When you buy a new car, do you read the owner’s manual?  I’m guessing the answer is no unless you are a super owner!  If you answered yes, then kudos to you, you probably know how to maintain your car!

I never look at the manual unless a light comes on and I don’t know what it means, which typically is not a good thing.  Once there is a problem, then you are forking over some serious cash to repair your car.

Just like your home, there are general maintenance recommendations to help extend the life of your vehicle.  This regular maintenance will definitely save you money and decrease the severity/cost of necessary repairs in the long-run.

You may be better than me, but all I really know about my car is where the gas goes, where the wiper fluid goes and how to check my tire pressure.  Good to go right?!

Well, according to general life experience with vehicles (and talking with my husband who worked on cars for a living earlier in his life), there are certain things you should be checking on your own at home:

• Check tire pressure monthly
• Monitor fluid levels (oil, antifreeze, coolant)
• Keep your battery clean
• Monitor windshield wiper quality (are they doing their job or not?)
• Windshield wiper fluid
• Have oil changes at the recommended interval (depends on vehicle and type of oil)
• Rotate tires regularly and have the alignment checked

So what do you do when you know nothing about cars, but want to make sure your vehicle is getting looked over and maintained appropriately (because this will save you money in the long run)?

Read the Owner’s Manual and learn how to do things yourself

Every vehicle is different and will have different requirements/recommendations for maintenance care.  The owner’s manual is the ultimate guide to let you know what your specific vehicle needs. Once you know the needs, then you can learn how to do it via:

• YouTube it
• Have a friend who knows how to do things teach you
• Read books (“Car Maintenance For Dummies”)

Cut a deal with a friend to perform maintenance checks for you

If you know of someone with some car knowledge you would trust, they could be a great resource for you!  Offer to trade them dinner for checking out your vehicle for you. This would be a great deal for you to have someone you trust to tell you when something should be looked at.  

As a bonus, they may be will to teach you how to do some of the maintenance care too.

Have your husband take care of it

This is what happens in our home (for the most part).  I am very lucky that my husband has more than just basic car knowledge to care for our vehicles.  If your husband does not have the know-how already, see if he would be up for learning to do these things so you don’t have to unless you are dying to do this stuff.  

Pay a mechanic to inspect your car and perform all of your regular maintenance (do everything).

If you nor your husband have any interest in learning how to maintain your vehicle(s), the next best thing would be to find a mechanic you trust to do regular inspections for you.  Shop around for a good mechanic: check online reviews, ask friends in your area who they use.

This option is a bit more costly to you versus doing it yourself, but the regular maintenance will still save you money in the long run.

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Pay a mechanic to do the things you don’t want to learn (do some of the stuff).

This is the happy medium option that I tend to fall within.  Your life is busy! You may only have time to do a few brief checks at home every month.  That’s totally okay!

My husband used to do our oil changes, but due to our lifestyle, we decided the cost and convenience of having someone else do it was worth it.

You may find there are some things you are willing to do at home but want to pay someone else to do the rest.  Whatever the reasoning (even if it’s just because you don’t want to do it), just do what works best for you and your family.  We pay for someone else to do the tire rotation, oil changes, and filter changes out of pure convenience.

Car maintenance should be part of your normal life routine in some capacity.  Whether you learn how to DIY it, have a friend take care of it or pay someone else; make sure it is happening!

Are you already a pro at your car maintenance?  What do you DIY?

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