Servicing an electric car: what maintenance is still needed?
An electric car has fewer parts that wear out than a car with a petrol or diesel engine. Even so, it is not maintenance-free. In this guide you can read which maintenance falls away, which maintenance remains and what our mechanics look out for, with Dutch terms explained along the way.
By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 4 November 2026
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The short answer
An electric car has no engine oil, oil filter, spark plugs, timing belt, clutch or exhaust, so those service items fall away. The brakes, brake fluid, tyres, cabin filter, air con, cooling system and 12V battery do still need maintenance. According to the ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation, an electric car usually goes to the garage every 20,000 to 30,000 kilometres or once a year, depending on the make and model. The service schedule for your car gives the correct intervals.
Which maintenance does an electric car no longer need?
An electric car no longer needs any of the maintenance linked to the combustion engine. There is no engine oil to change, no oil filter, no spark plugs and no timing belt or timing chain. There is also no clutch, no exhaust and no fuel filter.
An electric motor has far fewer moving parts than a combustion engine. That means there is less that can wear out. For this reason the ANWB often describes servicing an electric car as cheaper, but it also warns that the car is not maintenance-free.
| Part | Petrol or diesel car | Electric car |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil and oil filter | Yes, according to the service schedule | No |
| Spark plugs (petrol) | Yes, according to the service schedule | No |
| Timing belt or timing chain | Yes, on many engines | No |
| Clutch and exhaust | Yes, when worn | No |
| Brakes and brake fluid | Yes | Yes |
| Tyres | Yes | Yes, they often wear faster |
| Cabin filter | Yes | Yes |
| Air con | Yes | Yes, it often cools the battery too |
| 12V battery | Yes | Yes |
General overview. The intervals for your car are in the manufacturer’s service schedule.
Which maintenance does an electric car still need?
Everything to do with driving, braking, steering and visibility still needs maintenance. These are the same parts as on any other car. During a car service, the mechanic checks these points according to the manufacturer’s schedule.
The ANWB points out that the air con in an electric car often works harder, because it also cools the battery pack. A well-functioning air con system therefore counts for extra in an electric car. You can read more about this on our page about air con for electric and hybrid cars.
Why can the brakes on an electric car rust?
The brakes on an electric car get little use, so rust on the brake discs is worn off less quickly by braking. This is due to regenerative braking. With regenerative braking, the electric motor works as a generator: it slows the car down and recharges the battery at the same time. The disc brakes are used much less as a result.
According to the ANWB, this means the brakes wear more slowly, but they can suffer from rust. Brake calipers and guide pins can also seize if they move very little. Tesla, for example, advises having the brake calipers cleaned and lubricated every 12 months or every 20,000 km in areas where salt is spread on the roads. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for your own car.
What does the mechanic look for? He looks for rust edges and grooves on the brake discs, the thickness of the brake pads and whether the brake calipers move freely. He checks whether the car stays in a straight line when braking and whether a wheel stays warm after braking. A warm wheel points to a brake caliper that is sticking. If you notice anything yourself, such as scraping, squealing or a car that pulls to one side when braking, mention it when you book.
Do the tyres on an electric car wear faster?
Yes, the tyres on an electric car often wear faster. The ANWB gives the high weight, the high power output and the typical electric driving style as reasons: an electric car accelerates hard straight away.
The ANWB advises swapping the front and rear tyres every 10,000 km so that they wear evenly. Tesla advises rotating the tyres every 10,000 km, or sooner if the difference in tread depth between two tyres is 1.5 mm or more. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm.
Check the tyre pressure regularly as well. A pressure that is too low costs range and makes the tyre wear faster. If you would like new tyres or your seasonal tyre change, we can also do that on Saturdays.
How often does an electric car need to go to the garage?
According to the ANWB, an electric car usually goes to the garage every 20,000 to 30,000 kilometres or once a year. The correct interval differs by make and model and is in the service book or in the car’s menu. How to read it is explained in your car’s service schedule explained.
To show what such a schedule looks like, the table below lists the intervals Tesla gives for the Model 3 and Model Y. Other makes use different intervals.
| Item | Interval according to Tesla (Model 3 and Model Y) |
|---|---|
| Test brake fluid | Every 4 years, and replace if needed |
| Replace cabin filter | Every 2 years |
| HEPA and carbon filter (if fitted) | Every 3 years |
| Rotate tyres | Every 10,000 km or at a 1.5 mm difference in tread depth |
| Clean and lubricate brake calipers (where roads are salted) | Every 12 months or every 20,000 km (according to Tesla not needed on a Model Y built after February 2025) |
Source: Tesla, car maintenance. The maintenance overview on the car’s screen may show more up-to-date intervals.
Besides servicing, the car also has to pass the APK. According to the ANWB, an electric passenger car has its first APK after four years, then every two years, and every year once it is eight years old. You can read what the inspector looks at on an electric car in the APK for an electric or hybrid car.
What can you do yourself for the batteries in your electric car?
An electric car has two types of battery: the large high-voltage battery that drives the car and a small 12V battery. The 12V battery powers the on-board computer, the lights and the locks, and switches on the high-voltage system. If the 12V battery is weak, the car will not start, even when the large battery is full.
Can you have your electric car serviced at an independent garage?
Yes, you can also take your electric car to an independent garage for servicing. What matters is that the servicing follows the manufacturer’s schedule, with the specified parts and fluids, and that it is recorded. You can read how this works with the manufacturer’s warranty in keeping your manufacturer’s warranty when you service outside the dealer. Read your manufacturer’s terms and conditions as well, because they differ by make.
At Autobedrijf Willemsbrug in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems) for hybrid and electric cars. We service electric cars of all makes. You receive a quote in advance and we only carry out repairs once you have agreed. The APK for an electric car costs € 50 with us. With a major service the APK is free, except for Tesla and Polestar.