Top Tips for Servicing Your Vehicle in Ireland

Team RedClick
#Tips

01/12/2025

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Top Tips for Servicing Your Vehicle in Ireland

 

Servicing your vehicle is a little like visiting the dentist. Sure, it takes time, energy, and investment, but if you don’t, you’ll end up with much bigger problems down the line.

In our work as a trusted car insurance company, we can see that the average age of cars in Ireland is around 10 years old. That means that servicing is more important than ever. The older a car gets, the more it needs regular maintenance. While you can carry out simple checks yourself, a professional service from a reputable garage is one of the smartest investments you can make in terms of safety, performance, and budget.

Let’s walk through a few top tips to help you keep your car, motorbike, van, or electric vehicle in its best possible condition.

1. Schedule regular services for your car

Driving in Ireland can put extra pressure on even the strongest cars. Between potholes, salt, rain, and mud, our cars go through a lot. That’s why experts recommend you service your car every 12 months or every 20,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

Whether your car is manual or automatic, most basic services will include:

  • A change of oil and oil filter
  • Replacing parts as needed or according to the manufacturer’s schedule
  • Checking for issues and replacing or repairing parts as needed

Electric cars are a little different, as they have fewer moving parts that can wear down and break. That means that the recommended service interval could be as long as two years. Check your handbook, as each manufacturer will have different advice.

We know that life is busy, so it’s a good idea to add a regular reminder to your phone or calendar. Set it to repeat every year so that you don’t accidentally find yourself with a car that’s overdue for service.

2. Maintain your motorbike carefully

For motorcyclists, a good service can literally be a lifesaver. Even the smallest drop in tyre pressure or the lightest wear on a brake pad can make a critical difference when the weather is wet or windy.

The Road Safety Authority of Ireland (RSA) recommends a simple, five-minute POWDER routine before you take a seat on your bike. This involves checking:

  • Petrol
  • Oil
  • Water
  • Damage
  • Electrics
  • Rubber

At least once a year (or more regularly, if your mileage or manufacturer recommendations require it), you should schedule a professional service so that your mechanic can inspect your bike. He or she will usually look after the oil and filters, as well as checking the chain, brakes, and electrics. You may need to take your bike to a dedicated tyre centre as well, to make sure they’re in safe condition.

Generally speaking, a motorbike service in Ireland will cost around €150 to €250, but the peace of mind it can bring you is priceless.

3. Keep your van and business running smoothly

We offer affordable commercial insurance to tradespeople, business owners, and delivery drivers in Ireland, so we know how important your van is to you and your livelihood. Regular servicing is the best way to avoid costly downtime, especially if you use your vehicle every day.

While it will depend on the make or model, most vans need a full check-up every 20,000 to 30,000 kilometres, or at least once a year. The actual service will usually include checking the filters, brakes, oil, and tyres and should only take an hour or two. That said, depending on the loads you carry, you might need to ask for a deeper inspection on your suspension or wheel alignment, for example.

Make sure you keep your service receipts so that you can process them as business expenses, and don’t forget to have your service manual stamped too. That makes life a little easier if you have any warranty claims in the future, and it helps to protect the value of your asset too - future buyers will want to see that you looked after your vehicle.

4. Give your electric vehicle the care it needs

Electric vehicles (EVs) are changing the way we think about maintenance. Because there is no oil to change or spark plugs to replace, we often forget that they still need regular inspections.

An experienced technician will usually carry out the following checks on an EV, per the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI):

  • Main components inspection
  • Safety equipment inspection
  • Coolant check
  • Brake fluid check
  • Diagnostic report, including battery health report
  • Wiper blade replacement
  • Window washing fluid replacement

They may also carry out any necessary software updates that could result in better performance for your car. Because there are fewer parts to replace, EVs tend to be cheaper to service, saving you as much as 30% on the maintenance costs of an internal combustion car.

5. Get professional servicing help

While you can service your own vehicle, it’s not as easy as it once was - modern cars, vans, and motorbikes often require advanced tools and technical abilities. Most professional garages and servicing centres will have diagnostic computers that can translate fault codes or check the condition of batteries, for example.

Purpose built workshops will also have a wide array of safety features, including gloves, goggles, axle stands, and even sunken vehicle inspection pits.

You should also bear in mind environmental factors: if you’re changing the oil or replacing a battery, you’ll need to take them to an approved place for safe disposal.

The main reason why you should think about investing in a professional service is that the technicians are often very experienced, which means that they’ll usually spot potential problems faster than you will. That means you can drive away knowing that you’ve done everything you can to keep your vehicle safe and secure on the road.

6. Double check your motor insurance policy

Make it a habit to check your car, van, or motorcycle insurance policy every year when your scheduled service rolls around. Make sure you have the cover you need for your needs, which might include:

A quick review of your policy now means fewer surprises later and one less thing to worry about while you’re on the road every day.

You should also take some time to make sure you’re getting the best value car insurance in Ireland. We offer our best savings online that could help cover some of the cost of at least one service. Keeping your vehicle in top condition, and your wallet happy too!

 

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