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Whether you are an existing customer of Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, or if you are thinking of taking a lease deal with us, chances are you have a few questions regarding servicing your lease vehicle.
To help understand your responsibilities, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has put together a short explanation about servicing your lease vehicle, including what is involved in an annual car service, what the recommended service intervals are for your lease car and whether you have to take it to a main dealership.
In order to keep your new lease car in the best possible condition, you must service it at regular intervals as advised by the manufacturer. A car service is an essential part of your lease agreement, as well as an important part of the manufacturer's warranty. By keeping your car in a good condition with regular servicing, you will also be less likely to incur high garage charges or fair wear and tear charges in the future.
A full car service is highly recommended every 12 months or every 12,000 miles.
The purpose of a car service is to check and replace the parts which wear down over time and use. When a car goes in for a service, it gets a full check-over, making sure that any mechanical items that are worn or faulty or that can reduce the performance, safety, efficiency or reliability of the car are repaired or replaced.
The car’s air filter is checked to ensure clean air follows easily and that dirt and debris do not find their way into the vehicle.
The car’s brakes are given a full inspection and their fluid levels checked. The brake pads are also monitored to check that they are the right depth.
The clutch, along with other engine components, is vigorously tested and checked to ensure it is engaging and disengaging properly. The fluid level is also checked to ensure there are no leaks or other problems with the system.
Engine coolant levels, which ensures your vehicle’s radiator system does not freeze in winter, along with the power steering fluid will be checked and topped up if required.
The level of engine oil in your vehicle will be checked and topped up or replaced if necessary. The condition of the oil filter will also be checked.
Your exhaust, catalytic converter, mounting point and heat shields are visually inspected for corrosion, physical damage, or leaks.
The car's interior and exterior lights are checked to ensure the correct operation and potential damage, including indicators and hazard lights, brake and reverse lights, fog lights and registration lights.
Steering and suspension components, linkages and ball joints are checked for damage, leaks and wear.
The car’s cam belt (timing belt) is to checked for damage or wear and advice is given on when it may need replacing.
Your tyres are given a full inspection to check their condition, thread and age. The wheel bearings and balancing are also checked, as are the wheel alignment and suspension.
The condition of your car's windscreen wipers and their operation are checked to make sure you can clean your windscreen whenever its needed.
It is important to remember that a car service is completely different to an MOT, even though an MOT checks around 70% of the things that a service does. Whereas an MOT will point out what needs replacing to ensure a car's safety, a service will actually replace things, in addition to those elements that aid efficiency and performance too.
A maintenance package is an optional cost and includes all servicing, any mechanical and electrical repairs, plus any necessary labour costs for a set monthly cost. A maintenance package must be added at point of vehicle order and cannot be added on at a later stage.
A vehicle maintenance contract usually includes:
If you do not have a maintenance package, you will be responsible for all maintenance and servicing costs for the vehicle throughout the duration of your contract.
Service intervals differ depending on the make and model of the car, but as a general rule, a full car service is highly recommended every 12 months or every 12,000 miles. This is because some parts, such as oil and brake pads need checking more regularly than others, such as the fuel filter and spark plugs.
As every car is different, it is important you check your manufacturer's handbook to find out the required 'service intervals' are for your vehicle and what parts need replacing when. If you do not have your manufacturer's handbook to hand, you can visit the manufacturer’s website for further information or call your local dealership who will be able to advise you.
Depending on the requirements of the car manufacturer, you may be required to have more than the 'yearly' full service. Some manufacturers recommend a basic or interim service which consists of a visual inspection and the topping up of essential fluids such as washer fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze and steering fluid, as well as an oil and filter change after 6,000 miles or six months driving.
It is also wise advice to pay attention to the servicing light on your dashboard. The majority of new cars have a warning message on their dashboard when something is wrong with the vehicle or if your car is due a service. Your manufacturer's handbook will help explain what each light means.
If you do not have your manufacturer's handbook to hand, you can visit the manufacturer’s website for further information. Click on the links below to find out the service intervals for a particular car manufacturer.
If maintenance is included in your agreement, you will need to contact the finance company to book your vehicle into a local approved garage for its annual service and/or MOT (if required).
If you do not have a maintenance package included in your contract, you will need to arrange for the vehicle to be serviced at the appropriate intervals.
You are advised to go to a local main dealer to have your vehicle serviced. Nowadays most manufactures websites have a dealer locator search engine so you just need to enter your postcode to filter through a list of your nearest local dealers.
If you’d prefer to use a local garage for your service, the garage must be VAT registered and genuine manufacturer parts must be used on the vehicle. Please make sure that the service light on the dashboard is reset and that your service handbook is stamped.
Please note, some finance providers, such as Audi Finance and Mercedes-Benz Finance, specify that the vehicle must be serviced at an authorised dealership therefore it is important that you check your finance documentation before booking your vehicle in for a service to ensure you are following the correct guidelines.
Tyres are really important to maintain the safety of the vehicle and must be changed on a regular basis. You should always use tyres appropriate for your vehicle size and weight, also the surface on which they run.
If you need to replace the tyres on your lease vehicle during the course of your contract, please ensure you use a premium brand, such as Pirelli, Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear or Dunlop. For more information, you can read our Tyre Classification guide.
Still have a burning question about servicing that we haven’t answered? Call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0345 811 9595 (option 4) and we’ll be happy to help.