# Full vs interim vs major service: which one does your car actually need?

> Source: https://motorservicing.co/blog/full-vs-interim-vs-major-service/  
> Provider: Motor Servicing (Fuel Fixer Ltd), mobile car servicing across the United Kingdom.  
> Contact: 0333 366 1081 · Updated: 2026-07-31

_Guides · published 2026-07-18_

**An interim service is a 39-point check with oil and filter, due every 6 months or 6,000 miles, aimed at higher-mileage drivers. A full service is the standard annual option, a 42-point check that adds an air filter. A major service is a 45-point check every 24 months or 24,000 miles that adds a pollen filter and a brake fluid check.**

## The three levels, side by side

Service | Interval | Inspection | Parts changed | From | 

[Interim](https://motorservicing.co/services/interim-service/) | 6 months / 6,000 miles | 39 points | Oil, oil filter | £145 | 

[Full](https://motorservicing.co/services/full-service/) | 12 months / 12,000 miles | 42 points | Oil, oil filter, air filter | £199 | 

[Major](https://motorservicing.co/services/major-service/) | 24 months / 24,000 miles | 45 points | Oil, oil filter, air filter, pollen filter, brake fluid check | £230 | 

Every level changes the engine oil and the oil filter. That is the non-negotiable part. What scales is the depth of inspection and the number of consumables replaced.

## The interim service

An interim exists for one reason: mileage accumulating faster than the calendar. If you cover 15,000 miles a year, waiting twelve months between services means 15,000 miles on one oil fill and one set of unchecked brake pads. The interim splits that in half.

It is a genuine inspection, not a token one: 39 points covering brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, lights, wipers, washers, belts, hoses, battery condition and every fluid level, plus fresh oil and a new filter.

**Skip it if** you drive under about 10,000 miles a year. An annual full service is enough.

## The full service

This is the one most cars need most years. Everything in the interim plus a new air filter and a deeper look at the engine bay, drivetrain and undertray. 42 points, around 90 minutes on site, and the service that keeps a service history intact.

If you only ever book one service a year, book this one. The interim is a supplement to it, not a substitute for it.

## The major service

Every two years or 24,000 miles, a set of longer-life items comes due that a yearly service does not touch: the pollen filter that has been quietly loading with debris, and brake fluid that has been absorbing moisture since it was last replaced. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, and moisture in the fluid lowers its boiling point, which is exactly what you do not want under heavy braking.

A major service also inspects further: suspension, steering, exhaust, and the items your manufacturer flags at the mileage milestone. 45 points, around two hours.

## A one-minute rule for choosing

- Find the date and mileage of your last service, in the book or the digital record.
- If it is coming up to 24 months or 24,000 miles since the last major, book a major.
- Otherwise, if it is coming up to 12 months or 12,000 miles, book a full.
- If you passed 6 months or 6,000 miles since the full and you are a high-mileage driver, book an interim.
- If the only thing due is oil, book an [oil change](https://motorservicing.co/services/oil-change/).

**Your handbook wins**Manufacturer schedules override every general rule here, particularly on long-life servicing regimes and on cars still under warranty.

## If you have skipped a service or two

Book a major. It is the cleanest way to reset the maintenance clock: everything gets changed, everything gets measured, and you get a written record of the car's actual condition rather than a guess.

Expect advisories. A car that has gone two or three years without a service usually has at least one item at the end of its life, and it is better to hear about a worn pad now than a scored disc later. Nothing extra is ever carried out without your agreement.

## Frequently asked

**Can I book a major service instead of a full service every year?**  
You can, and some drivers do. It costs more but changes more. There is no harm in it, only a slightly higher annual bill.

**Does an interim service reset my service history?**  
It is recorded like any other service, but it does not replace the annual full service in most manufacturer schedules. Keep both records.

**Is a major service the same as a manufacturer major?**  
Not always. Manufacturer schedules sometimes bundle in items like spark plugs or a cambelt at specific mileages. Send us your registration and mileage and we will tell you what your schedule expects.


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_Prices are starting prices in GBP including VAT and cover travel to your address. Content may be quoted with attribution to Motor Servicing and a link to https://motorservicing.co._