How much does a full car service cost? It really does pay to shop around.
Booking a full service should be fairly straightforward. Your car needs a proper once-over, a few routine maintenance jobs and a fresh stamp in the service history.
Simple enough.
But start comparing prices and you will quickly notice something: two businesses can quote very different amounts for what appears to be the same job.
To see how much difference there really is, we collected online quotes for ten popular cars from a mixture of high-street businesses and mobile mechanics. Every quote was collected on 10 June 2026, using the same Berkshire postcode.
The results make one thing clear: it is worth spending five minutes shopping around before you book.
The price difference can be surprisingly big
Across the ten cars we checked, the gap between the cheapest and most expensive quote ranged from £64 to £134.
The biggest difference was for the 2021 BMW 530d. The lowest quote came in at £215, while the highest was £349. That is a saving of £134 for a few minutes of comparison shopping.
It is not just larger or more expensive cars where prices vary. The quotes for a 2021 Ford Fiesta ranged from £215 to £299. The same was true for the 2022 Ford Focus 1.0T.
That does not automatically mean the cheapest option is always the right one. But it does mean you should not assume the first price you see is the going rate.
Full-service price comparison
Online full-service quotes collected by Carautonomy on 10 June 2026 using a Berkshire postcode. The lowest quoted price for each vehicle is highlighted.
Prices are a snapshot and may change. Compare exactly what is included before booking, as each provider defines its full-service package slightly differently.
Car
Year
Garage or Service-Centre booking
Mobile Mechanics
Ford Fiesta
2021
£299
£247
£245
£215
£276
£245
Vauxhall Corsa SE
2021
£279
£247
£214
£215
£297
£214
Volkswagen Golf 1.5
2022
£279
£277
£241
£215
£266
£241
Ford Focus 1.0T
2022
£299
£247
£243
£215
£259
£243
MINI Hatch
2022
£279
£277
£252
£215
£256
£252
Vauxhall Astra 1.5 Turbo
2021
£279
£277
£259
£215
£281
£259
BMW 320i M Sport
2021
£309
£297
£284
£215
£274
£284
Volkswagen Polo 1.0 EVO
2021
£279
£247
£234
£215
£265
£233
Nissan Qashqai 1.3
2022
£299
£247
£248
£215
£278
£248
BMW 530d
2021
£349
£307
£293
£215
£290
£293
Source: Online quotes collected by Carautonomy on 10 June 2026 using a Berkshire postcode. Prices may change according to vehicle specification, location, availability and live offers. A lower price does not necessarily mean that the service includes the same checks, replacement parts or warranty. Prices rounded to the nearest £1.
One business’s “full service” may not be the same as another’s
This is the bit that catches people out.
A full service is a commonly used term, but there is not one identical checklist that every garage has to follow. Each business packages its service slightly differently.
Most full services will include an engine-oil change, a new oil filter and a range of checks covering items such as tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, lights and fluid levels.
After that, the details can vary.
One provider may include a new air filter as standard. Another may treat it as an extra. Some businesses carry out a longer inspection with more individual checks. Others offer a simpler package at a lower price.
Neither approach is necessarily wrong. You just need to know what you are buying.
Before booking, it is worth checking:
✓Is the oil filter replaced?
✓Is the air filter included?
✓Is the pollen or cabin filter included, or does that cost extra?
✓Are fluids topped up as part of the price?
✓Does the quote include the correct oil grade and quantity for your car?
✓Will the service reminder be reset?
✓Will your paper or digital service history be updated?
✓Does the quoted price include VAT?
✓Is there a warranty covering parts and labour?
You do not need to interrogate the garage like you are buying a used submarine. Just ask to see the service checklist and check whether there are any likely extras.
The cheapest quote is not always the best value
Saving money is good. Nobody wants to pay £300 for a job they could have done properly for £220.
But there is a difference between finding a good deal and simply clicking the lowest number.
Think about the things that matter to you:
•Do you want a garage close to home?
•Would you rather have a mechanic come to your driveway?
•Does the business offer a clear service checklist?
•Is there a decent warranty?
•Will your service record be updated properly?
•Are there likely to be extra charges when you arrive?
A slightly higher quote may still be better value if the package is more thorough or the experience is much more convenient.
Booking your MOT at the same time can save you money
If your MOT is due around the same time as your service, check whether the garage offers a combined service and MOT bundle.
Many providers discount the total cost when the two jobs are booked together. The saving is often around £20 to £30.
It makes sense for the garage because your car is already on site. It makes sense for you because you save a bit of money and only need to arrange one appointment.
There is no point making two separate trips if one booking will do the job.
Mobile mechanics are convenient, but there is still one obvious gap
Mobile mechanics have made routine servicing much easier.
Rather than taking time out of your day to drive to a garage, wait around or arrange a lift home, you can have your car serviced on your driveway or outside your workplace.
For plenty of people, that is genuinely useful.
There is one part of the traditional garage model that mobile mechanics have not fully unlocked yet: the MOT.
A mobile mechanic can carry out a service and a growing range of repairs at your home. But an MOT has to be completed at an approved test centre with the required equipment.
That means a mobile mechanic cannot simply service your car and carry out the MOT on your driveway while you get on with your day.
Some businesses may make life easier by arranging collection, return or a local MOT-centre partnership. But the test itself still needs to happen at an authorised site.
The bottom line
Full-service pricing is not as consistent as you might expect.
For the same car, in the same area, on the same day, the difference between quotes can easily be £60, £80 or more than £100.
So do not just book the first option that appears on Google.
Compare a few prices. Check what is included. Ask about any likely extras. And if your MOT is due soon, look for a combined package.
A few minutes of homework could save you a decent amount of money — and make sure you are actually comparing like for like.
Before you book a full service
Check the service checklist, make sure VAT and oil are included, ask whether any filters cost extra and see whether a combined service-and-MOT package would save you money.
Ready to book a service? Click on the business to get a quote:
