Servicing is the cheapest insurance you can buy for your car. A small bill today usually prevents a much bigger one later — and it protects what your car is worth when you sell it.
The simple rule
Most cars sold in Australia need a service every 12 months or every 10,000 to 15,000 km, whichever comes first. The exact number is in your owner's manual or logbook, and it changes from brand to brand. Some European cars stretch to 20,000 km. Some turbo and diesel engines want oil changed more often.
The part people forget is the "whichever comes first". If you only drive 6,000 km a year, you still need that annual service. Oil breaks down with time and heat, not just kilometres.
When you should go sooner
Book earlier than scheduled if you do a lot of short trips, tow a trailer or caravan, drive on dirt roads, or sit in stop-start traffic every day. All of these are harder on an engine than open highway driving.
Log book vs. general service
A log book service follows the manufacturer's exact checklist and gets stamped in your service book. If your car is still under warranty, this matters — skipping it can affect a claim. You do not have to go back to the dealer to keep your warranty in Australia; any qualified mechanic can do it, as long as they follow the schedule and use the right parts and oil.
A general service is a basic oil and filter change with a safety check. It is fine between log book services, but it is not a replacement for them.
Keep the paperwork
Every invoice and stamp is money in your pocket at resale. A car with a full, unbroken service history is easier to sell and holds a stronger price than an identical car with no records. Keep them together in the glovebox or scan them to your phone.
Between services
Do a two-minute check once a month: oil level, coolant level, tyre pressures, and lights. It costs nothing and it is how most people catch a problem before it becomes a breakdown.