Car maintenance plan: which intervals are really needed?

13.10.2026

The most important thing first: the binding intervals for your car are in the manufacturer’s service manual or shown by the service indicator on the dashboard. General figures from the internet do not replace them. This guide explains how the intervals work, which TCS and ADAC guideline values apply – and what you need to know in Switzerland about warranties and the free choice of garage.

⏱️ Time or mileage: whichever comes first

A service becomes due either after a certain mileage or after a certain time, whichever comes first.

⚠️ Why time matters: wear also occurs when the car stands still – for example through the ageing of seals, fluids and rubber parts (ADAC).

Fixed versus flexible intervals

💡 Tip: if the service indicator comes on, book an appointment soon. And even after the warranty has expired, the TCS says the car should go to the garage regularly according to the manufacturer’s specifications (TCS).

📊 Guideline values for individual jobs

Here are the recommended intervals for typical maintenance work – always prioritise the manufacturer’s specifications!

🛢️ Fluids

⚠️ Brake fluid warning: at a water content of 3.5 % the fluid is at the end of its life (TCS interview on Blick).

⚙️ Mechanical parts

🎯 Filters

🚗 Tyres

💡 Tip: check the pressure monthly – on cold tyres!

⚡ Battery and wipers

🚗 Tyre checklist (before every change of season)

• Check the tread: minimum 1.6 mm (legal), better ≥ 3 mm (summer) / ≥ 4 mm (winter)
• Check the age: replace tyres older than 8 years
• Check for damage: cracks, bulges, embedded foreign objects
• Check the pressure: cold (at least 3 hours without driving)
• Uneven wear? → you need a wheel alignment
• Winter tyres: from October to Easter (no legal obligation, but the insurer may reduce a payout after an accident)

🔧 Can I use an independent garage without losing the warranty?

✅ Yes! Since 1 January 2024 the Swiss Federal Council’s ordinance on motor vehicles has applied in Switzerland (UPSA/AGVS).

📜 Important rules

⚠️ Careful with warranty claims

Even with the free choice of garage, these conditions apply:

💡 TCS recommendation: have the car serviced at the brand dealership in the early years, especially if you want extra services such as the mobility warranty (TCS).

💰 Service costs in Switzerland

What a service costs depends on the vehicle, the garage and the scope of work. Together with the importers, the TCS tracks the service costs of the 34 best-selling models over 9.1 years and 135,500 km and publishes average figures per year at 15,000 km:

📊 Service costs by price class

These figures include every job the manufacturer prescribes or recommends, including the emissions service, brake and coolant fluid changes, the fuel filter and the timing belt. Labour and parts each make up about half; the TCS calculates with an hourly rate of CHF 145 (Federal Statistical Office). If you drive more than 15,000 km a year you need more than one service a year; below that, the annual service is enough.

On top of that comes the MFK inspection at about CHF 60: first after 5–6 years, then after 3 years and then every 2 years (ch.ch).

📌 Important: the MFK only checks minimum safety, while a service with an inspection preserves the vehicle’s value and looks for defects proactively.

📈 Repairs: hard to plan

Service costs are easy to predict thanks to fixed intervals; repairs are not, because they depend on how the car is used and how reliable it is. In the TCS cost-per-kilometre calculation, service and repairs together make up 8.3% of the total annual cost; for the reference car (list price CHF 39,000, 15,000 km, CHF 11,260 total cost per year) that is just over CHF 900 (TCS brochure “Betriebskosten”). A complete service book shows which wear parts have already been replaced and helps you plan repairs.

💡 Tip: systematic inspection is a financial strategy – it prevents expensive consequential damage through early detection.

🏔️ Swiss peculiarities: the influence of topography

With its mountainous landscape, Switzerland is not a typical operating environment for vehicles. Anyone who drives regularly in the mountains, a lot in stop-and-go city traffic or covers high mileages subjects their vehicle to above-average strain.

🔄 Adjusting the intervals

⚠️ Important: manufacturers’ standard service plans are designed for average use. With Switzerland’s topography and the specific strains, shorter intervals are often necessary.

🔧 Manufacturer-specific intervals

Some manufacturers have their own maintenance philosophy:

✅ Service checklist: what to check after every service

• Service book / service plan updated (stamp or digital entries)
• Invoice received and kept (with date, mileage, work done)
• Next service date noted (in the calendar or in the app)
• Dashboard warning lights checked (e.g. oil level, brakes)
• Tyre pressure checked
• Fluid levels checked (engine oil, brake fluid, coolant, screenwash)

📚 When is a service particularly worthwhile?

🔗 More information

• TCS: maintenance and care
• ADAC: maintenance intervals
• UPSA/AGVS: Swiss ordinance on motor vehicles

More in the guide Understanding your garage invoice.