5 tips for taking care of your car

Nothing quite beats the feeling of freedom that being a driver can give you. Although learning to drive, buying a car and paying for all of the associated expenses and pressures can be a costly procedure, most would be very willing to admit that it is completely worth it. When you get a car, be it new or used, there are a number of things that you should do to make sure it remains in prime condition and is safe, reliable and comfortable for as long as you drive it. We have put together a list of five helpful tips, which should help you to know where to start when it comes to taking care of your car.

1. Clean it

Cleaning your vehicle regularly is not just good for your state of mind. Having a car which looks great inside and out will also help reduce any damage caused by dirt (bird droppings in particular can cause considerable damage to vehicles) and keep your vehicle’s resale value up. Though it might seem like a bore, keeping your car clean will not only make you feel better and more comfortable, but it will benefit you in the long run too.

2. Do regular checks on your car

There are a great number of parts in your car that keep it running, and it is important to make sure that all of them are working to the best of their ability. It can be daunting for seasoned drivers, let alone new drivers, to know exactly when and what to check, but doing it regularly will help you spot any problems with your car early. This should make it less likely to breakdown, and save you money on professional maintenance repairs –  and petrol.

Here is a list of some of the important things to check on your vehicle, and when you should perform maintenance or look to replace parts. This list is not all inclusive, and checks should be performed more regularly on older cars.

Weekly

Lights – including indicators and brake lights.

Two weeks

Tyre pressure.

Engine oil dipstick.

Wiper fluid – every 2-4 weeks, top up when necessary.

Monthly

Engine coolant – every 4 weeks, and more regularly in the winter.

Power steering – also be sure to check fluid reservoir at every service.

Check tyre tread – as well as monthly, you should check your tyre tread before a long trip.

Wiper blades – check regularly, replace if worn or damaged.

Brake fluid – check whenever you change your oil.

3. If it’s broke, fix it

Don’t let faults with your car become major problems; fix things as soon as you become aware of them. Regular checks and general driving should help you realise fairly quickly if something is wrong with your car, and it pays to fix it as soon as you can. Everything from cracks in windscreen, dulled lights and broken mirrors may seem small issues on the face of things, but can turn into much larger problems and raise the potential risk when you are driving.

4. Make sure it’s stocked for emergencies

Though accidents should be few and far between, being prepared for accidents and breakdowns can pay off if you ever happen to be in that situation.

The following are all good things to make sure you keep in your car:

• Spare tyre
• Car jack
• Jump leads
• Water bottles
• Petrol can
• Reflective triangle
• Blanket
• Torch
• Map

You may not think that you need them, but if you’re ever in that situation you will be thankful that you took the precaution.

5. Drive carefully

Driving carefully not only comes with the obvious and important benefits of safer driving, but also comes with many less obvious advantages – one being keeping your car in good condition. Driving at a steady pace without accelerating too quickly or stopping repeatedly will save you money on your fuel use, and will also save parts of your car like brake pads from degrading quickly.