Car maintenance calendar: never miss anything
Monthly checks, seasonal maintenance, oil change, timing belt, roadworthiness test: a guide to organise your vehicle maintenance.
Regular maintenance keeps your vehicle safe and reliable and preserves its value. Here is how to organise it. The reference is always your manufacturer's service schedule.
Every month
- Tyre pressure: when cold, spare included
- Engine oil level: between the minimum and maximum on the dipstick
- Coolant: level
- Brake fluid: level in the reservoir
- Lights: front and rear lights, indicators, hazard lights
Every three months
- Cleaning inside and out
- Wipers and screen wash
- Battery: condition of the terminals
- Tyres: wear and stuck objects
By mileage or time
Intervals depend on the vehicle: follow your service book. As a guide, here are the intervals the Staticar app suggests by default, adjustable for each reminder:
| Service | Car | Motorcycle | Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil change | 15,000 km or 12 months | 6,000 km or 12 months | 20,000 km or 12 months |
| Timing belt | 120,000 km or 6 years | — (often a chain) | 120,000 km or 6 years |
| Tyres | 40,000 km | 12,000 km | 40,000 km |
During a service, the garage usually also checks the filters, brakes (pads, discs, fluid), shock absorbers and alignment.
Roadworthiness test
Rules depend on your country: check your national authority's website for the exact schedule.
In Great Britain, a car has its first MOT by the 3rd anniversary of its registration, then every year (GOV.UK).
In France (contrôle technique), a car or light van has its first test within the 6 months before the 4th anniversary of first registration, then every 2 years; a motorcycle before its 5th anniversary, then every 3 years. After a test with a major or critical defect, you have 2 months to repair and pass the re-test. Staticar calculates due dates with this French rule, and the interval can be adjusted. For the full rules in the UK, France and Spain, and how to set a reminder, read When is my MOT due?
Seasonal calendar
Spring
- Post-winter cleaning
- Air conditioning check
- Tyre check (back to summer tyres if needed)
Summer
- Air conditioning
- Cooling system
- Holiday trip preparation
Autumn
- Winter preparation
- Winter tyres or equipment required in your area
- Lights and heating
Winter
- Battery
- Antifreeze and winter screen wash
- Emergency kit in the boot
Keep a digital service log
For each job, write down the date, the mileage, the garage and the amount, and keep your invoices: they matter when you sell. More on what to record and keep, and on servicing outside the dealer network under warranty: Car service history: what to record and keep.
The Staticar app keeps this log on your phone and notifies you before the oil change, the roadworthiness test or the insurance renewal: 30 days before, 7 days before and on the due day, or 500 km before the due mileage.
Money-saving tips
- Simple tasks: changing bulbs, checking levels
- Compare prices: independent garages and dealerships, several quotes
- Plan ahead: a planned service costs less than a breakdown