The importance of regular Volkswagen servicing: a comprehensive guide

Servicing is one of those many seemingly unavoidable expenses that modern life throws at us. Electricity, water, gas, petrol, and every three to six months, servicing. For many, skipping or delaying your appointment with the garage might be tempting.

However, servicing has many benefits; avoiding it can lead to several serious side effects. In this article, we’ll explain the importance of getting your VW serviced regularly (per Volkswagen’s official recommended intervals) and how this benefits you as the driver.

What’s different about a Volkswagen service?

A generic service – one that isn’t Volkswagen-specific – involves a set checklist that’s the same for every car. In contrast, a VW service is a carefully set out list of tasks for a technician to evaluate, inspect and complete. In other words, it’s a comprehensive service tick-list specifically designed for your car and its components.

And this is why a Volkswagen-specific job is vital for maintaining your warranty. For instance, imagine that the VW service instructed the technician to complete a brake service at 60,000 miles, but because they were following their garage’s generic instructions, they only changed the oil and sent your car back out. Now, what if you got into an accident that could have potentially been avoided if the brakes had been serviced? Although there are several possible outcomes, it becomes a complex world of blame game – something nobody wants.

As such, whenever you take your car in for a warranty-compliant service, ensure the garage carries out a VW-specific job.

Depending on the interval, your service may involve an oil and filter change, under-bonnet fluid top-ups or flushes, brake servicing, spark plug replacements, tyre and alignment checks, seat belt checks and much more.

Why do you need regular VW servicing?

There are many good reasons for getting your Volkswagen serviced regularly to manufacturer standards. Here are just a few:

• Warranty – perhaps it’s cheating to start with this one, but if you want to maintain your warranty, you legally have to. The technicians update your service booklet or online portal to reflect the work they’ve carried out, leaving no queries and no unknowns.
• Safety – in today’s world, a car is a necessary tool. However, even with all our modern developments, it’s still dangerous – a heavy object moving at high speeds. Regular manufacturer-advised servicing means your car will be as safe as possible, helping you avoid accidents and minimising the risk to driver and passengers in the event of an incident.
• Performance – with regular servicing, your car will maintain peak performance levels. This way, you’ll feel your vehicle’s contentment as it purrs along, knowing it will always be able to react to situational hazards.
• Fuel economy – servicing involves oil and spark plug changes, tyre checks, tracking adjustments, etc. These all contribute to your VW’s fuel efficiency, meaning you’ll spend less at the pump.
• Durability – a car is a significant investment. A regular VW service means keeping it in prime condition for as long as possible, maximising its lifespan and making your initial payment much more worth it.
• Market value – with new cars as expensive as they are, the UK’s second-hand car market is bustling (as always). A full-service history (often abbreviated as ‘FSH’ in advertisements) means potential buyers can see the vehicle has been looked after, increasing its value next to the competition.
• Repair costs – a regular trip for a service means technicians are more likely to find problems before they develop into something more serious. Fixing these minor issues is usually much cheaper than letting them grow into something major.