Why Book A Service With Snows Car Centre Southampton

A minor service, also known as an interim service, is designed for drivers who use their vehicles a lot and need to ensure their vehicle is in top condition before a regular annual service. This is done every 6 months or every 6,000 miles, whichever comes first. 

Examples of what work is typically done under a minor/interim service are:

• Check instruments, gauges, and warning lights
• Check Horn
• Check windscreen wipers
• Check Adblue/Eloys warning lights
• Check interior lights
• Check clutch operation (manual only)
• Check seat belts
• Reset service light
• Hybrid system diagnostic check (hybrid only)
• Check exterior lights & lamps
• And more

​A full service is designed for vehicles every 12 months or at 12,000 miles - whichever comes first. 

Examples of what work is typically done under a full service are:

• Replace engine oil
• Replace oil filter 
• Replace air filter
• Check the operation of brakes 
• Check the operation of steering controls
• Check for correct gearbox operation
• Check horn 
• Check mirror condition, interior and exterior 
• Check air conditioning operation 
• Check dash warning lights 
• Check body damage
• Check wheels and trims for damage
• Check windscreen washer operation and top up if needed
• And more 

A major service is done every 24 months or every 24,000 miles, whichever is first.

Examples of what work is typically done under a major service:

• Everything included in the interim and full service and:
• Replace engine oil
• Replace oil filter
• Replace air filter
• Replace cabin filter
• Replace brake fluid
• Drain engine oil and refill with correct grade, type and quality
• Check for excessive oil leaks
• Checking for timing belt replacement interval
• Check coolant hoses for leaks, condition and securing clips.
• Check and top up clutch fluid (if applicable)
• Check Battery security, condition and print results
• And more

​While car servicing is not a legal requirement, it is useful to keep your car safe, reliable and running efficiently for years to come. These services aim to check problems early on and prevent them, before they become more complicated and expensive. Keeping up with a regular servicing schedule can also help maintain your car's worth when you come to sell it. 

You should check with your car's manufacturer and model to see their recommendations on how frequently you should service your vehicle, however, general guidelines are as follows:

Interim Service - Every 6 months or 6,000 miles.

Full Service - Every 12 months or 12,000 miles.

Major Service - Every 24 months or 24,000 miles.

• Interim Service: Up to 90 minutes.
• Full Service: Will be completed within a single day.

It is best to ask the technicians on the day, so we can give you a better estimate.

If there are any problems with your car and it requires repairs, our technicians will call you with a new estimated time and a plan to repair the problems. 

A MOT, Ministry of Transport, refers to the mandatory annual vehicle safety, roadworthiness and emissions test required for most cars, vans and motorcycles over three years old. ​

A MOT should take up to 90 minutes to complete a MOT. 

Our technicians will update you if there are any delays in completing your MOT or if your vehicle requires any work done to pass its MOT. ​

A MOT is designed to check that your vehicle is roadworthy, safe and reliable, along with doing emissions tests.

Some important parts of your vehicle are checked, such as:

• Body / vehicle structure / general items
• Fuel system
• Seatbelts / SRS
• Steering & suspension
• Wipers / washers
• Windscreen
• Electrical wiring & battery
• Lights
• Registration plates
• Bonnet
• Tyres, wheels & TPMS
• Brakes
• Horn
• Exhaust system
• Mirrors
• Doors
• Exhaust emission
• Towbar
• Boot / tailgate
• Seats

Common reasons why a vehicle may fail a MOT first time, could be problems with your car's key components, such as:

- Tyres: The tyres have a tread depth below the legal limit of 1.6 mm or have severe cracking, or uneven/ illegal wear.

- Brakes: The brake pads or discs are worn out, the pedal feels spongy or an inefficient handbrake which can't hold the car on a slope.

- Suspension and Steering: Broken springs, leaking shock absorbers, excessive corrosion, or worn steering racks.

- Visibility - Damaged wiper blades, chips or cracks larger than 10mm in the driver's direct line of vision.

- Seat Belts - Frayed webbing, broken buckles or missing seat belts.

- Lighting and Signalling - Blown bulbs, severely faded lenses, or incorrectly aimed headlights.

We offer a range of car repairs to help keep your car working efficiently and safe for the roads. Ranging from brakes, tyres, checking and servicing your air con, wheel alignment, coolant change, cosmetic repairs, body repairs, windscreen chips, diamond cut wheels and more.

Check our current prices and explore our servicing, maintenance and repair solutions.