I would think that a service in is order - if you have warranties on them then it'll be a condition I should imagine. It's also a good idea to get the cars checked out because there are wearable parts and fluids that need freshening or changing periodically. Oil is mightily important! Even if you're not car people, you can still do the tyres, top up the fluids and so on yourself in the interim.

Try your Ford dealership - you never know. I use independents for mine but I've used national chain mechanics and my husband takes his Toyota to Toyota, since they're the most reasonable and they give him a courtesy car. Like anything car related, you can shop around for quotes.

Edited by Bobbin Threadbare on 18/12/2012 at 21:31

It should tell you in the cars' handbooks / service books what the intervals are. Most cars require a service (or at least an oil change) after 1 year or x thousand miles, whichever is the sooner, although Minis can go for two years before needing a service.

Bear in mind that the short journeys that you do can wear a car out more quickly than longer trips, espwecially the one that's done only 5,000 miles in nearly two years..

Both cars will also need the brake fluid changing.

The warranty has probably been invalidated. One of the exclusions on the Ford new car warranty is: "Failure to properly maintain the vehicle in accordance with Ford maintenance schedules and service instructions."

A colleague was told by his Ford dealer the warranty was no longer valid when he was 3 months late booking his Focus in for its first service.