While most people keep up with the scheduled maintenance of their vehicle, it can be easy to fall behind. Unfortunately, not keeping up with tasks such as oil changes and tire rotations can cost you big time, and not just in terms of your wallet. The fact is, no matter what type of vehicle you drive; routine maintenance keeps you, and other drivers around you, safe on the road.

One way to keep up with routine maintenance is to keep a notebook around that details what maintenance tasks you’ve performed, and when they were completed. Keeping notes on when you last changed your vehicle’s brake fluid, or when you last had the wheels aligned, can help you to avoid performing these tasks too close together, saving you time and money. Keeping a maintenance notebook is also a good idea if you plan to sell or trade your vehicle in the future. Many private buyers or dealerships will be more likely to give you a better price on your vehicle if you can show that it has been taken care of.

Many mechanic shops also offer reminder services to help you keep up with routine maintenance. When you get your oil changed, most shops will place a small sticker on your windshield that will remind you to change your oil again at a certain mileage, or by a certain date. Some shops will also send out notices in the mail that remind you of when to have routine services performed. If you have the chance to sign up for a mailing list from your local mechanic shop, you may also receive valuable coupons with these reminders. Furthermore, many mechanic shops are also turning to email and text messages to remind customers of when their vehicle is due for routine service.

Remember, keeping up with maintenance is not simply a matter of cost. Although not performing maintenance can end up costing you a lot of money in the replacement of worn and broken parts, it can also be deadly. Not performing routine maintenance can cause components to fail, such as your brakes, and it may also cause malfunctions, leading to fires and other disasters. If you’re unsure of what maintenance you need to do on a regular basis, you may want to consider consulting with a professional mechanic. A professional mechanic will also be able to inspect your vehicle’s current state, and can help you develop a plan to keep you safely on the road for many years to come.

If you are planning to buy a car for yourself for the first time, you need to know quite a bit to ensure your car stays in the best condition all the time. Many of us may not find cars as interesting as most do, but once you get to know your car the right way, and learn how to keep a check on whether or not everything is as they should be, you will automatically see how crazy your car can drive you!

Here are a few simple steps that can ensure the fitness of your car and let you understand immediately when your car requires going for servicing. Simply spend an hour on your car every weekend with these basic inspections.

The Electricals

Start with checking the lights. See if all the lights inside and outside your car are operative. Check the headlights, the taillights, the parking lights, the other right and left indicators, and any other lights present on the exterior. Then move into the car and locate each and every indicator and the LEDs. See if they work as they should.

Check the dimmers of the backlit displays. If something seems wrong, get the circuit checked. Check the horns and the other sound systems. If your car manual has anything else to add to this, make sure you check those as well to be perfectly sure all seems well.

The Fluids

Next, check the fluid levels in your car. This includes the brake fluid, the transmission fluid, the clutch fluid (if it is a manual), etc. Check whether or not the level of the fluids is above the minimum required level.

The Others

Other stuff includes the cam belt – check if the number of kilometers travelled by the car with the present exceeds the acceptable limits. Try the exhaust system. Does the exhaust give out spurts or drops of oil when you rev the engine? Check the interior of the bonnet and see if the inside of the lid has oil marks on it. Does your car leave oil leaking on the road when you park it?

If any of the mentioned points seems to be an issue, get your car checked as soon as possible!