How to Keep Your Car In Top Condition

Keeping your car in the best possible condition is vital to the rate at which it will depreciate over time. The decrease in value varies between different car makes and models but on average it falls between 15-35% in the first year and up to 50% or more over the course of three years.

The closer you can keep your car to looking brand new, the more money you’ll save in the long run when you decide to sell it.

To get you started, here are a few things to consider when it comes to keeping your car in tip-top condition.

General Upkeep

It’s up to you to keep on top of any general maintenance that your car needs throughout its time under your ownership. This covers everything from regular cleaning both inside and out, to changing the bulbs in your headlights and brake lights if they stop working. For high-quality auto parts, check out Dorman products.

Fluids Inspections

There are up to 6 different fluids in your car that you should check every so often to see if they need topping up. These include your engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, and power steering fluid. For automatic cars, you also have to check your transmission fluid.

Tyre Inflation

For your own safety it’s vital that you check your tyre pressure occasionally to make sure they don’t need further air added to them. If you’re not sure what pressure your tyres should be at, there are plenty of helpful online tools at your fingertips where you can enter your registration plate to find out.

Ensure You Have Breakdown Insurance

Investing in a car warranty insures your car against unforeseen breakdowns. These can occur at the most unexpected and inconvenient of times and can be extremely costly if you don’t have breakdown insurance in place. While the level of cover can vary from different insurers’ policies, car warranties will usually cover the most important and expensive parts.

Follow Set MOT and Services

Booking your car in for its annual MOT is a legal government requirement that tests to see if your car meets the basic road safety regulations. Alongside this, you should also book your car in for a full service at least once a year as recommended. This ensures that your car remains in good working order all year round.

Drive Carefully

Our final on keeping your car in good condition is to drive carefully. This may sound obvious but, in many cases, when scrapes or accidents occur, it isn’t your fault. As we can’t control other drivers around us it’s important to be wary of how to eliminate possible problems. Avoid on-street parking, choosing spaces where your car is less exposed to the risk of knocks. Finally, always drive cautiously and adhere to the legal speed limits to ensure you are in full control of your vehicle at all times.