Why Regular Car Maintenance is Essential
by Northern Life
If you drive a car, it’s your responsibility to look after it!
Whether you’ve had it for one month or three years, your commitment to maintenance should stay the same. Along with preserving its value and making driving more enjoyable, looking after your car could save you time, money and stress. We’ve listed five of the reasons to take car maintenance seriously.
1. Improved vehicle longevity
Routine maintenance includes oil changes, tyre rotations, and brake inspections. Individually, these essential checks paint a bigger picture that can significantly extend your car’s lifespan.
Furthermore, the consequences of neglecting these tasks can be severe. Without timely and professional servicing, you should expect to pay higher fees, wait longer for the repairs to be carried out, and face avoidable breakdowns. Small, preventative measures can save you money over time.
2. Enhanced driver safety
Regular car maintenance is critical in keeping drivers, passengers, and vulnerable road users safe. During regular servicing, the inspection of brakes, lights, and tyres is vital in helping drivers avoid accidents.
Globally, more than a million people die on the roads every year.
Poorly maintained road surfaces and driver error are often to blame, but the number of accidents caused by improper vehicle care is on the rise. Tyres must be robust and offer enough grip for the conditions, especially in winter.
3. Preserved vehicle value
Building a regular and transparent service history can retain or even increase your car’s resale value! While this might not be the most important factor now, it could matter considerably when the time comes to upgrade.
Potential buyers or even trade-in services prioritise well-maintained cars with a full-service history. To safeguard your vehicle’s value despite minor collisions or accidental damage, you should always consider car insurance. This is an essential way to complement routine maintenance.
4. Improved fuel efficiency
Maintaining your vehicle can help improve fuel efficiency. Every vehicle has many different mechanical components that impact fuel economy, and many of these might not be obvious.
Tyres, for example, quickly contribute to higher fuel costs if they’re underinflated. Even if you’re choosing an electric car, high-quality tyres will increase the range and performance of your vehicle. Timely tune-ups could make a considerable difference to your monthly spend on fuel.
5. Lower repair costs
Finally, keeping your car maintained means catching more minor issues before they snowball into major problems. Timely intervention from a trusted mechanic can prevent breakdowns, engine failures, and major faults. With thorough servicing, your car will also be more likely to pass its MOT.
During your service, your car will undergo diagnostics and essential checks. While some of the most basic is possible at home, including checking your engine oil levels, professional inspections guarantee long-term savings.
