Sometimes servicing your car can seem like an expensive chore. If you’re facing everyday bills and costs, changing the filters on your car’s A/C won’t be a priority. But regularly car servicing is key to maximising the lifespan and efficiency of a vehicle.
As a general rule of thumb, professional car servicing is recommended every six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. But if you’ve an older model, it could need more regular servicing.
However, if you’re paying for regular services, you need to know you’re getting value for money and that the advice you receive is trustworthy. That’s why at Canstar Blue, each year we canvass how consumers feel about their car service providers and award the best our Most Satisfied Customers | Car Servicing Award.
Oil Changers: New Zealand’s favourite car servicing provider
This year, to find out which provider is the nation’s favourite, we surveyed 750 people who had serviced their cars with a car serving chain over the past two years. We asked them to evaluate the servicethey received across the following categories:
- Overall Satisfaction
- Customer Service
- Value for Money
- Effectiveness of Repairs
- Time Taken
- Cost of Parts Required
And according to Kiwis, Oil Changers is the way to go, as this year’s Most Satisfied Customers | Car Servicing Award winner.
Oil Changers is not only our award winner, but also the only car servicing company in this year’s ratings to earn a 5 Star rating for Overall Satisfaction. In fact, it is the only provider to earn any 5-Star ratings at all!
Founded in Christchurch in 2001, the Kiwi company scores a hugely impressive 5 Stars across every category measured. Even more impressive is that Oil Changers has been a consistent force in our ratings, taking out the award eight times over the past decade.
New Zealand’s favourite car servicing providers
Here are New Zealand’s favourite car servicing providers, based on our survey results:
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Oil Changers
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AA Auto Service & Repair
-
Midas
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Pit Stop
-
VTNZ
While Oil Changers is our award winner, AA Auto Service & Repair and Midas both earn 4 Stars for Overall Satisfaction. Pit Stop and VTNZ both earn 3 Stars for Overall Satisfaction.
Compare Car Insurance With Canstar
Looking for great value car insurance? The grid below shows some of the 5-Star winners in the +50-year-old driver profile from our 2021 car insurance awards and ratings.
NZ +50-year-old Driver
Star Rating |
Company |
Product |
Further Information |
 |
 |
Comprehensive |  |
|
 |
Everyday Plus |  |
|
 |
Comprehensive | |
See here for our ratings methodology. The table above is an abridged version of our research. For the full results of our 2021 Car Insurance Ratings and Awards, click here.
Top providers: Car Servicing
Below is an overview of all the car servicing providers in our award rankings.
Oil Changers: Most Satisfied Customers | Car Servicing Award winner
Oil Changers was established in 2001 and has 14 centres around the country. At Oil Changers, a regular service takes just nine minutes, with no booking required.
As well as changing your oil and other fluids, Oil Changers performs warranty servicing and standard servicing. Plus they take the time to clean your windows, check your tyre pressure and lubricate your door hinges, at no extra cost. It’s the little things that really count.
It’s no wonder Oil Changers has been such a hit with its customers, year after year. And thanks to a clean sweep of 5-Star results, Oil Changers is once again, Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers | Car Servicing Award winner.
| Service Package | Details | Price* |
| Oil and Filter Service Package | Helping to prolong engine life, with fresh oil cooling, sealing, lubricating and cleaning the engine properly, helping quieten noisy engines, with regular filter changes keeping contaminants out. | $94.95 |
| Engine Flush | Delivering better performance and fuel economy, reduced emissions and longer engine life. | $39.95 |
| Automatic Transmission | Removes 99.9 per cent of the fluid in the transmission system, including the torque converter and transmission cooler, extends transmission life by providing resistance to oxidation, sludge formation and varnish, reduces risk of premature transmission failure, promotes smooth shifting, and reduces wear and scouring of clutch plates. | $169.95 |
| Manual Transmission | Extends transmission life by providing resistance to oxidation and sludge formation, reduces risk of premature transmission failure, promotes smooth shifting and reduces wear. | $49.95 |
| Coolant Service | Helps prolong engine life, prevents corrosion of cooling system, provides lubrication of water pump seals, and prevents freezing and overheating. | $99.95 |
AA Auto Service & Repair
The AA has grown from a pioneering automobile club to an organisation that offers motoring advice, insurance, finance, maps and travel guides. Like its motor association, AA’s branch of car servicing, AA Auto Service & Repair, is a popular choice for consumers. In our survey, it earns 4 Stars across all categories.
| Service Package | Details | Price* |
| AA Bronze Service | A six-month, 20-point service designed for high-mileage users, or where the manufacturer recommends more frequent checks. Includes an engine oil change, oil filter replacement and fundamental item checks.
Approx time: 1h 15m |
Standard Oil – AA member: $179; non-member: $189
Advanced Oil – AA member: $259; non-member: $269 |
| AA Silver Service | A 30-point annual service, including an engine oil and oil filter change and a road test. Drive belts, fuel filter and spark plug condition also checked.
Approx time: 1h 45m |
Standard Oil – AA member: $199; non-member: $219
Advanced Oil – AA member: $279; non-member: $299 |
| AA Gold Service | A 40-point annual service, covering the same components as the Silver Service, plus extra checks on engine management system, air filter, seatbelts, electrics, headlights, and more.
Approx time: 2h 15m |
Standard Oil – AA member: $259; non-member: $289
Advanced Oil – AA member: $339; non-member: $369 |
Midas
Midas has been servicing Kiwi cars since 1988, and operates a network of locally owned and operated locations across the country. Its range of service packages is designed to focus on key vehicle maintenance areas. In this year’s survey, Midas earn excellent marks, with 4 Stars in every category.
| Service Package | Details | Price* |
| Basic Service | Check and set tyre pressures, check and top-up under-bonnet fluids, lubricate doors and chassis (where applicable), replace engine oil filter up to $20, replace engine oil up to 4.5 L standard oil and reset service/maintenance light (subject to tooling/data availability). | $199.95 |
| Smart Service | Check and set tyre pressures, check and top-up under-bonnet fluids, lubricate doors and chassis (where applicable), replace engine oil filter up to $20, replace engine oil up to 4.5 L standard oil and reset service/maintenance light (subject to tooling/data availability), along with a Midas Peace of Mind Inspection, a 33-point visual inspection, checking fluids, under bonnet, under vehicle, brakes and tyres. | $249.95 |
| Premium Service | Check and set tyre pressures, check and top-up under-bonnet fluids, lubricate doors and chassis (where applicable), oil flush or fuel additive, perform engine management system scan (subject to tooling/data availability), replace engine oil filter up to $20, replace engine oil up to 4.5 L standard oil, reset service/maintenance light (subject to tooling/data availability) and rotate tyres, along with a Midas Peace of Mind Inspection. | $349.95 |
| Diesel Service | Check and set tyre pressures, check and top-up under-bonnet fluids, check diesel fuel filter and drain water from fuel separator (when equipped), lubricate doors and chassis (where applicable), replace engine oil filter up to $30, replace engine oil up to 4.5 L standard oil and reset service/maintenance light (subject to tooling/data availability), along with a Midas Peace of Mind Inspection. | $329.95 |
| Euro Service | Check and set tyre pressures, check and top-up under-bonnet fluids, lubricate doors and chassis (where applicable), perform engine management system scan (subject to tooling/data availability), replace engine oil filter up to $30, replace engine oil up to 4.5 L synthetic oil, reset service/maintenance light (subject to tooling/data availability) and rotate tyres, along with a Midas Peace of Mind Inspection. | $359.95 |
| Log Book Service | Check and set tyre pressures, check and top-up under-bonnet fluids, checks and inspections of vehicle as per the vehicle logbook, lubricate doors and chassis (where applicable), perform engine management system scan (subject to tooling/data availability), replace engine oil filter up to $30, replace engine oil up to 4.5 L synthetic oil (using oil specified by vehicle manufacturer), reset service/maintenance light (subject to tooling/data availability) and rotate tyres, along with a Midas Peace of Mind Inspection. | $329.95 |
Pit Stop
Pit Stop is one of New Zealand’s largest chains of automotive service stores. It specialises in general vehicle repairs, brakes, suspension and vehicle servicing. Starting out as a single store in 1978, Pit Stop now has over 45 locations nationwide. Pit Stop customers are clearly happy with their car services, awarding the provider 4 Stars for both Value for Money and Cost of Parts Required. Pit Stop earns 3 Stars in all other categories.
| Service Package | Details | Price* |
| Express | An oil and filter change and a 15-point check, with a top-up of washer fluids and coolant. | $159 |
| Extensive | An oil and filter change, computer and systems health check, 25-point check and essential fluid top-ups, with top-up of washer, coolant, brakes, power steering and clutch fluids, lubrication of door hinges, tyre treatment, and road test and report. | $199 |
| Elite | An oil and filter change, computer and systems health check, 30-point check, essential fluid top-ups, brake fluid change, brake component clean and component adjustments, with top-up of washer, coolant, brakes, power steering and clutch fluids, replace brake fluid (flush), clean (dedust) brake components, brake adjustment (as necessary), lubrication of door hinges, rotate tyres (if required), tyre treatment, vacuum footwells, and road test and report. | $299 |
| Eurocar | An oil and filter change, computer and systems health check, 25-point check, essential fluid top-ups, with top-up of washer, coolant, brakes, power steering and clutch fluids, lubrication of door hinges, tyre treatment, and road test and report. | $239 |
| 4x4s, utes & vans | An oil and filter change, computer and systems health check, 25-point check, essential fluid top-ups, with top-up of washer, coolant, brakes, power steering and clutch fluids, lubrication of door hinges, tyre treatment, and road test and report. | $269 |
| Hybrid | An oil and filter change, computer and systems health check, 25-point check, essential fluid top-ups, with top-up of washer, coolant, brakes, power steering and clutch fluids, lubrication of door hinges, tyre treatment, and road test and report. | $295 |
| EVs | A 22-point check, computer and systems health check, essential fluid top-ups, with top-up of washer, coolant and brakes fluids, lubrication of door hinges, tyre treatment, and road test and report. | $189 |
VTNZ
VNTZ is one of the most recognisable names in car servicing, and has a wide network of locations across the nation. Originally a state-owned company, VTNZ is now under parent company DEKRA, an international force in testing and auditing services. In our survey, VTNZ earn 3 Stars in all categories measured.
| Service Package | Details | Price* |
| Basic Service | Looks at 14 major features that aren’t part of a WoF, across the engine, drive belts, radiator, oil, engine coolant and clutch fluids, battery, tyres, emergency kit, wiper blades and windscreen. | $49 |
| Safety Assessment | Checks the key safety elements of a usual WoF assessment, including windscreen washers and wipers, engine oil level and condition, lights, steering, tyre condition, brake operation, steering and suspension, glazing, the interior vehicle condition, airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, speedometer, safety belts, structural condition, exhaust, the exterior vehicle condition and fuel system. | $57 |
*Basic prices correct as of December 6, 2021. Further information on pricing can be found at service centre websites. This should be used as a starter guide and not considered an actual quote.
Learn more about our car servicing awards here
About the author of this page
This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Andrew Broadley. Andrew is an experienced writer with a wide range of industry experience. Starting out, he cut his teeth working as a writer for print and online magazines, and he has worked in both journalism and editorial roles. His content has covered lifestyle and culture, marketing and, more recently, finance for Canstar.
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