Is it worth a one off service to get software?

[XC90Mk1]

I bought my 2012 is 2018 so I suppose I’m fairness that’s had seen 5 Volvo services and may be less of an issue. However mine has not visited Volvo since 2018 when I bought it as I did all the work myself.

Incidentally Volvo heavily discount service items. I pay less for 6l of Volvo 0W-30, oil filter and sump plug washer than buying pattern parts (or broadly similar).

[apersson850]

When doing sevice at Volvo, some software is updated when found necessary. Volvo claims all software is kept up to date, but that's a lie. What is installed is a package which is considered important and can be loaded into the car while the oil is dripping out from the oil pan.
Some large updates are never performed during service, since they take longer to load than the normal time required to do the service. Navigation, infotainment are some examples.
Updates are more frequent when the car is new, of course. After five years, far less new things show up.

In Sweden, Volvo includes roadside assist for the first ten years. When the car is eleven years or older, they don't dare taking that risk. Service cost is still the same.
Here in Sweden you can select towing to any Volvo workshop with 70 km radius. I've used it once, when my one-way bearing in the alternator gave up right before me coming home to park by my house. Wrecker came and picked the car up in my back yard for free. I used Volvo on Call to get him there.

[simboc2004]

Tatsfield is right about the recovery service included for free with a service. I have done that for years (whenever I have had a Volvo!) and have needed to use it once - it was very good and on a par with Green Flag