A car is an expensive asset to own. Whether you’re someone who has a Land Rover or a Vauxhall Corsa, they’re all going to provide a different degree of expense and that goes beyond simply paying for the car in the first place.
It’s not just the running costs but all the costs that come when you take it in for its annual service. Is it going to pass its MOT or are you going to need to shell out a lot of money? It’s a nail-biting moment for any household and an expense that simply cannot be avoided.
With that being said, it’s worth knowing what advice is best when it comes to keeping your car running on the road without too much trouble. Here are a few tips that might help you keep your costs down when it comes to maintaining your car this year and beyond.
Drive it carefully
First and foremost, make sure to drive it carefully. This is important because if you’re not driving it carefully, then you’re likely to do more damage to it. It’s not just the threat of crashing it or crashing it into another car but how you use your car can cause financial costs you don’t want.
Overuse of the brake pads for example or going over potholes that could damage your tires and the alloys. These are all things that can be avoided if you’re driving it carefully.
Consider how you’re driving your car now and whether you’re doing everything you can do to avoid the costly repairs and fixes that might be needed when you drive too erratically or without caution.
Get it checked annually
Getting your car checked annually is important, especially when it comes to the MOT servicing that you’re legally required to get. Otherwise, if you don’t, then you’re not allowed to run it on the road.
It’s good to get the date each year noted in your diary so that you can get it checked over by the garage every time something might need to be fixed or updated. You may be blissfully unaware that nothing is wrong and therefore you won’t realize how big the problem is until you get your car into the garage.
If anything is wrong before your MOT, get it taken in because chances are you might be able to save yourself some money in the meantime.
Conduct the relevant car maintenance in a timely manner
Make sure that when it comes to your car’s maintenance, you’re doing it all in a timely manner. This is important because when there are problems with the car or certain tasks that need doing, like filling up the oil in your car’s engine, the longer you leave it, the more damage it could do.
There are some typical maintenance tasks that you should be doing on your car regularly to keep it in good condition. These include:
- Check your engine oil levels
- Change oils and filters regularly
- Checking your fuel levels and don’t go too low in the tank
- Checking your antifreeze levels
- Check your brakes feel and perform the same
These are just some typical maintenance tasks that you’ll want to stay on top of in order to keep your car performing efficiently.
Start your car and leave the engine running briefly before moving
Before you start moving your car on the road, let the engine run briefly. This is important to do, especially if you’ve not used the car in a while or it’s a particularly cold day. That can often be a problem because when the battery or engine has been used or has been quite cold, it might have a few troubles running efficiently on the road as a result.
When you first step into the car, start the ignition and leave the engine running for a couple of minutes. This will help give your car’s battery and engine time to warm up before you set off.
This is something you should do regardless of how short or long the drive ahead will be!
Avoid overpacking your car on trips
Overpacking your car on trips is never a good idea because the weight can make driving a lot more challenging. Not only do you have to ensure your car has a good grip on the road but that might influence how fast or how slow you’re able to go in order for it to remain safe.
When you overload your car, you’re also putting more pressure on the car itself and the heavier it is, the lower it will sit, meaning there’s a chance you might catch it on the road somehow.
Avoid overpacking where you can and always approach your packing with the attitude that if you feel you’ve got too much in the car, then you’ll want to remove some stuff before you leave.
Be aware of everyone on the road
It comes as no surprise or knowledge that there are more cars on the road than there were some thirty to fifty years ago. That does mean that you’ve got a lot more drivers to contend with and not all of them are going to be as talented on the road as others are.
Many may have developed bad habits and those bad habits are something that you don’t want to deal with when you’re trying to drive the best that you can. However, when it comes to driving, it’s important that you have eyes on the back of your head.
Be aware of everyone on the road so that you can ensure no accidents occur or that you’ve mitigated as much of the risk to you and your safety as possible while on the road.
Have a good towing service on speed dial
Should anything happen where you can’t physically move your car because it may have broken down, always have a towing service on speed dial. These can be lifesavers, especially when you’re in a situation where it’s an emergency and you’re perhaps in the middle of nowhere with a broken-down car.
Keep your car running on the road with these top tips!