Car Servicing

Compare car servicing centres in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. Oil Changers, Advantage Tyre Solutions, AA Auto Service, Pit Stop and Midas were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Value for Money, Effectiveness, Time Taken, Customer Service and Cost of Parts.

See our Ratings Methodology.

Most Satisfied Customers | Oil Changers

Kiwis have voted Oil Changes No.1 for customer satisfaction.

How we rate car servicing

Our review compares used car servicing on customer satisfaction, so you can discover what other Kiwis think about our compared car servicing before you go ahead and book in your car for a service. Think of it like asking hundreds of your closest mates which car service chain they think is best!


Canstar Blue surveyed 340 Kiwis who had had their car serviced in the past two years and asked for their feedback on the car servicing chain they used.

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.

Respondents rate their satisfaction with their car service chain from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:

  • Overall Satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with a car servicing chain as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Value for Money: the cost is low for the quality of the service.
  • Effectiveness of Repairs: repairs are effective and do not require further fixing.
  • Time Taken: the service is completed quickly, without sacrificing quality.
  • Customer Service: the car servicer offers informed advice and provides clear communication at every step of the service process.
  • Cost of Parts: the price of any required parts is affordable and fair.

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall Satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall Satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

  • Overall Satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall Satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

Car servicing chains must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all chains available in the market have been compared in this survey. The car servicing chains rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

  • Oil Changers
  • Advantage Tyre Solutions
  • AA Auto Service & Reapir
  • Pit Stop
  • Midas


Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.

Oil Changers

Ratings Results

Coming out on top once again, Oil Changers earns a perfect sweep of 5-Stars across the board, taking out Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers | Car Servicing 2024 award. Oil Changers is also the only chain to earn multiple 5-star ratings in this year’s results.

Editor’s Notes

Founded in Christchurch in 2001, the Kiwi company has 14 locations across the country, and provides a variety of different services (in addition to the services outlined below) catering to different vehicle requirements. Oil Changers services include:

Service Package Details Price*
Air Filtration Helps maintain proper air to fuel mixture and optimises fuel economy. $26.95
Oil and Filter Service Package Helping to prolong engine life, with fresh oil cooling, sealing, lubricating and cleaning the engine properly, helping quieten noisy engines, with regular filter changes keeping contaminants out. $109.95
Engine Flush Delivering better performance and fuel economy, reduced emissions and longer engine life. $39.95
CVT Transmission Removes old, worn out fluid from the transmission system and promotes smooth shifting. $149.95
Automatic Transmission Removes 99.9 per cent of the fluid in the transmission system, including the torque converter and transmission cooler, extends transmission life by providing resistance to oxidation, sludge formation and varnish, reduces risk of premature transmission failure, promotes smooth shifting, and reduces wear and scouring of clutch plates. $179.95
Manual Transmission Extends transmission life by providing resistance to oxidation and sludge formation, reduces risk of premature transmission failure, promotes smooth shifting and reduces wear. $64.95
Differential Protects ring and pinion gears from premature wear, rust and corrosion. $64.95
Coolant Service Prevents corrosion of cooling system and provides lubrication of water pump seals. $99.95

Oil Changers also offers free checks and top-ups in-between regular service intervals.


Advantage Tyre Solutions

Ratings Results

Advantage Tyre Solutions comes in second this year, earning an impressive 4-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction. The chain performs exceptionally well for Customer Service, where is earns a 5-Star rating. Advantage Tyre Solutions is the only brand, excluding our winner, to earn a 5-Star rating in any category.

Editor’s Notes

The Advantage Tyre Solutions brand represents the coming together of two of NZ’s largest tyre retailers: Beaurepaires and Advantage the Tyre Professionals. The chain offers a wide range of servicing options, including:

  • 8-Point Safety Check (Free)
  • 20-Point Vehicle Health Check ($67)
  • Pre-WOF Check (Free)
  • Oil Change ($139)
  • Shell Helix Ultra Service Package ($220)
  • Shell Helix Ultra Service + Wheel Alignment ($269)
  • 4WD/SUV Tyre Maintenance Package ($217)
  • Car Tyre Maintenance Package ($199)

AA Auto Service & Repair

Ratings Results

Earning 4-Star ratings across the board, AA Auto Service & Repair performs well in every category, proving the chain’s customers are thoroughly satisfied with its services.

Editor’s Notes

AA offers three levels of service for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Bronze Service: ($AA member price: $239 | Non-member price: $259)

  • Replace engine oil and filter
  • Check and top-up fluids
  • Visual check of cooling system and air filter
  • Test 12V battery condition and alternator charging rate
  • Check drive belts (if applicable)
  • Inspect tyre tread and condition + polish
  • Clean windscreen
  • Test horn, headlights, indicators and brakes
  • Overall visual inspection
  • Road test up to 50km/h

Silver (AA Bronze Service +) (AA member price: $269 | Non-member price: $299)

  • Visual spark plug check
  • Visual engine mount/transmission check
  • Seatbelt check
  • Vacuum cabin or exterior wash
  • Deodorise cabin and dust dashboard
  • Check wheel bearings

Gold (AA Silver and Bronze +) (AA member price: $329 | Non-member price: $369)

  • Brake pad, shoe, disc and drum inspection
  • Check and adjust park brake
  • Rotate tyres
  • Air con check
  • Check cabin and pollen filter
  • Visual turbocharger oil feedpipe inspection
  • Bonnet latch and catch inspection
  • Engine management system scan

Pit Stop

Ratings Results

Despite earning a 3-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction, Pit Stop scores highly for its Time Taken and Customer Service. With steady 3-Star ratings across the remaining three categories, Pit Stop’s customers are clearly satisfied with the overall service they are receiving.

Editor’s Notes

With over 40 stores across the country, Pit Stop is New Zealand’s largest car servicing chain, specialising in general vehicle repairs, brakes, suspension and vehicle servicing.

Pit Stop offers seven service packages:

  • Express ($199): high value essential vehicle care
  • Extensive ($239): enhanced vehicle servicing and care
  • Elite ($359): the ultimate service experience
  • Euro Cars ($319): designed for European vehicles
  • 4X4s, Utes & Vans ($369): for all diesel and petrol vehicles
  • Hybrid ($239): designed for hybrid vehicles
  • EV ($129): designed for electric vehicles

Midas

Ratings Results

Closing out our top car servicing chains awards, Midas earns a satisfactory 3-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction. The chain stands out for its Time Taken and Customer Service, in which it earns 4-Star ratings.

Editor’s Notes

Midas has been proudly Kiwi owned and operated for over three decades. With 23 stores across the country, it’s no hassle getting your car serviced with with one of Midas’ five service options:

  • Euro Service ($394.95): Peace of Mind Inspection and report + diagnostic scan, top-up fluids and reset service reminder light.
  • Diesel Service: ($374.95): Peace of Mind Inspection and report + oil filter replacement and fluid top-ups.
  • Basic Service ($224.95): replace oil filter, under-bonnet inspection, top-up fluids.
  • Smart Service ($284.95): Peace of Mind Inspection and report + oil filter replacement, top-up fluids.
  • Premium Service ($389.95): Smart Service + oil flush or fuel additive, tyre rotation and diagnostic scan.

Choosing the Right Car Servicing Chain for You

Whether you drive a brand new SUV, or a pre-2000s Toyota Hilux, one thing is important when getting it serviced: Value for Money.

In our survey, nearly 30% of respondents base their car servicing choice on how much dough they’re dishing out for a good look-through and top-up of fluids. Cost of required parts is at the bottom of the list, which makes sense: if your car is being regularly serviced by a quality mechanic, you shouldn’t need to replace major parts too often.

Here’s the full rundown of what the consumers in our survey say are the main things they consider when rating their choice of car servicing chain:

  • Value for Money: 28%
  • Effectiveness of Repairs: 26%
  • Time Taken: 23%
  • Customer Service: 20%
  • Cost of Any Parts Required: 2%

How Much Does a Car Service Cost?

A regular car service is an important factor in keeping your automobile on the road, running safely and smoothly. A car service can also help to maximise your car’s overall lifespan and potentially increase its resale value when it comes time to sell.

Servicing can range from a routine once-over, comprising topping up of fluids and an oil and filter change, to a more comprehensive inspection, testing a variety of components, which can take hours.

In this guide we look at what to consider when weighing up what’s right for your car, what to keep in mind when seeking out a service centre, and what’s on offer from service centres around the country.

Time to service: assessing the options

How often you should service your car is usually explained in your car logbook or owner manual. Your car manufacturer will usually recommend maximum times and distances to leave between servicing intervals, considering factors such as the age, make and model of your vehicle.

But as a general rule of thumb, professional servicing is recommended every 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first), but this may vary. If you have an older car, you might choose to service it more regularly, such as every 5000km.

When working out what’s best for your car, you need to take into consideration:

  • Its make, model and year
  • How often you use it (kilometres travelled)
  • Your normal type of driving, such as city or country driving

You should also pay attention to the things you can do yourself in terms of basic maintenance between services. This includes checking tyre pressure and engine oil levels and ensuring all the car’s lights are operational, etc.

Of course, if you notice any issues in between services (such as warning lights coming on, or irregular noises) it’s important to get the problem looked at sooner rather than later.

Choosing a service centre

When it comes to choosing a service centre, it’s worthwhile shopping around. Find a business that you feel comfortable with, that is convenient for you, offers competitive pricing and caters to your needs.

Some factors to consider include:

  • Qualifications/experience – what sort of qualifications and experience do the mechanics hold? Do they have particular areas of expertise?
  • Word of mouth/reviews – does the service centre come via the recommendation of a friend or colleague, and what are the online reviews like?
  • Scope of services – what different types of services are provided, and is servicing provided for your make and model of car? Do you require specialised servicing?
  • Appointment – is an appointment required, and can you book online? What are the waiting times generally like?
  • Pricing – how does the pricing compare to other service centres in the area?

It’s important to keep in mind that there are a range of options available, and if you’re looking for a new service provider, or thinking of switching providers, you should actively seek out a best deal.

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.

More Information

Key statistics

Believes regular car services save money in the long run: 65%

Chooses service centre based on price: 36%

Services their car less often than previously: 28%

Thinks branded car servicing centres are more trustworthy: 24%

Always gets a second quote for major work: 24%

Puts off getting car serviced for long as possible: 20%

Reasons for servicing car less regularly:

To save money: 67%

Conducts regular checks themselves: 27%

It’s a hassle to organise: 26%

Doesn’t have the time: 18%

Leaves servicing until something goes wrong: 11%

What self-servicers check

Oil: 78%

Tyre pressure: 72%

Water: 71%

Tyre tread: 58%

Windscreen wipes: 56%

Canstar Blue surveyed 2502 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from respondents who had their car serviced in the last two years. In this case, 340 New Zealanders.

Dealerships must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all dealerships in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criterion.

The past winners from Canstar Blue’s Car Servicing ratings:

  • 2021: Oil Changers
  • 2020: Oil Changers
  • 2019: Oil Changers
  • 2018: Pit Stop
  • 2017: Oil Changers
  • 2016: Oil Changers
  • 2015: Oil Changers

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