What Are the Benefits of Performing Regular Car Maintenance?

If you own a car, then you know that car maintenance is just a fact of life. However, sometimes the expenses required to take care of your car can make you forget that there are some definite advantages to doing so. Here’s a look at some of the benefits you get from taking care of your car regularly.

Retaining the Value

All cars lose value over time. The question is how much value will your car lose? If you take care of your car for as long as you own it, then, generally speaking, you can count on it selling for more or being more valuable as a trade-in when you’re ready to get rid of it. Doing things like taking it through the car wash regularly, changing the oil every 3,000 miles, and getting small dents and scratches repaired count as just a few of the ways you can give your car some TLC.

Maintaining Your Warranty

If you’ve never given much thought to your car’s warranty, maybe you should. A warranty is basically a contract that you sign with your dealership. Properly maintaining your car can ensure that your car's warranty remains in effect. These required repairs or replacement obligations are typically spelled out in the contract. Making an effort to repair or replace parts as they wear out can keep your car’s warranty in good standing. This, in turn, protects you if you ever need to have some major work done on your car because you’ll have kept up your end of the contract.

You Won’t Be Left Stranded

Doing things like changing out old batteries, replacing worn-out brakes or tires, and adding fluids, like antifreeze to your car during the winter, keeps your car in tip-top shape. A car that’s in good shape tends to break down less. Not taking care of your car may strand you unexpectedly or cause a wreck, because you didn’t stay on top of your car’s regular upkeep. Maintaining your car is just safer than letting it fall into a state of disrepair. If you’re not sure when you should have these repairs done, then consult your car’s owner’s manual. That being said, it is generally best to have your car serviced at least once a year, or every 12,000 miles. If you drive your car a lot, then you may also want to add a six-month interim checkup. When you get your car serviced, the mechanic usually changes the oil and other fluids. Your car may also get new filters, a visual inspection and a spark-plug change amongst other things.

Most people can’t live without a car. It gets them to work and allows them to run errands and even take care of emergencies sometimes. On a less dramatic front, taking the time to repair or maintain your car usually allows you to save money on gas, oil, and other expenses. Your car runs better when it’s maintained, so it costs you less. It just makes sense to keep your car repaired. Not doing so costs you more money in the long run.