Service and repairs

Servicing a new vehicle

A new vehicle comes with a vehicle service book (log book) which outlines when the vehicle should be serviced and what type of maintenance should be done. To keep your vehicle in good working order the service/maintenance schedule should be followed. The service book also gives a service history of the vehicle to subsequent owners.

If the vehicle is still under warranty and you do not have it serviced according to the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, you may void your warranty.

Some manufacturers require that you return to an authorised dealer to have the vehicle serviced during the warranty period.

Servicing a second hand vehicle

When you buy a second hand vehicle it is best to try to obtain one with a full service history and log books. If the vehicle doesn’t have a log book, buy one so you can record all servicing repairs on the vehicle. It will help you sell it later.

When booking your vehicle in for a service, clearly explain to your repairer the type of service you want. If you do not have a logbook or service schedule and are not sure what your car needs, check with the repairer about what is involved with each type of service and the likely cost.

It is good practice to have a basic service (oil change, oil filter and safety check) every 5000 kilometres or 6 months, whichever comes first.

Warranty repairs

If there is something wrong with your new vehicle when it is still under warranty, check the warranty and immediately contact the motor vehicle dealer where you bought it or a dealer selling the same make of vehicle. Please also refer to our web pages on warranties.

All repairs

Give the motor vehicle repairer as much information as you can about what the problem is with your vehicle. This will help the repairer diagnose the problem and carry out the repair properly.

Always request a written quote or at least a cost estimate to fix the problem. Read the Repairs to your motor vehicle (PDF 185KB) for more information.