Quick Facts About Oil Changes at Dealerships
- In most cases, it doesn’t matter if you take your car to a dealership or local auto shop for an oil change.
- Quick-service oil change franchises are often more convenient than your dealership.
- Most dealership service centers have competitive rates and offer coupons and discounts — much like franchise shops.
If you’ve bought a new or used car and it’s time to change your oil, you’re probably wondering whether you must have a dealership perform the service. After all, a dealer might charge more for an oil change than an independent shop, and the dealership might be less convenient. So, do you have to visit a dealer to get an oil change? Here’s our take.
- Dealership Oil Changes
- Benefits of Dealership Oil Changes
- Drawbacks of a Dealership Oil Change
- Best Places to Get an Oil Change
- Our Advice on Dealership Oil Changes
Dealership Oil Changes
It is much more critical for your car’s longevity to have its oil changed regularly than where you take it for service. An oil change is essential vehicle maintenance that helps keep the engine lubricated and running smoothly. This basic service contributes to a long and healthy life for your car, whether you have it done at a dealership or local auto shop.
Generally, where you take your car for an oil change is a matter of preference. However, there are instances when you need to — or should — head to the dealer. Some luxury brands may require you to have the maintenance done at the dealership.
Do I Have to Get My Oil Changed at the Dealership?
In most cases, oil changes do not need to be done at the dealership, although there are benefits to doing the service there. Be sure to keep records of oil changes and other maintenance work no matter where the work is done.
Benefits of Dealership Oil Changes
Of course, there are also benefits to visiting a dealership for an oil change. The biggest bonus is that a dealership for your vehicle’s brand likely knows your car better than anyone. That means they’re less likely to make mistakes because they’re familiar with the car. For example, I once visited a quick oil change shop with a vehicle that had two oil drain plugs. The technician at the shop didn’t know about both drain plugs and only opened one — then pumped the recommended amount of new oil into the car. The result was a massive oil overfill — a mistake the dealership almost certainly wouldn’t have made.
Dealerships typically send service details to vehicle history report providers such as AutoCheck and Carfax. When it’s time to sell your car, having this information on the report will show potential buyers that you’ve taken steps to take care of the vehicle and help get the best price.
Some car owners feel compelled to visit a dealership because they’re worried that changing their oil elsewhere will void their warranty. This commonly held belief is not true. An automaker cannot void your warranty for going somewhere besides a dealership for service. Just be sure to keep your oil change receipts should you have to prove the oil was, in fact, changed.
Some dealers may offer free or discounted oil changes at their service center when you buy a new or Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) car from their lots.
MORE: Certified Pre-Owned vs. Off-Lease Cars: Where Is the Value?
Drawbacks of Dealership Oil Changes
There are two main reasons why drivers might try to avoid getting an oil change at a dealership service center. For some people, convenience is the main reason they avoid heading to the dealer for an oil change. While there are dozens of franchised “quick oil change” places and independent shops around most cities, the dealership might not be as easy to access. Plus, a dealer may not have an appointment readily available, while a quick oil change shop can often work on a car immediately.
Another common reason is cost: Many drivers believe dealerships will charge more for an oil change, even though it’s a relatively simple service that can be performed by just about any mechanic. Remember, a higher price is not always the case, and the technicians at the dealer’s service center might be more familiar with your vehicle’s make and model. Even so, many car owners avoid a dealership for such a straightforward maintenance task.
How Much Does an Oil Change Cost at a Dealership?
It isn’t always true that dealerships charge more for oil changes. Since an oil change is a simple job, most dealerships have fairly competitive rates compared to independent shops. And, like many drive-thru places do, dealerships often have coupons and discounts or might include tire rotation service at no charge.
I recently paid the dealership service center $89.99 to change the oil in my Chrysler Pacifica. For comparison, the price quote from the newly opened quick-service franchise a mile from my home was $119.99 for the same service. In my case, I saved $30 by going to the dealer.
MORE: What Happens if You Overfill Your Gas Tank?
Best Places to Get an Oil Change
Many drivers find the pros and cons of having a dealership oil change are close to even. So, the best place for an oil change is the one that works best for your situation, vehicle, wallet, and schedule. The job is an easy task for a pro, and the outcome is similar whether you have it done at a dealership, drive-thru preventive maintenance location, or an independent auto shop. However, you might experience different levels of customer service and perks at each place.
How Often Does Oil Need to Be Changed?
The old rule of thumb for conventional motor oil is to change your oil and filter every 3,000 miles. Today’s synthetic blends and fully synthetic varieties can last 5,000, 7,500, and up to 10,000 miles or more between oil changes. Always follow the maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual. While it’s common to use mileage to determine when an oil change is needed, drivers who travel only short distances should change their car’s oil every six months or annually because the lubricant loses its effectiveness over time.
Our Take on Getting an Oil Change at Dealerships
There are benefits and drawbacks to going to a dealer for an oil change. Generally speaking, though, it shouldn’t matter much where you get your oil changed if you do it on schedule. As long as you keep your receipts and perform oil changes at recommended intervals, you won’t void your warranty if you go to an independent shop. Shop around because the market is competitive, and you might save time and a little money. Meanwhile, if you prefer to visit a dealer, you might trade a little extra cost and inconvenience for the additional peace of mind that a trusted dealership — and a mechanic trained for your car — is working on your vehicle.
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Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since its initial publication.
One of our siblings worked at a dealer ship. Ask H what they do, “ they vacuumed the oil out through the dip stick”. my guess still old oil on the bottom of the pan.
Changing my own oil in twin diesel boat, 5 gal/ eng. I used a Vac as it was easier to handle than crawling under the engine. 2nd time I did it decided after the Vac to crawl under drop the plug. Got a little over a quart from each worth the trouble? vac was easier handling the 4+ gals.
Moral, I think u want the oil from a warm engine drained to the last drop.
FYI a oil sample sent by U to a reputable lab is not a bad idea? If u plan to own the war through a lot of miles.
In a boat/RV/ Etc. or such, a great sales point.
Didn’t you save $20 not $30?
Several years ago I went to my dealer for an oil change and they noticed a recall for my car when they put info in their computer. It was a minor thing but it was nice to have it taken care of at the same time.
“Dealership might be more familiar with your car” – yeah, familiar with how to charge extra for a basic service.
Hi Jina. Thanks for reading. It might be that a few deceptive dealerships created the overarching reputation of high maintenance and repair costs. I’m not suggesting that a dealer always presents the best bargain, but it’s a fact that I paid my dealership service center $30 less for an oil change service than the quote I received from the name-brand quick-service drive-thru chain near my home. The good news for most drivers is that they can shop around and find the best deal that fits their schedule and budget.
Dealerships often charge labor costs that they tack on AFTER. So they tell you oil change is $60 then you go to pick it up and they have added another half hour of labor. You complain about the price increase and they tell you that see here our original quote was correct we did not deceive you.
Thank you for reading, Jeffrey. Many dealerships offer coupons. I did not have a similar experience. The price was set, and the only additional charge I paid was tax. Additionally, some new vehicles come with several years of free oil changes. That’s a big savings. I’ll be on the lookout for any deslerships charging extra. Please feel free to report back here, or email me renee.valdes@coxautoinc.com if you see a dealership using this practice. I don’t mind calling them out.