How to maintain your car

Regular car maintenance increases your safety on the road and will save you money in the long run, but many people are unsure of where to start.

We have created a list of car maintenance tips that will help keep yours in good condition.

MOTs

The MOT test checks that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards. You must get an MOT for your vehicle by either the third anniversary of its registration or the anniversary of its last MOT, if it’s over 3 years old.

Spare wheel

Ensure your car has an inflated spare wheel. The majority of car manufacturers now supply a repair kit, consisting of tyre sealant and a tyre inflator pack, as an alternative. Check everything is in working order.

Lights

Ensure all lights are functional and replace bulbs where necessary.

Leaks

Inspect the underneath of your car for any sign of fluid leaks. This could indicate a serious issue and a mechanic should be consulted if you find one.

Battery

Turn your car on once a week and let it run for 15 minutes as a minimum, making sure the vehicle is properly supervised. Alternatively, use a trickle charger that can be left on the vehicle for a long period of time and will re-charge the battery.

Air conditioning

To maintain the seals in the air conditioning system, turn it on while the car is running. This will also minimise the chance of mould developing in the air circulation system.

Brakes

Brake discs can begin to corrode if a car is not driven for a while, which can lead to complete seizure. To avoid this happening, roll your car back and forth over a couple of metres periodically.

Tyres

Check your tyre pressure is correct using a pressure gauge. You can find the correct PSI figure for your car in the user manual, on the label inside the door frame, or the label inside the fuel flap. Also check the tread depth and for defects. The minimum legal tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm.

Tax and insurance

Road tax and insurance must be kept up to date to ensure your car is road legal. Even if you’re not currently driving your vehicle or your usage has reduced, your insurance still needs to remain in place. It is also important to remember that your insurance not only protects you whilst driving but also from damage and theft.

Many of our customers want the option to drive their car but are travelling less due to flexible working, so could save money by reducing their estimated mileage. Only do this if you think your mileage is going to be reduced significantly for the foreseeable future.