Cars aren’t cheap to keep on the road. The cost of petrol, road tax, yearly MOTs, insurance and repairs adds up very quickly so it’s natural that you’re going to want to cut costs wherever you can.

Unlike an MOT, getting your car serviced by your local dealer like L & L Automotive, isn’t a legal requirement. It is however, highly recommended and below we list just a few of the reasons why.

Problems are detected early

To keep your car roadworthy, it needs a lot of maintenance. From oil changes and topping up low fluid levels to checking tyre pressure and that your brakes are in good working order, a service can pick up on potential problems before they even occur.

It’s recommended that cars over three years old are serviced once a year or every 10,000-12,000 miles. Not doing this can cause serious damage to the engine, your car’s performance may start to deteriorate and you could even unknowingly be driving around in a dangerous vehicle.

Your car will run better

Getting your car serviced is yet another expense to add to the long list of costs associated with keeping a car on the road. Believe it or not however, regular services can help to save you money in the long run because you’re less likely to experience serious and very expensive problems.

A car that’s running efficiently benefits from increased fuel efficiency, better handling, improved braking and a smoother running engine. What’s more, your car is likely to be more reliable as it has been checked for any faults that may occur. This means it’s less likely to break down and it will also last much longer than a car that never gets serviced.

Helps to retain its value

If you’re planning to hold on to your car until the bitter end, that’s fine. If you’re likely to want to sell it on or trade it in at some point however, you’re going to struggle to do so unless you can prove a full-service history.

A full-service history can add thousands onto the value of your car and it will also be much easier to sell because potential buyers will know that the car has been well looked after. The Telegraph makes some interesting points in this article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/advice/the-value-of-a-full-service-history/

Look after your safety

We all know that how we drive affects our own and other road users’ safety but did you know that how well you’re looking after your car can also have a big impact on how safe it is to drive?

Getting your vehicle serviced will ensure that essential checks are carried out on critical components such as your breaks and suspension. The last thing you want is for these parts to let you down when you need them the most and the only way you can possibly know they’re faulty before having a serious accident, is to have them checked out.

Please remember that just because a car feels ok, this doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is working as it should be. As the miles clock up, so does wear and tear. Because deterioration is often gradual and out of sight, you might not necessarily see or feel any changes to your car.

If you are unsure about your car, check the Government website ‘Check your vehicle is safe to drive’ page: https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-safe.