Keeping up with regular car maintenance can be challenging. Maybe you’re not a car person and don’t know how to change the oil or fill up a tire that’s low on air.
If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll go over what regular car maintenance entails and why it’s important. Let’s get started!
What is regular car maintenance?
Regular auto maintenance is all about keeping your car running smoothly. It includes oil, part replacements, engine and transmission fluid changes, wheel alignments, car washes, tire rotations, and more.
If these tasks happen regularly, your car will need fewer repairs and run much longer. Fortunately, you don’t have to do them all on your own. You can take your car to a mechanic periodically to get your car tuned up.
But whether you choose to handle regular car maintenance on your own or not, here’s why it needs to be done:
1. Extend the lifespan of your vehicle
One of the most obvious benefits of regular car maintenance is that it extends the life of your vehicle. Car longevity has two main benefits:
For one, your car won’t need as many repairs, and those it does need will be less costly. Why? Because regular car maintenance helps you catch issues before they become bigger ones.
Second, a longer car life means you can go longer before buying a new car, the average price of which recently topped $49,500. That’s a lot of money whether you buy in cash or finance.
In addition, keeping your car for longer is better for the environment because it leaves a smaller carbon footprint. To support a greener future, you should use your car for as long as possible before trading it in for something new.
2. Save on gas
Believe it or not, regular car maintenance can help you save on gas. How? By dramatically improving your fuel efficiency.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, regular car maintenance can increase your fuel economy by an average of 4%. In the long run, that’s a lot of saved gas!
To pinpoint maintenance issues that may hurt your car’s gas mileage, check your car’s on-board diagnostics (OBD) system with an OBD scanner. This could alert you to the potential engine or other issues causing the problem.
Maintaining proper tire pressure and changing your car’s oil regularly can also help improve fuel efficiency.
3. Increase your car’s resale value
Regular car maintenance can help you get a good price for your car when it comes time to sell it. It does this by keeping the car in good condition, which directly impacts its value. Future buyers will discount their offers on your car if there’s a substantial risk of it needing major repairs anytime soon.
By reducing wear and tear on your car through regular maintenance, you can gain more from it when you sell. Plus, keeping a record of your maintenance work can help prove its condition and value to potential buyers.
4. Make your car safer
Another reason to keep up with vehicle maintenance is to improve your car’s safety. A poorly maintained car can harm you, passengers, drivers, and pedestrians.
This is because poorly maintained cars have a higher risk of malfunctioning, leading to serious road accidents. For example, worn brake pads can decrease your ability to stop your car in time to avoid hitting obstacles, including other cars.
Should you ever get into an accident as a result of poor car maintenance, be sure to hire an auto accident attorney. They can help ensure you get a fair trial and minimize your liability.
5. Lower the chance of your car breaking down
Lastly, regular car maintenance can help lower the chances that your car will break down on the side of the road.
Nobody wants to get stranded. Tows can be expensive, not to mention all the repair costs, including parts, labor, and other fees. Plus, breaking down on the side of the road can leave you without a way to get to work and other important destinations, which can cause you to lose income and, at the very least, add to your stress.
In short, breaking down on the side of the road can cost you in many ways, so you should keep up with your car’s maintenance to avoid it.
Adding it all up
Ultimately, there are many good reasons to maintain your car properly.
Find a good mechanic if you don’t have the time or skill to do it yourself. You might need to shop for a reputable one by asking around or checking online reviews and ratings. But once you find one, you can take your car into them regularly.
From there, you can worry less about your car and gain peace of mind. And that may be the best benefit of all!
