Servicing Your Lease Car

If 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.

What is a car service?

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. Parts of the car that are usually checked as part of a full service include:

• Air Filter
• Brakes
• Clutch
• Coolant (Antifreeze)
• Engine Oil
• Exhaust
• Gearbox
• Lights
• Steering and Suspension
• Timing and Auxiliary Belts
• Tyre Inflation and Condition
• Wiper Blades

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.

I have a lease vehicle, is maintenance and servicing included in my monthly payments?

Maintenance 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, it cannot be added on at a later stage. A maintenance contract usually includes:

• Mechanical and electrical repairs or replacements, including associated parts and labour due to fair wear and tear
• Bulbs, Batteries, Exhausts, Cam Belts, Wiper Blades, Alternators & Starter Motors
• MOT tests
• Unlimited Premium Branded tyre replacements including valve and balance
• Free mobile tyre fitting service at a convenient location for you by appointment
• No recharges for punctures or damaged tyres (dependent upon finance provider)

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.

How often are the service intervals on my lease vehicle?

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' areyou’re 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.

• Alfa Romeo
• Aston Martin
• Audi
• BMW
• Citroen
• Dacia
• Ferrari
• Fiat
• Ford
• Honda
• Hyundai
• Infiniti
• Jaguar
• Jeep
• Kia
• Land Rover
• Lexus
• Maserati
• Mazda
• Mercedes-Benz
• MG
• MINI
• Mitsubishi
• Nissan
• Peugeot
• Renault
• Rolls Royce
• SEAT
• Skoda
• Smart
• Subaru
• Suzuki
• Tesla
• Toyota
• Vauxhall
• Volkswagen
• Volvo

Do I have to use a main dealer to service my lease vehicle?

If your 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 and/or MOT 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 or 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.

A full service normally takes around three hours to complete and costs around £125 excluding any replacement parts according to Money Advice Service however this cost can vary significantly depending on the make and model of the vehicle.

I need to replace the tyres on my leased vehicle, what brand should I use?

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? Post your question in the box below and we’ll be happy to help.