How to Maintain your Hybrid Car: Top Tips

20 Mar 2025

Increasingly popular on the roads, hybrid cars offer the perfect blend of sustainability, modern style and practicality. While charging infrastructures are still being developed, you can benefit from the increased efficiency of an electric motor without relying on battery power alone. 

So you may be wondering, what are the downsides? Do hybrid cars need special maintenance? 

Just as with traditional or fully electric vehicles, proper maintenance increases the lifespan of your car, prevents the potential for breakdowns, and improves performance and efficiency. 

However, unlike other vehicles, hybrid car maintenance combines aspects of both traditional and electric vehicle care. The following top tips will give you an idea of a typical hybrid car maintenance schedule along with some extra ways you can supercharge performance and longevity. 

Understanding your hybrid car 

The most common type of hybrid car is powered by an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor. 

Typically, you’ll fuel the internal combustion engine with petrol, which in turn uses regenerative braking to charge the electric motor. ‘Regen’ braking captures the energy created when a vehicle slows down, converting it to electricity for the motor. 

When charged, your hybrid car can travel short distances using electric power alone, significantly increasing the number of miles you can travel on one tank of fuel. 

To maintain your hybrid car effectively, you’ll need to carry out a series of regular tasks similar to those you might be used to with a traditional petrol or diesel-based vehicle. There are just a few key differences which we have outlined below. 

Regular hybrid maintenance tasks

Some of the key tasks you’ll need to carry out as part of a hybrid car maintenance schedule include:

• Oil changes: Unlike EVs, hybrid cars still have an internal combustion engine that requires oil to lubricate the many moving parts and prevent friction and overheating. How often you need to top up and change your oil depends on the vehicle, so check your owner’s manual for specific details. 
• Tyre care: As with any other vehicle, you should check your tyres at regular intervals, inspecting tread wear and tyre pressure before any long drives. To maximise lifespan, tyres should be rotated every six months or 6000 miles/9656km, whichever comes first. 
• Brake maintenance: Brakes are extremely important in hybrid cars because as well as serving as an essential safety feature, they form part of the mechanics that generate electricity from fuel. Brakes should be inspected at least once a year, or after a certain number of miles/kilometers driven, as per your manufacturer’s instructions. 
• Fluid checks: You’ll need a specific type of brake or transmission fluid for a hybrid vehicle. The details of this will be found in the vehicle manual, but it will typically be a type of fluid formulated specifically for hybrids and EVs. These need to be checked and topped up regularly as directed.
• Coolant levels: Unlike EVs, hybrids still need coolant to prevent the combustion engine from overheating. With a hybrid car, it’s important to check coolant levels regularly, because the electric battery can generate additional heat. If you notice a drop in engine coolant then you may have a leak, so be sure to schedule your car for a repair. 

How to maintain the battery in your hybrid car

Preserving the battery is an essential part of hybrid car maintenance when it comes to extending the lifespan of your vehicle. 

A hybrid battery typically lasts around 10 years, 100,000 miles or 160934 km, but this depends on your vehicle and driving style. It can be expensive to replace a hybrid car battery, but you can make yours last much longer than average with proper maintenance.

Maximise your battery’s lifespan by keeping it charged between 20% and 80%, never letting it go flat, driving regularly, and avoiding extreme temperatures. You can do this by parking your car in the shade or garage as much as possible. 

Maximising fuel efficiency

Maximising fuel efficiency is a good way to save money while supporting your hybrid car maintenance schedule. It allows you to reap the maximum rewards from an already eco-friendly vehicle. 

Your driving habits have a direct impact on fuel efficiency. Try to accelerate and brake smoothly, maintain steady speeds, and reduce idling time. Regular servicing of hybrid components such as air filters and spark plugs can also help you add extra miles/kilometres to the litre. 

Many hybrid vehicles have special driving modes to help improve fuel economy, so always check the features of your vehicle and choose the most relevant mode before setting off. 

Find a reliable hybrid car mechanic/servicing centre

One of the best things you can do maintain your hybrid vehicle is to have it serviced regularly by an experienced mechanic. You’ll need to find one with expertise in dealing with hybrid or electric vehicles, so do some research by checking our reviews and mechanic qualifications. 

While it’s tempting to miss a service when you need to save money, sticking to the schedule recommended by your manufacturer is likely to save you more in the long run, preventing costly breakdowns and unexpected repairs. 

Hopefully, this guide has given you a good idea of what a typical hybrid car maintenance schedule looks like and the ways in which it can help you improve the performance and sustainability of your vehicle. By staying proactive, you can save money, save fuel, and save the planet at the same time. 

Browse a range of vehicle fluids here to support your hybrid car maintenance schedule.