With the first month of the New Year over, it’s important to reflect and put a plan in place to ensure your car is in the best shape possible. Car maintenance is essential throughout the entire year no matter what season it is.
We have constructed a list of most important things you need to think about when it comes to maintaining your vehicle this year. If you have any tips of your own that you think we have missed, please feel free to send us yours!
Regular Servicing & Checks
The first thing we would highly recommend for any vehicle is taking it for a regular check and booking in a regular service. Services are usually advised to be done every 12 months for every 12,000 miles the vehicle is driven. Depending on the type of service you decided to go for, it will usually include an extensive check of all areas of your car and an oil and filter change to make sure everything is running smoothly.
Tyre Tread Depth
If you are wondering why your tyre warning light has come on, it is most likely that they need pumping up again. In case you weren’t aware, UK law requires all car tyres to have a minimum depth of 1.6mm, which is why we emphasise tyre checks. If pumping the tyre doesn’t solve the problem over time, you may have a slow puncture. If you can diagnose the slow puncture we would advise against driving your vehicle. Take it to your local garage and they will either fix the tyre up or suggest you get a replacement. Of course, replacing your tyres in Tunbridge Wells will incur an additional cost, but this is a much better option to ensure safety and usability of your vehicle.
Fix Broken Lights Immediately
If your any of your lights appear to no longer be working, it’s essential that these are fixed as soon as possible. The three main ones to consider are the brake lights, front lights and reverse lights. They allow drivers to see you properly and also understand your intentions when driving in order to prevent accidents with other road users.
Drive Sensibly
A lot of car issues occur more quickly if the person driving it does not drive it with care. For example, if you are constantly breaking quickly, taking sharp turns and going over bumps quickly, your car will wear down much more quickly. By driving smoothly, you prevent a lot of these problems from happening, or at least less frequently. It is so easy to damage your car without even realising it so take each journey with caution and dr.
Don’t Ignore a Problem
If you are worried about anything to do with your car, don’t ignore it. Even if it something small it is definitely worth getting it checked out, just in case there are any real issues. Especially if the issues concern the brakes, suspension or engine, you should get these looked at as soon as possible. Lots of local garage’s offer free checks to help diagnose the problem and then they can quote you to fix the issue. Give your garage a call and they will be able to help.
Save Money in the Long-term
By keeping your vehicle well maintained you will find you spend a lot less money on bigger fixes and problems that occur due to poor maintenance. Well maintained cars have also been proven to be more efficient and improve the resale value in the future, so it’s a win-win for everyone involved! Keep track of any services and MOTs your car has as this will be vital when reselling to another person. If you can prove you have looked after your car they will be a lot more likely to pay the asking price.
We hope you have found our tips useful. Maintaining your vehicle should never be brushed under the rug – make an effort to keep everything ticking over and you will start to see both the short-term and long-term benefits!
