The Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) helps consumers and shops maintain cars beyond their expected lifespan.

“Both shops and consumers have been asking for guidance on how best to maintain older vehicles,” says AMRA/MAP President Barry Soltz.

Consumers are keeping vehicles longer and longer and the average age of a vehicle on the road is more than 10 years old. In many of these older vehicles, the odometer reading already exceeds the mileage intervals listed in the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. The consumer desires to keep their car in service and well-maintained even longer; however, motorists and shops both question whether these vehicles require more or less maintenance at such an advanced age and mileage, according to MAP.

AMRA/MAP contacted several vehicle manufacturers and asked which maintenance services they recommend for vehicles on the road and well beyond the intervals listed in the service schedule. Although none of the OEMs offered a documented policy, virtually all stated that those vehicles should be maintained according to the original schedule and that neither more or less maintenance was beneficial.

To help educate consumers and shops, the Motorist Assurance Program has issued the following statement:

MAP Service Intervals Position (beyond the vehicle’s original schedule)

Many consumers are holding onto their vehicles longer; sometimes well into the second hundred-thousand miles and beyond. As a general rule, higher-mileage vehicles should follow the same routine or periodic service intervals as lower-mileage vehicles, based on conditions in which the vehicle is operated, to help maintain performance and reliability.

In some cases, the original vehicle manufacturer addresses these continuing service intervals in the owner’s or maintenance manual(s), or through instrument panel service indicators. However, some vehicle manufacturers’ recommendations are no longer listed after a specific time or mileage interval.

It is the position of the Motorist Assurance Program (MAP), that in the absence of original vehicle manufacturers’ recommended service intervals (beyond the original schedule), vehicle owners should revert to and repeat the original time or mileage service interval schedule, or as advised by the instrument panel service indicator.