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Interim Service: Frequently Asked Questions
An interim car service is a basic and routine set of checks that are carried out on your vehicle.
If you are a high mileage driver, an interim service can be an important part of your car’s service schedule.
The benefit of an interim service is that the general health of your vehicle will be checked – ensuring that your vehicle can remain safe and functional for as long as possible.
An interim service is set of checks that cover some of the more used components on your vehicle. A great option for high mileage driver.
An interim service includes the following items:
An interim service is typically recommended every 6 months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes first.
This type of service is designed for motorists that drive their car frequently and cover a high levels of mileage each year.
It can also be a good mid-point option in the year if you use your car every day as part of your work commute. Stop-start traffic can lead to increased wear and tear on key components.
An interim service can go a long way to spotting any issues early on. Allowing you to fix them, before they lead to more expensive repair bills.
An interim service can typically take between 1 – 1.5 hours to fully complete.
Although it is a relatively quick set of maintenance checks, the actual time may be affected by the make or model of the vehicle being checked and also the overall condition of the vehicle.
To get a better understanding of how long an interim service takes, check with the mechanic on the day. They will be able to give you a more accurate timeframe – allowing you to plan your time around the service accordingly.
The main points of difference between an interim service and a full service is the number of checks and/or replacements that are completed by the mechanic.
A full service is thorough and is recommended to be carried out every 12 months or 12,000 miles. An interim service on the other hand is set of more basic checks. Recommended every 6 months or 6,000 miles.
A full comparison between the interim and full service can be found below:
| Service Item | Interim | Full | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Area | |||
| Check for visible oil leaks | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Replace oil, oil filter & sump plug washer (if applicable) | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect and top up anti-freeze as required | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check condition & tension of fan / alternator | – | ✔️ | |
| Check condition & tension of auxiliary belts | – | ✔️ | |
| Check timing belt schedule & report as required | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect radiator and radiator cap | – | – | |
| Check coolant hoses | – | – | |
| Inspect expansion bottle, tank and cap | – | – | |
| Replace air filter | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect Fuel Filter & Caps | – | – | |
| Check fuel filter replacement schedule & report* | – | – | |
| Electrical Components Of Vehicle | |||
| Inspect battery charge and terminals | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check spark plug schedule & report as required | – | – | |
| Check diesel plug indicator as appropriate | – | – | |
| Check horn operation | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect interior and exterior lights | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect warning lights | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect ignition leads, coils & distributor cap (if applicable) | – | ✔️ | |
| Steering & Suspension | |||
| Check power steering & top up reservoir as required | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check steering components for wear and corrosion | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check condition of steering rack gaiters | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect wheel bearings | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect shock absorbers | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect suspension | – | ✔️ | |
| Drive System | |||
| Inspect driveshaft, joints, gaiters and boots | – | ✔️ | |
| Check & top up clutch & axle oil | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect clutch operation | – | – | |
| Check transmission | – | – | |
| Vehicle Interior / Exterior | |||
| Inspect vehicle windscreen | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check windscreen washers, wipers, & function | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Top up windscreen wash as required | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect number plate | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect mirrors (interior and exterior) | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect exhaust system & catalysts as appropriate | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Lubricate door hinges, bonnet catch & locks | – | ✔️ | |
| Check pollen filter schedule & report | – | – | |
| Inspect seatbelts front & rear | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect Fuel cap & fuel lines | – | – | |
| Check tyre tread depth | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check tyre pressures | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check tyres for uneven wear | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check tyre age | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check spare tyre | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect TPMS valves (if applicable) | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect TPMS warning light / sensor (if applicable) | – | ✔️ | |
| Brakes | |||
| Check brake pads for wear or damage | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check brake shoes for wear or damage | – | ✔️ | |
| Check brake discs / drums for cracks & corrosion | – | ✔️ | |
| Test and report brake fluid boiling point | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check brake fluid & replacement schedule & report* | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check calipers for leaks and security | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect operation of wheel cylinders & report links | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect brake hydraulic system | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect handbrake | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect ABS warning light | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Final Checks | |||
| Road Test | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Reset vehicle service light as appropriate | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Update service book (if applicable) | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
Tip: A Full Service is typically recommended every 12 months or 12,000 miles, while a Major Service is ideal every 24 months or 24,000 miles. Interim Services are great between major intervals, especially for high-mileage drivers.
An interim service and a major service differ in the level of detail and number of checks that are carried out.
An interim service is a more basic set of checks, which are recommended every 6 months or 6,000 miles. It is often chosen by motorists who complete a particularly high amount of mileage each year.
Whereas the major service is far more comprehensive and designed to be carried out every 24 months or 20,000 miles.
You can see a full breakdown of the difference between the two service options below:
| Service Item | Interim | Major | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Area | |||
| Check for visible oil leaks | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Replace oil, oil filter & sump plug washer (if applicable) | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect and top up anti-freeze as required | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check condition & tension of fan / alternator | – | ✔️ | |
| Check condition & tension of auxiliary belts | – | ✔️ | |
| Check timing belt schedule & report as required | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect radiator and radiator cap | – | ✔️ | |
| Check coolant hoses | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect expansion bottle, tank and cap | – | ✔️ | |
| Replace air filter | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect Fuel Filter & Caps | – | ✔️ | |
| Check fuel filter replacement schedule & report* | – | ✔️ | |
| Electrical Components Of Vehicle | |||
| Inspect battery charge and terminals | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check spark plug schedule & report as required | – | ✔️ | |
| Check diesel plug indicator as appropriate | – | ✔️ | |
| Check horn operation | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect interior and exterior lights | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect warning lights | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect ignition leads, coils & distributor cap (if applicable) | – | ✔️ | |
| Steering & Suspension | |||
| Check power steering & top up reservoir as required | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check steering components for wear and corrosion | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check condition of steering rack gaiters | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect wheel bearings | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect shock absorbers | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect suspension | – | ✔️ | |
| Drive System | |||
| Inspect driveshaft, joints, gaiters and boots | – | ✔️ | |
| Check & top up clutch & axle oil | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect clutch operation | – | ✔️ | |
| Check transmission | – | ✔️ | |
| Vehicle Interior / Exterior | |||
| Inspect vehicle windscreen | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check windscreen washers, wipers, & function | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Top up windscreen wash as required | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect number plate | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect mirrors (interior and exterior) | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect exhaust system & catalysts as appropriate | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Lubricate door hinges, bonnet catch & locks | – | ✔️ | |
| Check pollen filter schedule & report | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect seatbelts front & rear | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect Fuel cap & fuel lines | – | ✔️ | |
| Check tyre tread depth | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check tyre pressures | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check tyres for uneven wear | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check tyre age | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check spare tyre | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Inspect TPMS valves (if applicable) | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect TPMS warning light / sensor (if applicable) | – | ✔️ | |
| Brakes | |||
| Check brake pads for wear or damage | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check brake shoes for wear or damage | – | ✔️ | |
| Check brake discs / drums for cracks & corrosion | – | ✔️ | |
| Test and report brake fluid boiling point | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check brake fluid & replacement schedule & report* | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Check calipers for leaks and security | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect operation of wheel cylinders & report links | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect brake hydraulic system | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect handbrake | – | ✔️ | |
| Inspect ABS warning light | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Final Checks | |||
| Road Test | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Reset vehicle service light as appropriate | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Update service book (if applicable) | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
Tip: A Full Service is typically recommended every 12 months or 12,000 miles, while a Major Service is ideal every 24 months or 24,000 miles. Interim Services are great between major intervals, especially for high-mileage drivers.
No, an interim service should not replace a full service. Rather, it should be considered as an accompaniment to your servicing schedule.
An interim service does not cover the same extent of checks, so if you were to just rely on this for your car maintenance, there is a risk that you could miss issues on some important components.
If you are a high mileage motorists, for you full peace of mind, it’s best to stick to both type of servicing options. Working in unison with each other.
By alternating between an interim and full service throughout the year, wear and tear of key parts of your vehicle will be spotted early. Allowing time to fix the issues before they deteriorate into bigger and more expensive problems.
In addition to our Interim Service, Blackcircles also offers a broad range of MOT and maintenance services, including:
- • MOT
- • EV MOT
- • Hybrid MOT
- • Major Service
- • Full Service
- • EV Service
- • Hybrid Service ( Full & Interim)
- • Oil & Filter Change
- • Combined MOT & Service packages (coming soon)