SERVICING FAQ's FROM SNOWS IN SOUTH & SOUTH WEST ENGLAND

Your vehicle should be serviced according to manufacturer recommendations, which can be found in your owner’s manual. Most cars should be serviced every year or between 10,000 and 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. We remind our customers when their vehicle’s service is due but you can also check by contacting your local Snows dealership today.

Servicing is a necessary part of vehicle maintenance and enables our trained technicians to identify potential issues and ensure all components are working safely and correctly. Neglecting to service your vehicle can lead to major issues and costly repairs further down the line as well as potentially compromising your vehicle’s safety whilst a full-service history helps protect your vehicle’s future value.​​

A full service typically includes over 70 checks on various components incorporating the engine, fuel system, drive system and brakes, steering and suspension, tyres, and wheels. An oil change is carried out and fluids such as windscreen washer are checked and topped up too.​

An interim service includes a number of checks over a variety of key components such as steering and brakes whilst an oil change is carried out and other fluid levels are checked and topped up.​​

A full-service history is the complete collection of maintenance and repair documents for your vehicle. It shows that every service and MOT has been carried out as per the manufacturer’s recommendations and helps maximise your vehicle’s value. In some cases, the service history may be digital so you may not have a full paper record.

Many motorists choose to take out service plans as they enable you to spread the cost of vehicle maintenance over fixed monthly payments. Investing in a service plan means you won’t be impacted by inflation if prices rise during the term of your plan. Some service plans may have additional extras free of charge as a reward for your continued loyalty.​

The cost of servicing your car depends on the model and the type of service you require. Contact your local Snows dealership today for a quote. We also provide fixed price servicing for vehicles aged four years old plus.​

Servicing your vehicle at an authorised dealership is recommended because our technicians are manufacturer trained, we use only recommended manufacturer parts and equipment thereby maximising your vehicle’s future value. Vehicle servicing to the highest standards as directed by the manufacturer ensures your warranty remains intact, maintains your vehicle’s full-service history, and ensures you’re covered for any work carried out. You may also be able to take advantage of extras such as 12 months’ roadside assistance with every service.​

A minor or interim service typically takes around 90 minutes, while a full service takes about two to three hours to complete. We are able to offer ‘while you wait’ service appointments at all of our facilities and provide a comfortable waiting area including work stations, WiFi and complimentary refreshments.​

An MOT is a test of the safety features of your vehicle and is a legal requirement for vehicles aged three-years plus. Our technicians will inspect elements such as seat belts, lights, brakes and tyres during the test and provide you with legal certification that your vehicle is safe for the road.

If your car initially fails its MOT, we will contact you to let you know why. If the issue is a straightforward one, such as a light bulb replacement, we may be able to fix and retest on the day – with your permission. Otherwise, we are legally obliged not to issue an MOT certificate and you will be required to book repairs at a later date. ​

​Tyre pressure should be checked frequently – the RAC recommends once a month and before setting out on long journeys. You can check it yourself at a petrol station where the equipment is in place and your handbook advises on the correct pressure. Our technicians check both tread and pressure as routine when your vehicle is booked into any of our workshops.​

It is a legal requirement that tyre tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of your tyre although replacing tyres at 3mm is recommended. A worn tyre risks a fine of up to £2,500 and three points on your licence. Whenever a vehicle is booked into one of our workshops, our technicians check tyre depth as a matter of course and you will receive a short video clip of our check including your vehicle’s tyre tread depth. As a guide, insert a 20p coin into the tread grooves of the tyre, if you can see the outer rim of the coin, it is highly likely your tyres are illegal and need replacing. If in doubt, contact Snows and we’ll undertake a multi-point health check including tyre tread depth.​

How frequently you change your vehicle’s oil depends on your manufacturer’s recommendations. Oil checks and changes form an essential part of our multi-point checks and routine services. Check your owner’s manual or contact us at Snows if you think your vehicle is due an oil change.​

The age or mileage for a cambelt change depends on the vehicle you’re driving. Different manufacturers have different recommendations – from 40,000 to 100,000 miles – so check your owner’s manual or contact the team at Snows to find out when your vehicle’s cambelt change is due.​

At Snows we undertake a vehicle health check whenever a vehicle is booked into the workshop.  All major components are checked including tyre tread depth and fluid levels. If anything requires attention, we contact you immediately. We email you a short video detailing your vehicle’s satisfactory health check where our technicians point out various areas of your vehicle so you can see for yourself it’s in good working order. Likewise, our technicians also identify any areas of concern providing close-ups and explanations of work required. ​

At Snows, we offer winter and summer health checks to ensure your vehicle is in the best running order according to the time of year. In the summer and at Christmas, we typically undertake longer journeys so ensuring your vehicle is safe and fluid levels are topped up means you can hit the road with additional confidence.​

Your vehicle’s air conditioning system is likely to be in use throughout the year and like any vehicle, components are subject to wear and tear. Most manufacturers recommend an air conditioning service every 12 to 18 months which includes anti-bacterial clean, gas recharge and checks for leaks. Air conditioning systems not operating at their optimum forces the engine to work harder adding additional pressure, wear and tear, and can adversely affect fuel consumption.