Your car’s service schedule: how to read it
Every car has a service schedule set by the manufacturer. It tells you when the car needs a service and which parts are due at that point. Here you can read how to understand the schedule, the kilometres and years and the service reminder on your dashboard, with the Dutch terms you may come across in a Dutch garage or service book.
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
Your car’s service schedule is in the owner’s manual, the service book or the car’s own menu, and it gives a mileage and a period in years for each service. Whichever comes first decides when the service is due. With a fixed interval, this is generally around 15,000 km or one year, according to the ANWB. With a flexible interval, the car works out the moment itself and shows it on the dashboard. Parts such as the timing belt, spark plugs and brake fluid often have their own interval.
Where do you find your car’s service schedule?
You will find the service schedule (in Dutch: onderhoudsschema) in the owner’s manual, in the service book or in the car’s own menu. The schedule comes from the manufacturer and belongs to your make, model and engine. Two cars of the same make can therefore have a different schedule.
Have you lost the book or did you buy the car second-hand, perhaps after moving to the Netherlands? A garage can use your registration number (in Dutch: kenteken) and mileage to check which service is due according to the schedule.
Kilometres or years: which counts first?
Whichever comes first counts. If a service says “15,000 km or 1 year”, the service is due after 15,000 km, or after one year if you drive less. So if you do not drive much, time is the limit.
There is a reason for this. Engine oil, brake fluid and coolant also age while the car is standing still. Rubber hoses and belts harden over the years. A car that is not driven much therefore still needs servicing on time. If your car has been off the road for months, read what to check after a car has been standing.
| What the schedule says | What it means |
|---|---|
| 15,000 km or 1 year | Service due at 15,000 km, or after one year if you do not reach that mileage |
| 30,000 km or 2 years | Often the more extensive service, also called the major service in the workshop (in Dutch: grote beurt) |
| Every 2 years (no km) | Time-based maintenance, regardless of how much you drive |
| A symbol such as ● or ★ in a table | A key in the book tells you which type of maintenance belongs to that column |
Examples. The intervals for your own car are in the manufacturer’s schedule.
According to the ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation, a minor service (in Dutch: kleine beurt) is generally due after about 15,000 km or one year and a major service after about 30,000 km or two years. What happens during a major service is explained in major service: what it includes and what it costs (in Dutch).
Fixed or flexible interval: what is the difference?
With a fixed interval, the service is due after a set number of kilometres or years. With a flexible interval, the car itself works out when the service is needed, based on how you drive and how the parts wear.
| Fixed interval | Flexible interval | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | A set period in km and years | The car calculates the moment based on use |
| Example | According to the ANWB, often around 15,000 km or one year | The moment differs by car and by driving style |
| Often suits | Lots of short trips, towing, city traffic | Lots of long trips, a calm driving style |
| What you see | A date or mileage in the book | A dashboard message with the days or km remaining |
General explanation. What your make calls it and which limits apply are in the owner’s manual.
BMW, for example, uses Condition Based Service (CBS). According to BMW, this means the car knows automatically when it is due for an inspection, for example, and indicates this itself. Other makes use their own names.
What does the service reminder on your dashboard mean?
The service reminder tells you how many days or kilometres are left until the next service. According to Volkswagen, on newer models the on-board computer shows a message when a service is due. You will usually see a spanner symbol or a text such as “Service in 30 days”. On many cars, a minus sign or a text saying the service is overdue means that the due date has already passed.
- Read the message: is it about days or kilometres, and which item does it concern?
- Check the menu for other messages, such as brake fluid or a filter.
- Book the service before the counter reaches zero. If it is already at zero, do not wait long to make an appointment.
- After the service, the garage sets the counter back. This is called a reset. We do this where our equipment supports it.
A service reminder is not the same as a warning light. The reminder tells you that a service is due. A red or orange light, such as the oil warning light or the engine warning light, points to a fault. In that case it is wise to have the car checked soon.
Which parts have their own interval?
Some parts have their own interval, separate from the yearly service. The ANWB divides maintenance into three types: a yearly inspection, replacing wear parts such as brake pads, and replacement based on time or kilometres, such as the timing belt.
| Part | How the interval usually works | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Timing belt | After a set number of km or years, according to the manufacturer | timing belt replacement |
| Brake fluid | Time-based, because brake fluid absorbs moisture | replacing brake fluid (in Dutch) |
| Spark plugs (petrol) | After a number of km or years, different for each engine | Owner’s manual |
| Coolant | According to the schedule, often after several years | Owner’s manual |
| Cabin filter and air filter | Often at a service, sooner with a lot of dust or city traffic | Owner’s manual |
| Brake pads and tyres | When worn, no set interval | Checked at every service |
Classification according to the ANWB. The intervals for your car are in the manufacturer’s schedule.
In our workshop we check the schedule at every service to see which of these parts are due. We include them in the quote in advance, so you know what will be done.
When does your car need servicing sooner?
Your car needs servicing sooner if you use it harder than average. Many manufacturers call this severe conditions or heavy use and give a shorter interval for it.
Does this sound like the way you use your car? Then check the owner’s manual for a separate schedule for heavy use. You can read more about servicing in general and the types of service on our car service page.
How do you keep a good record of your servicing?
Keep every invoice and have every service recorded in the service book or the digital service record. That way you can show that the car has been serviced according to the schedule. This matters for the manufacturer’s warranty and when you sell the car.
According to the ANWB, a garage has to service the car in line with the manufacturer’s specifications, and it is sensible to keep the invoice and ask what was done. How the warranty works if you do not go to the dealer is explained in keeping your manufacturer’s warranty when you service outside the dealer.
The service schedule is separate from the APK, the compulsory Dutch vehicle inspection.
Do you drive an electric car? Then the schedule looks different, because there is no oil change. Read more in our guide to servicing an electric car. Not sure which service is due? Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number and mileage. We will check it for you.