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Manufacturer service recommendations can vary significantly between cars, but many follow relatively similar and straightforward schedules. For example, BMW and Mercedes use service schedules that alternate between major and minor services at set intervals. Other manufacturers and many shops follow a program that focuses on service at 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000-mile intervals.

It's often a good idea to follow your manufacturer's recommended service intervals while still under warranty, but what about once your warranty ends? Vehicles are lasting longer than ever, and that means preparing for maintenance over the long term. While you may want to try to save some money by deferring maintenance, here are three reasons you shouldn't skip your 60,000-mile service.

1. It's a Critical Inspection Point

Short-term maintenance on most cars includes items like oil changes and air filter replacements. These consumables wear out relatively quickly, and you can cause significant harm by ignoring them for too long. On the other hand, longer-term maintenance items often include items that can last for 100,000 miles or longer, such as timing belts and suspension components.

The 60,000-mile service provides a critical inspection point between these two extremes. Technicians will use this time to check on the condition of essential fluids, such as your brake fluid or power steering fluid. It's also an excellent time to review the life remaining on your brake pads if you haven't already replaced them.

2. Most Services Include Safety Checks

In addition to inspecting the mechanical condition of your vehicle, service techs usually perform a routine safety check as part of a 60,000-mile service. This check includes components from your braking, suspension, and steering systems. Most shops will also inspect the condition of your tires and look for signs of unusual wear that can indicate an alignment problem.

These inspections can turn up safety issues before they put you or other drivers in danger on the road. You'll also save some money by finding problems before they become severe enough to leave you on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck.

3. You'll Avoid Inconvenient Problems

Not everything that happens during a 60,000-mile inspection is a matter of life and death, however. These inspections often include some basic quality-of-life procedures, such as adjusting your parking brake and checking the condition of your car's lighting. Although these items might not seem critical, they can help you avoid inconvenient problems in the future.

The cost of this service is relatively low when taken over the lifetime of your car, so it's worth it to avoid the headaches and potential safety issues that can arise from deferring maintenance for too long. 

Contact an auto shop for more information about car mileage interval service.