What to Do When You Exceed the Mileage of Your Car's Maintenance Schedule

Servicing your car doesn't stop at the last page of the owner's manual.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Dec 12, 2024 | 3 min read

Aaron Miller | Capital One

Depending on the manufacturer, the cap on scheduled service could be anywhere from 60,000 to 150,000 miles. Decades ago, cresting 100,000 miles generally meant it was time to start vehicle shopping, but today, it's reasonable to expect a longer lifespan.

Here's how to keep your vehicle on the road once the factory car-service schedule is in the rearview mirror.

Consistency and Repetition Are Key

Certain maintenance intervals repeat indefinitely regardless of how many miles your vehicle has been driven. These include fluid changes (such as engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid), tire rotations, wiper-blade replacements, and brake services.

Ongoing servicing and maintenance isn't the same as repeating your car's original maintenance schedule from its first mile. Instead, you simply keep respecting the service-interval mileage recommended by the manufacturer.

Expect That Major Services Are on the Horizon

As a car's odometer passes the 100,000-mile mark, major services, such as replacing the timing belt, might be on the menu.

When having major services performed, it's a good idea to ask whether there's any preventive "while you're in there" maintenance that can be done at the same time.

For example, it's not uncommon for technicians — and home mechanics — to recommend swapping out the water pump when the timing belt is changed. It's significantly easier to swap out the water pump when the engine is already apart. Because labor can comprise a large percentage of a repair bill, this could prevent you from paying for similar work twice.

Maintaining a higher-mileage vehicle generally means more vigilance across the board. Above the 100,000-mile mark, components of the brake, exhaust, and suspension systems can begin to show their age. Electrical bits, such as the alternator and spark plugs also have finite life spans.

If you're handy, you can inspect these parts yourself. Otherwise, scheduling a regular checkup with your mechanic is a good idea.

As with the fluid changes discussed above, further inspections should be repeated at the next 100,000-mile mark. If you'd like to be more proactive, dropping that interval to 50,000 miles will likely provide some peace of mind.

When It Comes to Fluids, Lifetime Doesn't Mean Forever

Your vehicle's manufacturer might advertise that your automatic transmission fluid is a "lifetime" fill that doesn't require servicing. This designation can be misleading.

Many automakers don't build their transmissions in-house, and contract with specialized suppliers to provide units for their vehicles.

For example, Germany's ZF Friedrichshafen AG is a major player in the transmission sector, and its ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic is used on older versions of the BMW M5. The service intervals for those models stop at 60,000 miles or six years, and don't dictate when the transmission fluid should be changed. However, ZF recommends a fluid change at about 93,000 miles.

This is why a mechanic's inspection is key to determining whether the fluid needs to be changed.

Some Service Intervals Are Time-Based

Not all vehicle components wear out based on the number of miles driven. Some parts, such as the 12-volt battery, generally have a lifespan measured in years, with more extreme temperatures shortening the typical three- to five-year replacement window.

Benjamin Hunting

Nearly two decades into his career as an automotive journalist, Benjamin has had his hands greasy, his hair blown back, and his heart broken by more than one project car. In addition to his work at Capital One, he has contributed features and reviews to Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Hagerty, Driving Line, Inside Hook, Super Street, European Car, Roadkill Magazine, Motor 1, The Drive, the Toronto Star, the National Post, Business Insider, NAPA, Autoblog, Automotive News Canada, and AutoGuide. He is also cohost of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast and cocreator of the Code 45 and Dead Air graphic novels. In his spare time, he's a friend to vinyl and enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days.