The Short Answer
A logbook service is a service carried out exactly to your car manufacturer's schedule — the one printed in the service logbook that came with your car. Every make and model has its own schedule (usually every 10,000–15,000 km or 6–12 months), and each interval specifies exactly which parts must be inspected, adjusted or replaced. When the work is done, the mechanic stamps your logbook as proof the car has been maintained to spec.
That stamp matters for two reasons: it keeps your new-car warranty intact, and it protects your car's resale value — a fully stamped logbook is the first thing a serious buyer asks for.
Logbook Service vs "Basic Service" — What's the Difference?
A basic or "general" service is typically an oil and filter change plus a quick safety check. A logbook service follows the manufacturer's checklist for your car's exact age and mileage, which can include:
- Engine oil & oil filter — replaced at every interval, using the oil grade your manufacturer specifies.
- Air, fuel & cabin filters — replaced at scheduled intervals.
- Brake inspection — pads, rotors, lines and fluid condition.
- Fluid checks & top-ups — coolant, brake, transmission, power steering, washer fluid.
- Spark plugs, drive belts & timing components — replaced at the specific mileages your manufacturer nominates.
- Suspension, steering & tyre inspection — wear, alignment indicators and pressures.
- Battery test — charge state and terminal condition.
- Diagnostic scan — checking for stored fault codes you might not see on the dash.
The exact list depends on the interval — a 15,000 km service is lighter than a 60,000 km "major" service. That's also why prices differ between intervals.
"Will a Non-Dealer Service Void My Warranty?" — No. Here's the Law.
This is the biggest myth in car servicing. Under Australian Consumer Law, your new-car warranty stays valid as long as the service is performed by a qualified mechanic, following the manufacturer's schedule, using parts that meet manufacturer specifications (OEM or equivalent quality). The ACCC has confirmed this repeatedly — dealers cannot require you to service with them to keep your warranty.
Pro Tune performs logbook services to manufacturer spec with OEM-quality parts and stamps your logbook on completion — your warranty is safe, and you skip the dealership price tag and the day-long wait.
Why Do a Logbook Service With a Mobile Mechanic?
Because the service comes to you. Most logbook intervals take 1–2 hours of actual work, but a workshop booking usually costs you the whole day — drop-off in the morning, pick-up after work, and organising lifts in between. A mobile logbook service happens in your driveway in Freshwater, your office car park in Chatswood, or outside your apartment in Neutral Bay while you get on with your day.
It's also easier to keep the schedule. The number one reason cars miss services is inconvenience — and a missed interval is exactly what a dealer will point at if a warranty claim ever gets contested.
What Does a Logbook Service Cost?
It varies by make, model and interval — a small hatchback's minor service is very different from a European SUV's major service. What should always be true (and is, with Pro Tune): you get an itemised quote before any work starts, you approve it, and there are no call-out fees anywhere in our Northern Beaches & North Shore service area. If we spot something outside the scheduled list, we photograph it, explain it, and quote it separately — nothing is replaced without your say-so.
How Often Should You Book One?
Follow your logbook — typically every 10,000–15,000 km or every 6–12 months, whichever comes first. That second part catches people out: even a car that barely leaves the garage in Mosman still needs its time-based service, because oil degrades and seals dry out with age, not just mileage.
