53 Scotts Road, Paisley PA2 7AN · Mon–Fri 8:30–6, Sat 8:30–1📞 0141 876 1871
Est. 1996
DARNLEY GARAGE
Servicing

Two fixed prices. Whatever you drive.

Most garages quote by engine size and add the bits up at the end. We don't. An Interim is £199.99 and a Full is £299.99. The price you're told is the price you pay. Add a Class 4 MOT to either for £39.99 instead of £49.99.

The difference

A service isn't an MOT.

A service is a health check with parts replaced. An MOT is a legal snapshot that replaces nothing. That is the whole difference, and it is why most cars need both — an MOT can tell you the car was roadworthy on the day it was tested and nothing at all about the oil that is quietly turning to sludge.

What a service does is catch wear while it is still cheap. Oil breaks down and stops protecting. Filters clog. Fluids drop. Pads and discs thin out. None of that announces itself, which is exactly the problem: a car can feel completely fine right up until the point the repair stops being a service item and starts being an engine.

What an MOT actually checks →
Why bother

What regular servicing actually buys you.

Catch wear while it is cheap
Most big repair bills start as a small worn part that gave no warning. A service is where those get spotted, while they are still a service item and not an engine.
Fewer breakdowns
The things that leave you stranded, like cooked oil, seized brakes or a tired battery, are the things a service is looking at. It is the difference between a car you trust and one you cross your fingers over.
Lower running costs
Fresh oil, clean filters and correct tyre pressures all help the engine run efficiently, and that shows up in your fuel bills across the year.
Protect its resale value
A full, stamped service history is one of the first things a buyer looks for, and one of the biggest levers on what your car is worth when you come to sell it.
Keep a warranty valid
If your car is new or approved-used, the manufacturer usually requires servicing to schedule. You can have that done here without voiding the warranty, under UK Block Exemption rules.
The two tiers

Interim and Full.

An Interim keeps on top of the wear in between. A Full is the deeper of the two. Both are carried out to manufacturer specification. Here is the shape of each.

Interim Service
£199.99

An oil and filter change, all fluid levels checked and topped up, and a visual safety check of the brakes, steering, suspension, lights and tyres.

Full Service
£299.99

Everything in an Interim, plus the air filter and the cabin filter, and a more thorough look at the brakes. Fuel filters and spark plugs are fitted where they are required, at an extra cost.

On the day

What to bring.

Your service book

If you want it stamped. Not essential, but it is what protects your resale value later.

Your locking wheel-nut key

Needed for a Full Service — the wheels come off for the brake inspection. Without it we cannot do that part.

A clear windscreen and back seat

Only if you are having an MOT at the same time. A dashcam or sat-nav in the swept area can fault it, and a child seat left in place means the rear belts cannot be tested — which alone can put a fault on the certificate.

Stamping a service book at the front desk
Darnley Garage
Warranty

Still under warranty? You can still come here.

UK Block Exemption rules say you can use an independent garage without voiding your manufacturer warranty, as long as the car is serviced to the manufacturer's schedule with the correct parts and fluids, and you keep the record.

That right is yours. A dealer telling you otherwise is selling, not advising. Just message us first so we order the warranty-specific parts. Our online Full Service doesn't include them by default.

Servicing · common questions

What’s the difference between Interim and Full Service?
Interim covers an oil & filter change, fluid top-ups and a full visual safety check. Full Service includes everything in the Interim, plus the air filter and the cabin filter. Fuel filters and spark plugs are fitted where they are required, at an extra cost. Both are carried out to manufacturer specification.
Interim or Full: which does my car need?
If you do high mileage or lots of short, stop-start trips, an Interim in between keeps on top of the wear. If you’re on steadier mileage, a Full Service is usually plenty. Some people alternate the two. The Full also goes deeper on the brakes, with a proper wheels-off inspection rather than the Interim’s visual check. Not sure? Tell us your car and how you use it and we’ll point you the right way.
How long does a service take?
An interim service is usually done the same day. A full service is more thorough and typically takes a few hours. We’ll give you a realistic time when you book and keep you posted if anything comes up.
Is a service the same as an MOT?
No. An MOT is a legal safety check that doesn’t replace any parts. It’s a pass or fail snapshot on the day. A service is a health check that keeps the car running well and replaces wear items like oil and filters. Most cars need both, so you can book them together.
What happens if I skip a service?
Wear builds up gradually and often out of sight, so a car can feel fine while something’s quietly going wrong. A low oil level left unchecked can ruin an engine. Regular servicing catches small problems before they turn into expensive ones, keeps your fuel costs down, and protects your resale value with a full service history.
How do I know when my service is due?
Check your service history or log book for the last stamp, or your dashboard service reminder if the car has one. If you’re not sure, tell us your registration and we’ll help you work out where you are.
What should I bring?
Your service book if you’d like it stamped, and a locking wheel-nut key if your car has one. We need it for a Full Service so the wheels can come off for the brake check. If you’re having an MOT at the same time, it’s worth taking a dashcam or sat-nav off the windscreen and lifting any child seat out of the back beforehand — a child seat left in place means we can’t test the rear seatbelts, and that alone can put a fault on your certificate.
Should I get a service before my MOT?
It’s not required, and plenty of people don’t. But a service checks and puts right a lot of the things an MOT simply fails you for, so it does improve your chances of passing first time. If both are due around the same point in the year, booking them together is the sensible way round — and it’s +£39.99 for the MOT rather than £49.99 on its own.
Is it illegal not to service my car?
No. An MOT is a legal requirement; a service isn’t. The catch is warranties — if your car is new or approved-used, skipping the manufacturer’s scheduled servicing can invalidate the warranty, so it’s worth checking the terms before you let one slide.
Can you reset my oil warning light?
The oil light usually comes on because the oil is low, so topping it up or changing it clears the light by itself — there’s no trick to it. If it stays on with the level correct, that’s telling you something else is going on and it’s worth us looking. We always check it’s gone out before handing the car back.
Do you come to me?
No — servicing needs the car up on a lift to be done safely and properly, so it has to come to us. Booking online takes a couple of minutes and you can pick the slot that suits.
Which oil does my car need?
Whatever grade your manufacturer specifies. It’s listed in your handbook, and we’ll use the correct one for your car.
Can you change my pollen (cabin) filter?
Yes — it is included in a Full Service, and we can also do it on its own. The pollen filter keeps dust and allergens out of the air coming through your vents and stops it straining the air-con. Replacement intervals vary by car, so check your handbook or just ask us.
Will servicing here affect my manufacturer’s warranty?
No. Under UK Block Exemption rules you can use an independent garage without voiding a manufacturer’s warranty, as long as the car is serviced to the manufacturer’s schedule with the correct parts and fluids and you keep the record. One thing to know: if your car is still under manufacturer warranty, give us a call before you book, because our online Full Service doesn’t include warranty-specific parts by default and we’ll make sure the right ones are used. If you have a separate extended warranty, it’s worth checking its terms.
What if you find something extra needs doing?
We’ll always explain what’s needed. Anything beyond the service itself is separate work, priced on what it actually needs, so nothing lands on the invoice unexplained.
Can I add an MOT to my service?
Yes — add a Class 4 MOT to either service for just +£39.99, instead of £49.99 on its own.

All prices include VAT. MOTs are zero-rated, so there is no VAT on an MOT.