A car service may seem like a lot of money, but putting off maintenance can cost you far more.
Fortunately, the solutions to the stressful question of “How much does car servicing cost?” are provided in this article.
What Is the Going Rate For a Car Service?
The typical cost of a logbook service in Australia ranges from $150 to $550. However, the price depends on the make and model of your vehicle, the kind of service you require, and the repair shop you choose. Because of these variables, the cost of auto maintenance might vary widely.
To simplify things for car owners, some producers have proposed fixed-price servicing. Clients on this plan can keep auto maintenance costs to a minimum, provided they meet specific requirements. The advantage is that car owners can budget more effectively.
What a Typical Car Service in Australia Will Set You Back
Several factors affect the costs of servicing your car, such as the make and model, where you live, the services you require, and mileage. In Australia, the price range for a standard auto repair is $150-$550.
The price of a logbook service in Australia may change depending on your location. Across Australia, these are the standard reported rates for employing a mechanic:
Average Reported Price by State/Territory:
- Capital Territory of Australia: $200-$250
- To the south is New South Wales.$160 – $240
- Prices in the NT range from $190 to $550.
- Prices in Queensland range from $188 to $270
- From $139 to $190 in South Australia
- Tasmania: $220 – $330
- From $189 to $245 in Victoria
- West Australian Prices: $185–$250
How much does car servicing cost? Does geography affect the cost? Indeed, one’s physical position significantly influences the cost of servicing your car. Living expenses, including car upkeep, tend to be greater in major urban centres.
An oil change will cost you around $150 in Sydney, while in Melbourne, you may expect to pay between $200 and $250. This price includes the cost of replacing the oil filter.
While the quoted average cost will offer you a ballpark estimate, you should still contact mechanics in your region for an accurate quote.
Before employing a mechanic, getting an estimate of the service is recommended to help you set a budget. The costs will vary even if you have the automaker’s warranty and a capped servicing plan.
What Determines the Price of Your Car Repair?
Any fleet manager would confirm that overall fleet costs have steadily risen over the past few years.
Higher acquisition costs, lower incentive funds, record-high fuel prices, and an increase in nearly every line item in a fleet’s operational cost budget all contribute to this trend.
I want to zero in on why fleets’ maintenance expenditures have risen (expressed as a percentage of total operating expenses).
I’ll focus on the five essential industry factors driving car maintenance costs. To conclude each analysis, I’ll present a forecast of the cost patterns fleet managers should anticipate for the rest of the calendar year 2022.
1. Extended Use of Vehicles Over Time
The first pattern I’ll analyse is the expansion of vehicle service lifetimes during the preceding two purchasing cycles.
Replacement cars have been so hard to come by that many cars which were supposed to be retired from service never actually did. These cars were supposed to be replaced but were kept on the road for another model year.
With the average fleet vehicle logging between 20,000 and 24,000 miles per year, adding a year or two to a vehicle’s service life inevitably increases the number of hours of unanticipated repairs.
The increased cost of unexpected breakdowns across the sector is mainly attributable to the continued use of older equipment with higher mileage.
Many fleets may feel they have no choice but to spend a lot of money fixing expensive things like drivetrain components owing to the ongoing difficulties of getting replacement equipment. The corporation must pay the associated repair costs to keep the vehicle operational.
Delaying vehicle replacement results in higher costs for unanticipated repairs and planned preventative upkeep.
By keeping it on the road for another 20,000 miles or more, you’re guaranteeing that you’ll have to spend more money on maintenance and repairs down the road than you would have if you’d just gotten rid of it when it was time.
Forecast: Because of the huge amount of vehicle demand for previously ordered units not manufactured in model-year 2022 and, in some instances, 2021, it is expected that sourcing issues for 2023 model-year replacement cars will persist.
2. The Cost of New Tires Rising
The rising price of replacement tires (on an upward trend throughout 2021) has persisted into the new year. In 2021, replacement tires saw an average price increase of 3-7%.
After fuel and depreciation, tires rank third in terms of fleet expense.
The rising cost of steel, crude oil, and rubber, all of which go into the production of tires, is a critical factor in the increasing cost of replacement tires.
As a result of the increase in the cost of these inputs, tire manufacturers have had to raise their selling prices to keep their profit margins stable.
Due to all-time high gasoline prices, the logistics expenses of transporting tires from the port or manufacturing facility to distribution hubs and retail stores have skyrocketed. Customers now have to pay for these increases.
In addition, rising sea freight rates in 2021 have raised the cost of shipping tires imported from Asia, a significant source of low-priced replacement tires.
Forecast: This trend will continue. Consumers should expect to pay more for tires in the calendar year 2022 due to the continued increase in the price of raw materials.
3. Obtaining Replacement Spare Parts
Since the year 2021 of the Gregorian calendar, supply shortages of automobile components have been a problem with back-ordered parts resulting in wait times of several days to many months.
As a result, repair works are taking significantly longer to perform, which increases fleet downtime for vehicles and, in some situations, the cost of a temporary rental car.
Forecast: the cost of raw materials required to produce replacement components will stay high for the rest of 2022.
4. Increased Cost of Labor
Since 2021, labour costs have risen due to a lack of trained technicians and the subsequent need to pay more to attract the small pool of available workers. Inflationary wage pressures also erupted at the beginning of CY-2022, exacerbating the situation.
There’s a lot of competition for a small pool of qualified technicians among fleets, dealerships and independent service providers with in-house maintenance departments. As a result of this rivalry, wage costs have increased.
The shortage of skilled technicians will remain a long-term problem for the automobile industry as older mechanics retire in huge numbers and fewer young persons enter the automotive service business.
In addition, as cars become more reliant on software and electronics, the technology required to service them has started to exceed the capabilities of some independent mechanics.
Forecast: The current technician shortage has been building for decades and will likely persist.
5. Higher Complexity Of Vehicles
Modern automobiles feature more complexity. The average cost of a transaction has gone up as a result. Vehicle repairs and inspections have become increasingly sophisticated as vehicle complexity has increased.
While dependable overall, when problems arise, advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) recalibration and the associated diagnostic costs can significantly impact fleet maintenance budgets. In addition, the recent shift toward car electrification has brought us to a hitherto unseen level of vehicle complexity.
Forecast: There will be a growing dependence on diagnostic equipment to trace the cause of mechanical issues as vehicle complexity increases. The technical expertise and advanced education of the coming generations of technicians will be under greater scrutiny.
6. The Auto Service and Repair Center
If you don’t go to the correct shop for your car’s maintenance in Portslade, you could spend more money than necessary.
Try Rapid Auto Centre, an established name in the industry. They’ve found success in the automotive business by filling a need for affordable service. In their garage, they work on various vehicles, Ford included.
7. The driver’s method of operation
Disciplined drivers usually face cheaper automobile maintenance and service costs due to their lack of collision and attentive care. A driver’s future repair costs are directly proportional to how gently they treat their vehicle.
8. Mechanic and Service Adopted
As a street-smart driver, you know when to take your car to a specialty shop for more expensive repairs. If you drive a high-end vehicle like a Lexus or a Mercedes-Benz, you shouldn’t take it to an unreliable mechanic for specific maintenance.
9. Access to Spare Parts
The savvy motorist also understands that sourcing components from less-popular vendors is more cost-effective. If a replacement of genuine parts is required, he will know.
Original manufacturer parts are the preferred option when replacing engine components. Cheaper generic alternatives exist for other pieces like fenders and bumper covers.
10. Service Type and The Timing
Whether your vehicle needs either minor or significant servicing will determine how soon you need to bring it in.
Motorama recommends doing a minor service every 10,000 kilometres and a significant service after 30,000 km or three years.
In most cases, the number of miles driven and the vehicle’s age will determine when the next primary service is due. More part replacements and wear and tear mean higher potential maintenance costs as your vehicle ages.
As outlined in your vehicle’s service manual, primary automotive services entail thoroughly examining and adjusting all moving parts. Common examples of these might be:
- Wheel balancing
- replacing spark plugs
- Filter inspections and replacements
- Examinations on wheel bearings
- Suspension
- Checking brakes and brake fluid.
General maintenance inspections include engine and gearbox oil checks, new battery installation inspections, and more.
Changing the oil and filter, adding or replacing fluids, checking and adjusting the tire pressure, and rotating and balancing the tires are all considered “minor services.”
Service contracts typically do not include parts replacement, specialised equipment, and labour-intensive fixes.
This is how the car’s condition can affect the type and price of service received. If, during routine maintenance, it is discovered that you should replace certain parts.
Time intervals (every six months to a year) or mileage intervals (every 10,000 kilometres) are two common triggers for requesting such maintenance services.
11. Vehicle brand and model
The costs of maintaining an automobile vary depending on the quality, age, and availability of parts due to the unique manufacturing processes used in each vehicle.
Different vehicle models and manufacturers have different suggested logbook servicing intervals. While some manufacturers only mandate 12-month intervals for particular vehicles, others advise six-month service intervals.
If your automobile has capped cost servicing, you’ll know in advance how much you can anticipate paying for a scheduled repair and servicing during the planned term, allowing you to integrate the expense into your budget and avoid a blowout.
It’s recommended to get quotes from many mechanics ahead of time to compare them, especially if the vehicle is older or not covered by a cap on servicing costs.
12. The technician or Mechanic
Your final cost will differ based on the regular hourly labour costs required by the technician you hire and whether you choose a car dealership or private mechanic.
With the launch of a scheme on vehicle information in 2022, there is now more parity between the two options. Independent Australian auto mechanics now have equitable access to data previously only available to associated auto mechanics and automakers.
Now, information on services and repairs is available to all repairers equally, including:
- Software updates that connect a new spare component with car information and instructions for computerised systems from the vehicle manufacturer.
- Information required to maintain and repair autos.
- It aims to increase industry competitiveness and give customers more options when looking for a technician and auto servicing.
Conclusion
This article can come in handy in accessing the information on car service costs, the typical cost in Australia, or what factors affect the price.
You should regularly service your car since it is necessary to do so. You’ll likely have to buy another one sooner if you don’t.
FAQs
How much time does car servicing require?
Everything will depend on the model and brand of your vehicle and the kind of servicing you require. It will only take one or two hours, provided your car is in mint condition and has received routine maintenance. A logbook service may take two to four hours to complete.
How does mileage affect the price of car maintenance?
You will spend about $1,400 on car servicing for the initial 40,000 kilometres. After then, the costs rise until they reach their highest levels at 60,000 to 360,000 kilometres in levels of 60,000.
Should I get my maintenance done at a dealer or a local mechanic?
Your needs and unique circumstances will determine how to proceed. Thanks to the implementation of price caps, a dealership will not cost customers more than a private mechanic.
However, if you meticulously document everything, a dealership should honour the guarantee even if a private repair did your checkups.
Regardless of your decision, find out how much a car service will cost and what kind of service you require to grasp future expenditures better.
What exactly does a thorough automobile service in Australia entail?
A thorough automobile service entails comprehensive diagnostic checks and vehicle inspections, removing the oil filter from the engine and replacing it with a new one to keep your automobile running smoothly.
Top off, flush, or replace other fluids (clutch, transmission, power steering, brake, engine coolant) whenever necessary.
How frequently should a car be serviced in Australia?
You should service your car In six-month cycles.
Usually, after intervals of every 10,000 kilometres or six months (the one that comes first) for professional maintenance. However, this can change. If your automobile is older, you should service it more frequently, like every 5,000 miles or every three months.