A lot of people who own cars wonder how long do car maintenance takes? but most of them don’t know the real answer. Every car needs maintenance, but the amount of time it takes can be very different. Some services are quick and only take 15 minutes, while others may take several hours or even a whole day, depending on what needs to be done.
Car maintenance is the regular care of your car to keep it safe, running well, and lasting a long time. It includes tasks like checking the brakes, changing the oil, rotating the tires, aligning the wheels, checking the battery, and adding fluids. You can keep your car from breaking down, make it run better, and make it last longer by doing regular maintenance.
But the big question is still: how long does it really take to service a car? The answer depends on the kind of service, the state of the car, and how easy it is to find parts and mechanics. This detailed guide goes over all the different kinds of car maintenance, how long they usually take, and how to save time when you go to the shop.
Why every driver should take care of their car
Before we get into the timing, it’s important to know why you can’t skip regular maintenance. There are thousands of moving parts in cars, and they all wear out over time. Small problems quickly become big, costly ones if they aren’t fixed.
• Safety: Keeping your brakes, tires, and fluids in good shape lowers the chance of an accident.
• Longevity: Taking care of your car on a regular basis can add years to its life.
• Fuel efficiency: Engines that have been serviced run more smoothly and use less gas.
• Resale value: A service history makes your car worth more when you sell it.
With this in mind, knowing how long different services take can help you plan better and avoid getting angry.
How long does it take to change the oil?
One of the most common and quickest car services is an oil change. It usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes. If there isn’t a line at the service center and the engine design is simple, it might only take 15 minutes.
What happens when you change the oil?
• Getting rid of old oil: The technician opens the drain plug to let the old oil out.
• Changing the oil filter—The old filter is taken off and a new one is put on.
• Adding new oil: The manufacturer suggests the right type of oil to use.
Things that affect the time
• Car design: Some cars have oil caps that are easy to reach, while others are more complicated.
• Quality of oil: It’s easier to refill and it moves faster when it’s high quality.
• Time spent waiting: If your workshop is busy, the line can make your total time longer.
Changing the oil is quick, cheap, and one of the most important things drivers can do to keep their engines healthy.
How long does it take to rotate and balance tires?
Rotating and balancing your tires is another regular maintenance service. For all four wheels, this usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Steps for balancing and rotating tires
• Taking off the tires: The technician loosens the lug nuts and takes off the wheels.
• Rotating: The front tires are moved to the back, and the back tires are moved to the front. This is done to make sure that the tread wears evenly.
• Balancing: Special machines check for wheel imbalance and add small weights to fix it.
• Reinstalling: The wheels are tightened back up securely.
Why rotating your tires is important?
Rotating and balancing tires stops them from wearing unevenly, gives them better grip, and makes them last longer. If you skip this step, you could have trouble steering and be less safe on the road.
Check the brakes and change the pads
Brakes are one of the most important safety systems in any car, so technicians pay extra attention to them when they inspect and replace them. Before going over the list of things that happen during a brake service, it’s important to know why the process can take a long time. Everyday driving wears down brake pads over time. If you don’t pay attention to them, they can hurt the rotors and make the brakes less effective. Also, modern braking systems have sensors and other high-tech parts that may need to be recalibrated after they are replaced. This is why mechanics often take extra time to carefully take off, check, and put back on brake parts to make sure your car is completely safe before you drive it again.
What happens when you service your brakes
• Checking the rotors: This means looking at the rotors, or discs, to see if they are worn out.
• Calipers: These are checked to make sure they squeeze the brake pads correctly.
• Pads—If they are worn out, they are checked or replaced.
Time to put in and take out the battery
One of the quickest services is to replace a car battery. It usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes. But newer cars with more complicated designs might take longer.
How to change the battery?
• Taking out the old battery: First, the negative terminal is taken off, and then the positive terminal.
• Putting in the new battery—The new battery is put in place and secured.
• Testing: The technician checks the voltage and makes sure all the connections are tight.
Things alter the time duration
• Car design: Some cars hide batteries in hard-to-reach places, which makes the work take longer.
• The state of the terminals: If they are corroded, they may need extra cleaning and preparation.
How long does a full car service take
A full car service goes beyond the basics and gives you a thorough look at every important part of your car. This kind of maintenance is meant to find problems that aren’t obvious right away and keep your car running well.
A full service often takes longer than drivers think it will because it covers a lot of ground. For instance, technicians might find spark plugs that are worn out, coolant levels that are too low, or even brakes that are about to fail, all of which need more care. A full service is so thorough that your car will be in top shape for the road ahead when it leaves the shop.
What is included in a full service
• Change the oil: Put in new oil and a new filter.
• Fluid top-ups: checking and adding coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid.
• Check the brakes by looking at the pads, rotors, and calipers.
• Rotating tires: Tires are rotated and balanced so that they wear evenly.
• Air filters: Changing out clogged filters to let more air through.
• Check the spark plugs and replace them if they need to be.
• Diagnostic checks: looking for problems with electronics or mechanics.
Why it takes longer
Full services cover a lot of ground, so it takes time to check, test, and replace parts. Mechanics need to double-check for accuracy and safety because there are more systems involved.
Length of transmission service
You don’t need transmission services as often as oil changes, but they are very important for smooth shifting. Changing the transmission fluid usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes.
How the process works
• Getting rid of old fluid: The old fluid is drained by taking off the transmission pan.
• Replacing the filter and gasket: A new filter and gasket are put in place.
• Refilling: New transmission fluid is added to the system.
The process may take longer if the technician does a full flush instead of just changing the fluid.
Things that affect how long it takes to maintain a car
You can guess how long it will take to change the oil, check the brakes, or rotate the tires, but no two maintenance visits are the same. There are a number of things that can either speed up or slow down the process, and knowing what they are can help car owners plan better. For instance, the age and mileage of your car are very important because older parts tend to wear out faster and take longer to replace.
In the same way, high-end or luxury cars may have complicated systems that need special tools, which makes the service take longer. A busy day in the workshop can even make it take longer for your car to come back. Knowing about these factors will help you have realistic expectations when you book your service.
• The kind of car: Luxury cars and SUVs often take longer because they are more complicated.
• Age of the car: Older cars might need more checks or repairs.
• Workshop load: If a service center is busy, you will have to wait longer.
• Availability of parts: Ordering parts takes longer to service.
• Knowledge of the technician: More experienced mechanics can get the job done faster and better.
What is the fastest way to take care of your car?
Changing the oil and the battery are usually the quickest jobs, taking only 30 minutes or less.
Can I wait while my car is being worked on?
Yes, you can wait for short services like changing the oil or the battery. If you need full services that take hours, it’s best to make other travel plans.
Why does it sometimes take longer than expected to fix a car?
If parts need to be found, more problems are found, or the workshop doesn’t have enough staff, things can take longer.
How often should I take my car in for service?
Every six months or every 5,000 to 7,000 kilometers is a good rule of thumb. Always look at the manual from your manufacturer to find the best schedule.
Can I put off taking care of my car?
Not a good idea. Delays can turn small problems into big ones that cost a lot to fix.
Read more about how long does a car service take? in Australia.
