So, I just got my car serviced recently and naturally started wondering—what are people generally paying for services these days? That got me thinking, am I paying for maintenance or secretly funding a mechanic’s vacation?
How Much Are You Paying for Car Service (Standard/Logbook)
godofpizza on 17/04/2025 - 16:02
Last edited 18/04/2025 - 10:20 by 2 other users
Last edited 18/04/2025 - 10:20 by 2 other users
Poll Options
- 10>$1000
- 53$100-$200
- 126$200-$300
- 87$300-$400
- 23$400-$500
- 19$500-$600
- 4$600-$700
- 7$700-$800
- 7$800-$999
Comments
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Once you factor in the fuel savings and the sting of servicing costs, the depreciation doesn’t feel quite so brutal.
But in saying that, most cars don’t hold their value well.
The unavoidable reality is it's still a car associated with Earlobe Skum. He's taken Pariah status to a new and permanent high.
To think this is the guy who called a real hero a paedophile in a mull soaked brain fart .
And people willingly fall at his privileged feet.@dylanando: That's nothing compared to what he's doing to Americas ppl and the reputation of the country, and civility,humanity and the rule of law across the globe. So many ppl wish him and his boss infinite harm, it's pathetic he squeals like a piglet that he feels unsafe. LOL.
I almost feel sorry for ppl who lined his pocket by buying a Tesla before he showed his true colours (and them colours are all very white)
He's a walking biological pathogen
@dylanando: Fun fact: Elon did not found Tesla. He just muscled his way in with loads of investment cash.
@MS Paint: …after a handy head start as the privileged child of an Apartheid profiteering and benefiting family.
Tyre rotation and wheel alignment balancing should be $75. I guess coz it's a Tesla they charge more.
Yup, cheaper if I get it done elsewhere but the issue I have noticed is, tyre guys are now pushing for Wheel Balancing every time you ask them for Tyre rotation on Tesla. One even went and said "Tesla recommends to do wheel balancing" - to which I said, No thanks.
Easier to book the service using the Tesla app. No fuss, good and quick customer service and app UI experience is great.
Can anyone recommend a decent Motor Mechanic Eastern Suburbs Melbourne?
I have a Holden Captiva 2014 model that is overdue for a serviceI know a few mechanics that refuse to work on these.
The most common service for Captivas is generally a funeral service.
Curious if there is simple dedicated Android app you use to track car related expenses and track servicing
You mean thinking out lous about creating one, and phishing for input?
2016 VW Passat Diesel serviced at Euro specialist.
$380 Minor service (oil +filter) + inspections, tyres rotated.
Major Service with DSG, $900.All other wear and tear consumables are charged at rrp + labour.
$170/hr labour. Parts are itemised and charged at rrp (obviously mechanic pays trade pricing). Mechanics are good but im considering doing DIY minor service and taking car to mechanic every 2nd or 3rd service for more thorough preventative checks.
Yep spot on what I do with my diesel car
When people ask why would anyone buy a new car….ill point to this sub the clear amount of people servicing their own car and clearly think an Oil and Filter change is acceptable is beyond scary
VW will sell you a service plan for your vehicle.
The big surprise is when you go for a service the "service" isn't covered, so you get to pay double.
$50 - i byo oil and filter
ozb oil and buy filter on the drive there, roughly $100 per, all up
Yep they're a rip off. I'd actually call this a good reason to buy a car outside of warranty. Service however you like. Our main car is an EV and I can't wait for it to get outside of warranty as it'll get brakes and tyres as required which means a "service' every 2-3 years.
Bought a used Tesla recently and was shocked to see other EV brands require you to get them serviced annually, one of the reasons I didn’t look more at BYD
Fair enough. I mean I think as long as the cost is factored in its here nor there. I knew it was say 5% of the car cost over the warranty period and if I really wanted to save I'd have bought a used one anyway :)
As stated it won't be going in for annual box checks after warranty anyway so will be the same at that point.
Would expect around $200 for a minor service which is just oil change and safety checks. That's usually what it has been for my Peugeot whilst the dealership want $700+ a visit. But really it is not worth it, only worth going to mechanics when you need repairs. Oil change, spark plugs, filters, brakes are all easy to DIY and you save a fortune + get the best quality parts at lowest price.
Normal service is $170 + $50 safety check. I drive a 7 year old Hyundai i30 and it hasn’t skipped a beat (yet). If I need tyres, I go to the tyre shop nearby and come back to get my safety check.
I once went to Ultra Tune to do a service + logbook said I needed the aircon filter and something else replaced. They did a great job but I was charged $600. Local mechanic does the same job at half the cost.
Almost 14 year old Honda Jazz here, routine logbook servicing is around $120-200 depending on what replacements are required. Also drag out the recommended 6-monthly to yearly servicing.
Missing $0. Some EVs get several years free servicing
In America you can get an oil change (+inspection as its done here) for US$15 everyday. Have even got done for $10. That was 10 years ago tho so let's say on avg US$20 now. How on earth does it cost 10 times that on average here 🙆
Cheapest I could get online at jiffy lube using conventional oil was USD$42
Seems prices have doubled now but still see Walmart's for less than $25. Here are recent price ranges. Bottomline is they are still on average about 5 times cheaper than here
Do these cheap changes include an oil filter?
Mechanic here. There is no thing as a service that is universal and can be applied to everyone.
The biggest scam ive seen is fixed price servicing. If it is done as part of a new car purchase, it is part of the marketing around the purchase decision. You often see increased intervals and decreased items. Will it get you through the warranty period? Yes. Is it the best proper preventative maintenance? No. As an example, I see toyotas that have finished the warranty period and have never had the cabin filter replaced with fixed price servicing. They are always filthy and often impact the HVAC system performance. Proper preventative maintenace is not just an oil change, oil filter change and other stuff only when mentioned in the service schedule. Air and fuel filters often need replacing at every service, not every third. And set price servicing at independents is a cut price job using common oils, cheap parts and minimum work done.
Every car will have different scheduled servicing depending on mileage. The driving style, towing and enviroment will also mean different reccomended serving schedules. Then preventative mantenance will change things again.
Dealerships usually use apprentices or non mechanics to do services. Most times they are just oil changers who do basic inspections. A good mechanic will examine the vehicle for problems before they arise. Proper preventative maintenace is crucial for European brands, and with the rise in technology and pollution control equally applies to most other brands today.
Labour costs should be around 130 an hour minimum nowdays. Specialist mechanics will be more. Any less is a sure sign that you dont have mechanics doing the work or that they not putting sufficient time, so on paper the price looks lower. Oils today are not just oils. For example in the grade 5w40 there are so many different classifications and using the wrong one can cause problems with components and dpfs etc. The days of using one oil for everything ended last century. Even coolants are specialised. I hold 12 different ones in stock.
In a service I change wipers every service. I add injector cleaner. I set the service at 12 months or 10,000 km, unless the manufacturer recommends less (most Toyotas and some turbo cars are 6 months) or unless non synthetic oil is used. Anyhting more than 10k is too much. Oil is cheap compared to repairs, and regular examination of the car is important.
Scan tools are expensive. Many manufacturers have stuff that doesnt show up on generic machines. They dont tell you what to replace or fix. They simply tell you what the sensors are doing. It takes skill and experience to use this information to properly diagnose issues. Cars are no longer simple machines like a HQ holden was.
A car is not just a large significant purchase, but we need them to be reliable to get through our lives. Saving a few dollars on a service is not worth the longer issues that can arise. Find a good mechanic who does proper preventative money and your car will be be more reliable, safer and you will save money in the long run. Look beyond the cost of cheap servicing.Spot on. The specialist mechanic I go charges $170/hr and is highly trained in diagnostics as well as preventative inspections. Its abit dear in pricing but he uses Valvoline full synthetic oil that meets specific VW spec and is meticulous in preventative inspections, including taking the car for a short drive as part of the inspection routine.
He gets sent work from other mechanics because they can’t diagnose issues from complex European cars. There’s a fair few mechanics who can’t diagnose faults but still charge diagnostics fee so that’s money down the drain.
Brought my Kia for such a capped price service: They usually forget to change the oil, take 3 attempts to place correct sticker for service intervall.
Upon last booking they shot a picture clearly showing a broken left blinker bulb. Eagers Auto was unable to change a bulb or even quote on its cost.
I drive a stolen car! NOT by choice!
I been quoted $540 from Toyota to service my Kluger for 48mths/60,000km. Is it a bit expensive?
Replace: Brake fluid and Air conditioner filter
Tightening propeller shaft bolts
Inspect: Brake pedal and parking brake, Brake pads and discs, Brake pipes and hoses, Steering wheel, linkage and steering gear box
Drive shaft boots
Suspension ball joint and dust covers
Front and rear suspensions (include KDSS)
Accessory items
Tyres and inflation pressures
Rotate wheels
Lights, horn, wipers and washers
Seatbelt, webbing condition, buckle and retractor mechanism operation
Driver's floor mat - fitment and retentionFuel System: Inspect, Engine air cleaner filter, Fuel tank cap,fuel lines,connections & fuel vapor control valve (petrol models), Charcoal canister (petrol models)
Road Test Vehicle
Electrical System: Inspect, Battery
Engine: Replace
Engine oil
Engine Oil filterInspect
Drive belts
Cooling and heater system
Engine coolant (Toyota Genuine Super LLC (Pink))
Engine oil cooler hoses and connections
Exhaust pipes and mountings
Merged from How Much Do You Pay for Car Servicing (Minor Service)?
One in four Australian drivers are avoiding car servicing due to high costs.. How much do OzBargainers who go to mechanics pay for regular/minor services?
Poll Result
- < $100 (14 votes)
- $100-150 (2 votes)
- $150-200 (6 votes)
- $250-300 (24 votes)
- $300-350 (1 vote)
- $350-400 (5 votes)
- $400+ (11 votes)
- $200-250 (3 votes)
My new car, the fixed price at the stealership
My old car, $100 for an oil and filter change myself, plus other parts when needed
What is the stealership price?
Depends on the car and which service
What jack stands do you use btw?
Ramps
Minor service of oil/filter change and checks $180-$200 for my Frenchie at an independent. I usually do it myself with Mobil 1 ESP oil and OEM filter for about $100.
Fumoto valve makes it super easy too
I usually do it myself with Mobil 1 ESP oil and OEM filter for about $100.
When I do it myself, I don't charge myself anything…
What jack stands do you use btw?
280 for my e39
Car under warranty? Around $250.
Car over 200k km? DIY under $100 flr parts.
Where is the zero cost option? Ozbargain optiom of 5 years included upon negotiation with the dealer (or perhaps I just overpaid on the car).
Minor service (oil change, filter change, logbook stamp, tyre rotation, safety checks). Independent mechanic. Diesel car. $200 inc gst.
tyre rotation
Don't the tyres just do that when you drive the car?
Looks like you've a leak in you blinker fluid again JV
Yes, but the mechanic rotates them about a different axis.
New car - $450 and, unfortunately, 10k km or every 6 months. But with my dealer and the importer in general, it’s well worth it. For now :)
New car - $450
That's cheap for a new car…
Yes, jv, and as a real Ozbargainer, I’ve bought 10.
$480 at the Ford stealership
First 10k was free, so will be 2 years before I pay for one.
Getting on for 2 years with the Tesla. $6.50 for washer fluid (bought on Special). A tyre rotation and a new cabin filter coming up in the next few months though, $100ish max..
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It probably depreciated $100 in the time the tech took to rotate the wheels as well.