Top 14 Car Maintenance Tips
Updated February 1, 2021 . AmFam Team
Proactive car maintenance is easy and can help you extend the life of your car, save on gas and make driving safer. Take a look at simple ways you can make sure your car stays in top condition and keep it performing at its best.
Your vehicle transports you from point A to point B and everywhere in between — and taking care of it is key to keeping your adventures going. That’s why understanding the best ways to maintain your car can be so important. Let’s take a look at some key car maintenance tips to help your ride stay in great shape, so it's performing at its best.
Preventative Maintenance for Your Vehicle
One of the best car maintenance tips we can offer you: get regular, preventative maintenance work done before you have any problems. Not only does this help increase your car's life, but it’ll also help you avoid spending your hard-earned money on expensive repairs down the road.
Your owner’s manual is a go-to reference for how to take care of your specific vehicle type, but the below checklist highlights common tips for maintaining a car that everyone can follow.
1. Maintain your car by checking brake and windshield fluids
Keeping your car in shape is all about continued monitoring and replenishing of fluids that diminish over time. From inspecting your brake fluid to filling up your windshield washing reservoir, you can help keep your brakes operational and your windows clean by just verifying fluids are at topped off.
2. Check the oil
Oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle’s engine — it’s what lubricates the engine so that friction and heat produce less wear. Without oil, your engine would quickly be ruined. Proper car maintenance requires oil to be changed about every 3,0000 miles to ensure the engine is being properly lubricated. Checking your oil level is something you can easily do on your own about once a month or every time you fill up your gas tank.
To assess your car’s oil, pull out the oil dipstick, wipe it clean with a rag, stick it back in, then pull up again to determine the oil level and color. You’ll know to add oil if the dipstick is close to the add indicator. Take a look at your owner’s manual for the type of oil you need, since not all oils work for all makes.
3. Inspect coolant and transmission fluid levels
Since you’re checking the oil, go ahead and give some TLC to the coolant, power steering, windshield washer and automatic transmission fluids as well. Consult your owner's manual for details on how to check these key fluids. These simple general car maintenance tips can impact your vehicle’s performance and reliability.
4. Get regular oil change changes
Another routine service for your vehicle is to get its oil completely changed. This is different than simply checking your oil since it requires draining the old oil and changing the filter.
How do you know when you need an oil change? A good rule of thumb is to get an oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, or whatever is recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. You can schedule an appointment for a professional to change it, or you can buy the oil and filter at an auto parts store and change it yourself if you're handy that way.
Maintain Your Car’s Tires & Brakes
Because your tires are always in contact with the road, they not only wear down over time, but can also loose air pressure while you’re out and about. Keeping your tires inflated properly is an easy way to prevent a blowout on the highway. And by staying aware of how your brakes are performing, you’ll have a better idea of when something’s wrong.
1. Check the brakes
Think about replacing your car’s brake pads every 25,000 – 50,000 miles, depending on how you drive. You’ll also want to check the brake fluid to make sure it isn’t a dark black color, since this indicates brake system issues. Getting your brake fluid changed about every two years helps protect your car's hydraulic components from corroding and can help prevent brake failure.
2. Check air pressure in the tires
Keep your ride smooth and safe by setting up a proper car maintenance schedule for checking the air pressure in your tires at least once a month with a tire pressure gauge. How do you find the correct air pressure for your tires? Your car manual of course! Or it should be on a sticker attached to your door edge, fuel door, glove box or door post. If you've got pressure sensing valve stems, keep on the lookout for low pressure tire warnings on your dashboard.
3. Rotate your tires
Tire rotation is more important than you think. Since the weight on the front and rear axles differ, your tires will wear unevenly. Rotating your tires is one of the easiest basic car maintenance tips to prevent uneven wearing of tires and make them last longer. How often should you rotate your tires? Experts recommend every six months or 6,000 to 8,000 miles.
4. Change your tires
There will come a point when rotating your tires just won’t be enough for proper car maintenance, and you’ll need to get new tires. A good way to reduce the likelihood you’ll have to fix a flat tire is by replacing them somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000 miles — depending on tire quality and the terrain you travel. Experts often say you should buy all four at the same time because their matching traction is safer. And all wheel drive vehicles may suffer costly transmission differential issues when wear between tires is significant enough.
Keep Up With General Car Maintenance
There’s a lot you can do to help keep your car safe. Try downloading a free car maintenance app (Opens in a new tab) like Carfax Car Care or Drivvo to help you remember to do routine maintenance on your ride. The schedule is set specifically to the maintenance schedule recommended per your car’s make and model.
If safety recalls are issued, you can program the app to notify you about high priority safety issues and recalls, which can help keep you and your passengers safe. Maintenance details are uploaded to your car’s online record, too. Here are some other easy ways to take care of your car:
1. Check the air filter
One easy car engine maintenance tip is to periodically replace the air filter. The air filter in your vehicle is responsible for cleaning the air as it enters the engine compartment and helps ensure that harmful debris doesn’t make it through.
The more miles you add to your vehicle, the more that air filter becomes clogged with debris, which could damage internal components and even reduce fuel efficiency. It depends on your vehicle, but usually you’ll want to get a new air filter every 12 months to 12,000 miles — whichever comes first. Your car's air filter is something you can typically swap out on your own.
2. Replace your windshield wipers
Another consideration to add to your proper car maintenance schedule is the replacing of windshield wipers. On average, you should get new wiper blades after six months to a year of use, depending on their quality. You can change the blades or inserts yourself, but make sure to do your research on the size your specific car needs. Note that the wiper packaging should walk you through what to do.
3. Check the timing belt
One old car maintenance tip is to check the timing belt as the car ages. However, not all vehicles have timing belts. But if yours does, it’s critical to its health. There aren’t any obvious signs your timing belt needs replacing, so manufacturers recommend you have it changed between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. Check your owner’s manual or call your mechanic to find out if you have one and when you should have it changed.
4. Assess exterior lights
Another smart addition to our car maintenance tips and tricks is to check in on the exterior lights of your car. Grab a friend and check each other’s parking brake lights, high- and low-beam lights (and fog lights if you have them) every few months. Depending on your car’s model, you might find it easy to change these lights in just a few seconds.
5. Replace the car battery
Colder weather causes batteries to lose their strength. If you want to ensure good car maintenance, replace your battery once it loses capacity. An average battery lasts 5-7 years. Read your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendations for your vehicle. Quick tip — many auto parts stores will test your battery for free! While you’re there, be sure to pick up items for your car’s emergency kit so you’re ready for the unexpected.
6. Inspect your car’s windshield carefully
Damage to your windshield can occur without much notice at first. When you’re traveling at high speeds on the highway, airborne pebbles can cause small cracks in the windshield which are hard to spot. Do your best to inspect the windshield carefully on a regular basis for signs of damage — and have repaired made as you find them. Our Safelite glass repair program can get your windows looking like new in no time.
Use a Professional When Needed
Many of these maintenance tips and tricks are easy and can save you a lot of money on service fees. But remember that it’s just as important to know when not to do it yourself. For non-mechanically inclined owners, get your ride into the shop every three months or so — or as often as your manufacturer’s maintenance schedule recommends.
If you’re more hands-on and experienced with car maintenance, do yourself a favor and take the time to get under the hood for routine car care. Go the extra mile and protect your finances from expensive repairs with our ForeverCar Vehicle Service Plan (Opens in a new tab). It can really help you with extended warranty protection up to 225,000 miles.
Protect Your Car with Great Insurance
Your American Family Insurance agent (Opens in a new tab) is always ready to keep you moving forward. Contact them to find out more about how Emergency Roadside Assistance can make for smoother travels. And don’t forget — one of the best ways to protect your ride is excellent auto insurance. Get a quote today.
Looking for more ways to keep your car on the right path? We have all the car repair and maintenance advice you need in one easy-to-find location. Take a look!
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Sending a text, eating your burrito, applying makeup — what do all of these tasks have in common?
They’re all everyday examples of distracted driving.
As a driver, it’s your responsibility to focus on the road to keep you, your passengers, and other people on the road safe from accidents. We’ve put a spotlight on some risky driving behaviors that we hope can help influence you to keep your focus on the road.
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is when the driver is doing something that takes their attention away from the task of driving. Any time your eyes and/or mind are taken away from the road, you’re technically distracted, which means an increase in the risk of an accident.
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The Deadliest Driving Distraction: Texting and Driving
It should come as no surprise to you that texting is the most common distraction while driving as well as the most dangerous. It’s so deadly in fact, that it gets its very own section.
It’s easy for us all to see the dangers of texting while driving, but even with that knowledge, so many of us fall into the temptation of sending off a fast text message while behind the wheel. But even a quick text can have horrible consequences.
Just think, when you look at your phone, your focus is on the screen, not the road; one hand is off the wheel to hold your device, and your mind drifts to the message instead of the task at hand: driving safely.
Why texting is distracting
To put it into perspective, if you’re traveling at 55 MPH and you take your eyes off the road and onto your phone, you’ve traveled about 100 yards – the length of a football field! That’s quite a distance to cover driving “blind.”
The National Safety Council reports that one out of every four car accidents in the United States is caused by a distracted driver who was texting. They also reported that texting and driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than driving while intoxicated.
Let these driving facts be a wake-up call to the extreme dangers of texting while driving.
Is it Illegal to Use Your Phone While Driving?
The truth is that it depends on which state you live in. As of 2020, the Governors Highway Safety Association reports that there is a hand-held cell phone use ban in 22 states, with 48 states banning text messaging for all drivers. Find out the distracted driving laws for your state to ensure you’re following the rules of the road in your state.
It’s always important to know our state laws, and in your state there may very well be no law preventing you from texting while driving. However, for your safety as well as those in your car, and for anyone else sharing the roads with you, it’s best to stick with a firm “no phone use while driving” mentality.
Types of Distracted Driving
The first step to preventing distracted driving is understanding what it is. In a nutshell, anything that occupies your attention while driving is a distraction. Here are a few notable distractors that should be eliminated while behind the wheel.
Checking your GPS
When it comes to directions, we’ve come a long way from the world of fold-up maps. Today, everyone has a built-in navigation system in the palm of their hands: the smartphone. The only problem is that just one quick glance at your phone’s screen is all it takes for a costly mistake behind the wheel.
Your best bet is to leave your phone in your pocket or purse when driving. But if you must use your phone for directions, enable the voice feature so that you don’t have to look at the screen for every turn.
Sifting through your music device
Trying to find the right song for your road trip is just as dangerous as texting and driving. Your best bet is to pick a playlist prior to getting into your vehicle. Or listen to the radio. The key here is to keep your eyes on the road and not on your music device.
Checking social media
Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, you name it – all of them bide for our constant attention. Don’t fall prey to this when you’re driving. That post, tweet, or message can wait. Avoid checking social media when behind the wheel.
Eating behind the wheel
You may be a pro at eating your burrito on the go, but ingesting your lunch while driving is a big no-no. All it takes is one wayward waffle fry to take your attention from the road to your lap. And it’s not just the mess that distracts; it’s the smell, taste, you name it – that makes eating one of the most distracting things you can do while driving.
Other types of distracted driving
There are a few more forms of distracted driving that could cause an accident. If you’re in the driver’s seat, try to avoid these altogether:
- Taking selfies
- Talking on the phone
- Drinking coffee or another beverage
- Putting on makeup
- Using an app
- Loud music
Top 5 Ways to Prevent Distracted Driving
There are easy ways to prevent distracted driving. Try using making these five simple changes distracted driving safety tips to have a safer driving experience.
Use a text-blocking app
There are many apps available that block texts while driving. Several apps exist with different features, ranging from ones that completely block any incoming or outgoing texts while going a certain speed, to apps that will send a message saying you’re unavailable to respond to an incoming text. Here’s a list from DMV.org with great suggestions for apps to fight distracted driving.
Have a passenger navigate for you
If you’re driving with a passenger (of an appropriate age), hand the directions to them. Even a not-so-great navigator in the passenger seat is better than the person behind the wheel being responsible for both driving and navigating. If you’re driving by yourself, take the time to look at the directions before you set off. Then turn the volume up and let the AI lead the way.
Make music selection easy
Make multiple playlists that you can choose from before starting the car. If you really need to change it up, either pull over or wait for a red light. Set your presets to stations you already know you like. Hitting one button is better than cranking the dial until you find music you like.
Don’t text while driving
If you’re behind the wheel, just put the phone away. Social media can wait. It’s not going anywhere — that we can promise. Are the notifications too tempting? Turn them off! No comment or new tweet is worth the risk.
Eat at home or while stopped
If you’re in a rush and want to keep things moving, consider the hazards of driving while eating behind the wheel. Hopefully you can recognize that the risks outweigh the temptation, and you can wait until you get to your destination to eat.
How Does Distracted Driving Affect Insurance?
For starters, getting into an at-fault accident will almost always make your insurance premium go up, simply because your insurance company now deems you a higher-risk driver. Distracted driving is no exception. Even if you avoid an accident but you get a ticket for distracted driving, you’re susceptible to those increases in insurance.
Why does distracted driving increase insurance? For starters, you may be getting a discount for having a clean driving record. But if you get a ticket, such as for texting while driving, you may no longer be eligible for that discount, and you’ll notice an increase in your premium. Another reason your insurance might go up goes back to being a higher risk. If you’re guilty of distracted driving, an insurance company will consider you a high-risk driver (meaning you’re more likely to file a claim due to an accident) and they’ll set your premiums higher.
Many of the discounts that insurance companies give out revolve around rewarding drivers for having no claims and a good driving record in general. Don’t let distracted driving take away those perks!
Protect Yourself From Distracted Drivers on the Road
Avoiding distracting driving behaviors is a great way to be safe on the road, and car insurance is a great way to stay protected from the unexpected. With American Family you can customize your car coverage to meet your unique needs. Talk to your agent today to find the right coverage for you.
The Insurance Information Institute claims driving while interacting with a mobile device can increase the odds of a crash by as much as 3.5 times, compared to the risks that a sober, alert and attentive driver faces. Teens are more susceptible to collisions, even when speaking hands-free on a mobile phone. Let’s explore the many ways you can help prevent distracted driving accidents.
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