In some cases, insufficient vehicle maintenance could affect your claim, particularly if the incident was proven to be caused by otherwise avoidable issues.

So while servicing is not directly mandatory, neglecting can pose significant risk and affect your compliance with insurance requirements.

Why is car servicing still important?

Regular servicing is key to ensuring that all your vehicle’s key components are thoroughly checked, properly maintained and replaced before an issue arises.

As a result, servicing is an imperative part of preventative maintenance, giving you peace of mind and minimising the likelihood of unexpected costs or risks.

During a service, inspections cover:

– The engine condition
– Oil quality
– Brakes and brake fluid
– Tyres (including tread depth)
– Suspension
– Steering systems
– Lights
– And all the systems that directly affect the vehicle’s safety, fuel efficiency and performance.

It’s important to note that there are different servicing expectations for new cars vs used cars.

This is because new cars usually come with a servicing schedule. In these cases, it is required that the servicing schedule is adhered to, in order to retain the manufacturer warranty. If you don’t comply with the servicing requirements, then your warranty may no longer be valid.

With used cars, in most cases, these don’t require compliance with a set servicing schedule. But, they still stand to benefit from routine servicing. Plus, regular servicing can save you significant costs, if issues are prevented or resolved before they are allowed to escalate.

With both new and used cars, it is generally recommended that you arrange a full service every 12 months or 12,000 miles (whichever comes first). Then, an interim service every 6 months or 6000 miles. An interim service is especially useful for vehicles that are covering a higher mileage.

Note that, for new cars, manufacturers typically set their service intervals based on time or mileage. Furthermore, servicing work must be followed using approved parts and fluids.

Servicing and MOTs at Watling Tyres

At Watling Tyres, many of our branches provide full vehicles servicing and MOTs.

These are conducted by our fully qualified, highly experienced team of specialists. Whether you require a full service or an interim service, we offer flexible options at a competitive price.

Check our branch finder page to find your nearest branch. Or, if you have any questions about our servicing or MOT options, our team are on hand to help.