Confused About Service Intervals – 1 Year vs 2 Years?

[AlfonzoBonzo1]

Looking for some clarity and shared experiences from fellow California owners.

I bought my VW California in Jan 2024 with the 5-year servicing, warranty, and 3 free MOT package. At point of sale, I was told the first service would be due in Jan 2026 — a 2-year interval. However, I contacted Breeze VW in Poole today (13 Oct 2025) and was told the first service was actually due Jan 2025. They checked the chassis and said it had been set to an older service regime, which triggered the earlier date.

The van never prompted a service, and I only found out by chance. I’ve now booked it in for 14 Nov 2025, but I’m concerned about how this affects warranty coverage — especially since I relied on the 2-year advice and the onboard system never flagged anything.

I’ve seen other posts suggesting 2-year intervals are standard for newer Californias. Has anyone else had this issue with misconfigured service schedules or conflicting advice from dealers?

Would really appreciate hearing how others have handled this — especially if you’ve had warranty claims or dealer pushback.

Cheers

 

[pjm-84]

Mine was 2 year serving in 2015, but I changed this to annual and this has been set on the dash. You pays your money and takes your choice. If you're on VW servicing it will be 2 years. Breeze also say annual to me, but this is my choice.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

Fish brothers Swindon said two years in 2017 when I bought the California with a four service service plan, at year two lookers Carlisle changed the service interval to annual when they put standard oil in instead of long life, hadwins south lakes did it yearly until service plan ran out, then independent yearly till I traded it in last year. So different VW dealers do there own things. Most change to annual to get more money out you.

 

[Richardjames]

My dealer messaged in September 2024 to say a service was due for my 2023 Ocean (purchased October 2023), although nothing displayed in van. When I queried this they said a mistake had been made so no service was actually due. Just had Cali serviced a few days ago - ‘service due’ message had appeared on display.

 

[Fletchi]

I have a 2021 Coast. I was told about 2 year servicing when I bought it but at 12 months the van indicated a change of oil was required so it was serviced at the local dealer. Since then it has indicated 2 year servicing but I get my independent guy to check it over annually at the mot. He is a fraction of the cost of the dealer and I have used him for over 30 years. I don't know what I will do when he retires.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Looking for some clarity and shared experiences from fellow California owners.

I bought my VW California in Jan 2024 with the 5-year servicing, warranty, and 3 free MOT package. At point of sale, I was told the first service would be due in Jan 2026 — a 2-year interval. However, I contacted Breeze VW in Poole today (13 Oct 2025) and was told the first service was actually due Jan 2025. They checked the chassis and said it had been set to an older service regime, which triggered the earlier date.

The van never prompted a service, and I only found out by chance. I’ve now booked it in for 14 Nov 2025, but I’m concerned about how this affects warranty coverage — especially since I relied on the 2-year advice and the onboard system never flagged anything.

I’ve seen other posts suggesting 2-year intervals are standard for newer Californias. Has anyone else had this issue with misconfigured service schedules or conflicting advice from dealers?

Would really appreciate hearing how others have handled this — especially if you’ve had warranty claims or dealer pushback.

Cheers

If you were to have 2 year service intervals, at the end of 5 years your warranty and VW Roadside Assist will expire but you will still have 3 unused services.

VW do an All In service plan for vans 3 to 6 years old - 2 services, 2 MOT’s, 2 years warranty, 2 years Roadside Assist, all at a big discount.
You wouldn’t be allowed to take this out as you would still have an existing service plan in place because of your 3 unused services.

I would get a service done now, then your remaining 4 services every 9/10 months after that, so that after 5 years everything expires together.

Then take out an All In plan which will mean that you will never be out of warranty for first 7 years.

 

[ChrisTravel]

If you were to have 2 year service intervals, at the end of 5 years your warranty and VW Roadside Assist will expire but you will still have 3 unused services.

VW do an All In service plan for vans 3 to 6 years old - 2 services, 2 MOT’s, 2 years warranty, 2 years Roadside Assist, all at a big discount.
You wouldn’t be allowed to take this out as you would still have an existing service plan in place because of your 3 unused services.

I would get a service done now, then your remaining 4 services every 9/10 months after that, so that after 5 years everything expires together.

Then take out an All In plan which will mean that you will never be out of warranty for first 7 years.

Sounds like a great plan thanks

 

[Ocean100]

Funny this should come up today. I got an email from van centre saying service due after 1 year of ownership. I rang the service booking number which goes to VW call centre and was told 20,000 miles is when service is due. I said I'm on 5+ plan still no better response. Needing tosee the whites of their eyes I went to the van centre and they were very helpful. No problem when do you want to bring it in? The wording is misleading. You have 5 services that you can use over 10 years. The 5 years refers to the warranty etc. The main call centresare not updated on the package from your dealer. I wuld encourage people to confirm this with their dealer and report back hear to reinforce the message as this is clearly a confusing point. The 10 years to choose your service points is not mentioned
"
Included in the 5+ Promise plan

• 5 Years' Warranty: Provides manufacturer warranty cover for five years.
  
  
• 5 Years' Roadside Assistance: Includes roadside assistance from The AA for five years.
  
  
• 5 Services: This includes 5 scheduled services, which consist of three oil services and two oil and inspection services with a pollen filter replacement.
  
  
• 3 MOTs: Covers three MOT tests for the vehicle.
  
  
• Vehicle inspections: Includes checks on your vehicle's condition, such as fluids, tyres, brakes, lights, and battery.
  
  
• Software updates: Diagnostic checks and any outstanding software updates are included.
  

Important details

• Eligibility:
  This plan is typically available on new Amarok and Transporter models and may have other qualifying criteria.
  
  
• Exclusions:
  The plan does not cover wear and tear, body repairs, glass damage, or replacement of parts like camshaft and drive belts.
  
  
• Transferable:
  The plan can be transferred to a new owner if you sell the vehicle before the plan ends, but it cannot be transferred to a different vehicle.
  
  
• Service requirements:
  All servicing and warranty work must be carried out at a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Authorised Repairer.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

The VW Finance app says 10,000 miles or annual service intervals.

 

[AlfonzoBonzo1]

I emailed them after i put the phone down response below so I now have confirmation 2 years is what mines set too. As I think said above the 5 services expire in 2034 which makes sense if every 2 years. Why do VW make things so complicated

“Thank you for contacting us regarding your service requirements and any confusion that has been caused. I have checked your service regime and from what I can determine on the Volkswagen system, your vehicle should be on flexible servicing, 18000 or 24 months. This being the case, your service would be due when either of these milestones have been reached.

I am unsure as to why you were given the date of January 2025, the person may have meant 2026 but I can confirm that the service would be due before 15/01/26 or at 18000 miles.

Please accept my apologises and if you wish, I can make a booking today for you to so that it has been taken care of and you have an appointment with us.”

 

[Mansfieldman750]

I emailed them after i put the phone down response below so I now have confirmation 2 years is what mines set too. As I think said above the 5 services expire in 2034 which makes sense if every 2 years. Why do VW make things so complicated

“Thank you for contacting us regarding your service requirements and any confusion that has been caused. I have checked your service regime and from what I can determine on the Volkswagen system, your vehicle should be on flexible servicing, 18000 or 24 months. This being the case, your service would be due when either of these milestones have been reached.

I am unsure as to why you were given the date of January 2025, the person may have meant 2026 but I can confirm that the service would be due before 15/01/26 or at 18000 miles.

Please accept my apologises and if you wish, I can make a booking today for you to so that it has been taken care of and you have an appointment with us.”

The right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing.
I would tell them you got 5 free services as part of an incentive to buy a California and you will be using them up in the first 5 years. It’s a 5 year promise, not a 10 year promise.

 

[AlfonzoBonzo1]

The right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing.
I would tell them you got 5 free services as part of an incentive to buy a California and you will be using them up in the first 5 years. It’s a 5 year promise, not a 10 year promise.

But as posted above it’s 5 years Warranty, 5 years Roadside assistance and 5 services. Note the services are not saying yearly. I was totally confused as the first time I discussed I was told it was yearly but the service plan expires in 2034 so surely that’s every 2 years. I was also told at PoS it was every 2 years. Your dead right about left and right hand, don’t fill you with confidence especially considering I’m working with arguably the best Cali dealer in the Uk

 

[AdamsFamily]

I emailed them after i put the phone down response below so I now have confirmation 2 years is what mines set too. As I think said above the 5 services expire in 2034 which makes sense if every 2 years. Why do VW make things so complicated

“Thank you for contacting us regarding your service requirements and any confusion that has been caused. I have checked your service regime and from what I can determine on the Volkswagen system, your vehicle should be on flexible servicing, 18000 or 24 months. This being the case, your service would be due when either of these milestones have been reached.

I am unsure as to why you were given the date of January 2025, the person may have meant 2026 but I can confirm that the service would be due before 15/01/26 or at 18000 miles.

Please accept my apologises and if you wish, I can make a booking today for you to so that it has been taken care of and you have an appointment with us.”

Which dealer was this from?
Just been through the same this week.
Ours is 1 years old - nothing came up to say it was due so I called the dealer (Fish Brothers)
First problem... they'd forgotten to register us for the 5* Promise - even though it was on the invoice (FOC)
Second problem, trying to add the 5* to our Cali was a no go as he had changed the Reg.
Had to set up me up on the old Reg, then add the 5* to that, then register the new Reg.
Third problem - when is the first service??
The lady said technically its every two years, but she said that can't be right or they'd be responsible until 2034 so booked me in for an oil service and visual health check.

All very messy.

 

[AlfonzoBonzo1]

Which dealer was this from?
Just been through the same this week.
Ours is 1 years old - nothing came up to say it was due so I called the dealer (Fish Brothers)
First problem... they'd forgotten to register us for the 5* Promise - even though it was on the invoice (FOC)
Second problem, trying to add the 5* to our Cali was a no go as he had changed the Reg.
Had to set up me up on the old Reg, then add the 5* to that, then register the new Reg.
Third problem - when is the first service??
The lady said technically its every two years, but she said that can't be right or they'd be responsible until 2034 so booked me in for an oil service and visual health check.

All very messy.

Was Breeze Poole and yep they told me 5 services needs to be used by 2034 so yep 10 years end of the day road side assistance expiring and warranty is expiring has nothing to do with servicing

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Was Breeze Poole and yep they told me 5 services needs to be used by 2034 so yep 10 years end of the day road side assistance expiring and warranty is expiring has nothing to do with servicing

That looks like a good solution then, take it to Fish Brothers for servicing. Not far from Bristol either.

 

[Stargazing]

Service intervals are set according to usage-a VW delivery or works van that cruises long distances and gets the engine to optimum temperature will usually go longer between oil changes. If you drive your Cali on short journeys and/or fail a few dpf regens the oil will contaminate and cause issues with the engine. I always say a regular oil change is cheaper than a new engine.

 

[AdamsFamily]

Service intervals are set according to usage-a VW delivery or works van that cruises long distances and gets the engine to optimum temperature will usually go longer between oil changes. If you drive your Cali on short journeys and/or fail a few dpf regens the oil will contaminate and cause issues with the engine. I always say a regular oil change is cheaper than a new engine.

Probably applies to us then - only 7K on the clock in the first year.
Daily short commute for ladyship, and when not away/days out on weekends we use my Company Car to save the fuel.
I'll use my 5 up and then get our friend (a VW Tech) to look after it

 

[pjm-84]

Service intervals are set according to usage-a VW delivery or works van that cruises long distances and gets the engine to optimum temperature will usually go longer between oil changes. If you drive your Cali on short journeys and/or fail a few dpf regens the oil will contaminate and cause issues with the engine. I always say a regular oil change is cheaper than a new engine.

Yep I have the 180 Bi Turbo so I went down this route. 90k and engine is sweet with no oil use. Breeze just do the A service annually.

 

[Louis II]

I agree My 2015 says 2 years but I get a basic oil & filter change when it goes in for MOT, not that expensive and they do a quick check for anything that might need doing for the MOT at the same time. Didn’t know you could change the service interval on the van, I just ask the garage not to reset for the intermediate oil change.

 

[Magic Bus]

Our 2019 van was 2 years for the first service, then annual services from then on. However, in practice, the intermediate service (Years 3, 5, 7, etc) is only an inspection (still costs £200-300 at a VW dealer). The oil change cycle is every 2 years. We only do about 5000 miles a year in the van. Our warranty was unaffected by the first service being at 2 years, as we had some work done under warranty in Year 3 (we did have the extended 5 year warranty). Just had the Year 6 service and oil change done. Next year will just be a minor intermediate service.

 

[SusiBus]

Another "Left hand not knowing what the right hands doing" story.
Our new California is a JUNE 2024 reg.

Our previous California was on a flexible service plan which was 18,000 miles or 24 months service intervals. (A ridiculously long time for a service interval IMO). So l assumed that is was the same for the new one, as the info system had not indicated it needed a service.

THEN, I read the '5+ Promise' again. Which states "Servicing every 12 months or 10,000 Miles"
I thought, Oh s***, I've missed the service, which could invalidate my service plan, as our Cali is
15 months old, although it's only done 6,000 miles.

Phoned SMG Tonbridge, who looked up the service regime for our California which has a 5+Promise.
They said :- "10,000 miles or 24 months which ever is the sooner". When it's due a service it will be indicated on the info system.
So as AlfonzoBonzo highlighted, it could take me 10 years to use the services at that rate.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Another "Left hand not knowing what the right hands doing" story.
Our new California is a JUNE 2024 reg.

Our previous California was on a flexible service plan which was 18,000 miles or 24 months service intervals. (A ridiculously long time for a service interval IMO). So l assumed that is was the same for the new one, as the info system had not indicated it needed a service.

THEN, I read the '5+ Promise' again. Which states "Servicing every 12 months or 10,000 Miles"
I thought, Oh s***, I've missed the service, which could invalidate my service plan, as our Cali is
15 months old, although it's only done 6,000 miles.

Phoned SMG Tonbridge, who looked up the service regime for our California which has a 5+Promise.
They said :- "10,000 miles or 24 months which ever is the sooner". When it's due a service it will be indicated on the info system.
So as AlfonzoBonzo highlighted, it could take me 10 years to use the services at that rate.

This has happened before, you may have to phone Customer Services at VW Financial Services as @Blackbrogue1962 had to do.

Service Plan

Currently sitting in my local VW service centre having been told that VW won't authorise my service. I've a 12 month old T6.1 California Ocean bought in Jan 24 with a 5 year service plan. I was contacted by EV Crawley who sold me the Cali and asked to book it in for a service. I booked into my...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[BristolCali]

Don’t tie yourselves in knots on this, most of us keep our vans a long time and regardless what VW say getting an oil and filter change on an engine every year will mean it runs better and is less likely to fail. It’s just good practice.

On the belts I do it every five years including the water pump on my T6. I trust chains because I can hear them when they stretch and wear and thus leave them for over 100k miles.

 

[Tall Andrew]

Service intervals are set according to usage-a VW delivery or works van that cruises long distances and gets the engine to optimum temperature will usually go longer between oil changes. If you drive your Cali on short journeys and/or fail a few dpf regens the oil will contaminate and cause issues with the engine. I always say a regular oil change is cheaper than a new engine.

I totally agree with you that regular oil changed being good for the engine.

I have my van on yearly Service and looking at the invoice for the work at VW it Looks like they put 6-8 Liters of oil at 189 Euro in and new Filter. Then the following year they do new Filter and 60 Euro for oil so probably 2-3 Liters. My feeling is the second Service is not a Full oil change but a filter Change and top up. It also doesn‘t say oil change on the check sheet. I was planning on setting van to 2 years and doing the second service myself to be sure it’s done.

Any how to advice for changing the setup in the Tacho?

 

[SusiBus]

Another "Left hand not knowing what the right hands doing" story.
Our new California is a JUNE 2024 reg.

Our previous California was on a flexible service plan which was 18,000 miles or 24 months service intervals. (A ridiculously long time for a service interval IMO). So l assumed that is was the same for the new one, as the info system had not indicated it needed a service.

THEN, I read the '5+ Promise' again. Which states "Servicing every 12 months or 10,000 Miles"
I thought, Oh s***, I've missed the service, which could invalidate my service plan, as our Cali is
15 months old, although it's only done 6,000 miles.

Phoned SMG Tonbridge, who looked up the service regime for our California which has a 5+Promise.
They said :- "10,000 miles or 24 months which ever is the sooner". When it's due a service it will be indicated on the info system.
So as AlfonzoBonzo highlighted, it could take me 10 years to use the services at that rate.

Having got the above info from SMG. I thought I would just check, via my vehicle settings, what the service schedule it indicated I should be following. This left me a little confused.

Our California is a June 2024 reg, i.e. 16 months old, has done 7000 miles, and has had no services.

The info system showed me the following:-
Inspection 18 200 mi or 228 days ( i.e. 2 years)
Oil change service in 6,600 mi or 228 days (i.e. 13,600mi or 2 years)

Ok I thought, I'd try and get guidance from VW Financial Services. Fully expecting to spend the best part of the rest of the afternoon being transferred from one person to another. But no, l got straight onto someone who sent me the following email, which I think almost explains the situation:-

Thank you for contacting Volkswagen Financial Services.

Following our recent conversation, I can confirm you can service the vehicle every year or every 10,000.00 miles or every two years or 20,000 miles.

Since you have had the vehicle for more than a year, you can service the vehicle now or wait for the mileage to reach 10,000 miles then get a service.

Your agreement ends in 17.06.2034 so you can use the services till then.

You can also find lots of information on our website at myvwfinance.vwfs.co.uk or please call our customer services team on 0370 010 2022 between 9AM – 6PM from Monday