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Keeping a car in good condition is often a simple matter of investing a little bit of time, energy, and money over a year.
But, if your schedule is packed with other commitments, you might lack the time to commit to basic maintenance.
Maintenance isn’t an option when it comes to cars, and many things are required by law, so let’s take a look at some of the ways you can get around this problem without having to change your whole life around.
Start with Regular Servicing
By having your car serviced regularly, you’ll be able to anticipate and avoid costly and time-consuming breakdowns.
You can, therefore, view the practice as an investment in the long-term reliability of your vehicle.
When your car doesn’t break down as often, in other words, you’ll save more time and money than you invested in preventative maintenance.
The good news is that booking a spot at a local garage is easier than ever before, thanks to digital technology.
Simply use a search engine to search for phrases such as ‘car servicing near me,’ for a range of options, often this is the quickest way to find garages close to you and book your appointment with ease.
Leverage Technology for Maintenance
It’s now possible to track the performance and mileage of your car using modern apps and telematics.
You might set things up so that you get a notification when you’ve either crossed a given mileage threshold or a certain amount of time has elapsed.
For busy professionals or people who simply forget about car maintenance, these tools can be great time savers.
Understand Seasonal Needs
During winter, your car might come under additional stress, thanks to freeze-thaw cycles and slippery road surfaces.
There are several changes you might make in advance of winter to give your car the best possible chance of weathering the poor road conditions.
You might replace your battery or check the tread on your tyres. Swapping oil, antifreeze, and screenwash for special winter-formulated versions of the same products can also be worthwhile.
Cars are built for most to all weather conditions, but this doesn’t mean you don’t need to do these things; helping keep a car in good working order by considering the effect time of year has on the car makes for a safer car.
Prioritise MOT Tests
Under UK law, all road vehicles older than three years must undergo an annual MOT test.
Booking this test a month in advance of the renewal date will allow you to keep that renewal date in subsequent years.
Remember, there is no grace period with an MOT, it needs to be done before your previous one runs out, or you can’t legally drive your car on public roads or even park on them.
Most MOT tests only take an average of 45 minutes, so it doesn’t take too long out of your day, and you need to make sure to keep up to date with them, for your own and other road user’s safety.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance
Electric and hybrid vehicles are becoming more and more common. These vehicles come with special components, so you may need to do a more specific search for garages near you that deal with Electric or Hybrid vehicles.
Many things in electric or hybrid cars need the same attention as other vehicles, but there are also new components that not every car garage knows how to look after.
It’s therefore worth forming a good relationship with a local garage that deals in EV servicing.
Save Time with Mobile Mechanics
Of course, visiting a garage is a time commitment in and of itself. As an alternative to this, you can have a mechanic visit you at your home or workplace.
You may have to pay more for the service, and, likely, the mechanic won’t have access to the same tools and equipment as a car garage.
But the time-saving and convenience often make this practice worthwhile, especially when you have commitments but you want to make sure what you are driving is safe for you and your passengers.
Consider Eco-Friendly Practices
If you’re worried about sustainability, then you might modify your motoring behaviour.
This can be something as simple as driving a little bit slower to reduce fuel consumption, getting the car maintained proactively, disposing of your tyres responsibly when the time comes to replace them, or even walking more often.
However, remember to not leave a car unused for too long, as this can cause problems with your car.
In the end, it comes back to keeping a car in good condition saves you money so making a plan to invest a little bit of time and energy over the year is always worth it.
