Whether you by a car new or used, both require upkeep and maintenance if you hope to get the longest life out of them. You may think to yourself “I’m no mechanic” how am I supposed to maintain my own vehicle? Don’t worry we have found that it's actually pretty simple to maintain your own vehicle. These 9 simple tips will help you maintain your vehicle and give you peace of mind.  

Keep Your Tires Secure

One of the best ways you can extend your cars life is by checking the tires. Just like its worth investing the time to take care of your shoes, it is definitely worth the time to take care of your tires. There are 3 simple tasks you can do to check your tires:

• Check air pressure
• Rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
• Check the alignment of your tires

Your tires are in constant contact with a variety of different surfaces. Asphalt, Grass, Concrete, and a myriad of other surfaces all place a different strain on your tire.

Check Your Lights

Your car’s lights are incredibly important to maintain. Lights not only help signal your actions to other drivers, but they also help you drive in dangerous driving conditions. Before your next drive you can take these simple steps to check your lights:

• Check your rear brake lights
• Make sure your left turn signal and right turn signal appear
• If a light is getting dim replace it. Many gas stations sell car light bulbs

Remember, there are a number of weather conditions to be aware of. You don’t want to be caught with bad lights in any of these conditions.

Perform Regular Service Checks

Regular service checks will prevent your car from falling apart. Service checks are based on the mileage of your vehicle. Esurance recommends you get your car serviced every 15,000 miles. Getting your car serviced at this frequency will help you extend the life of your car.

Practice Windshield Wiper Care

Your car will experience wear and tear over time, windshield wipers are no exception. You can extend the life of your windshield wipers by making sure you only use them when there is water on the window.

Check Your Battery

Have you ever had to give someone a jump? It is usually an awkward experience. You can prevent needing a jump by checking your battery level on a semi-frequent basis. Make sure to check your battery gauge and get a battery charge when low.

Check Your Oil

Oil ensures that your engine runs smoothly. You can easily check your oil in 10 minutes by opening the front trunk of your car to inspect the oil dip stick. If the stick smells like gas or is excessively dirty you may need an oil change.

Read Your Owner’s Manual

Every car come’s with an owner’s manual. Your owner’s manual will inform you of the way your car works. You may not feel like an expert after reading it, but you will be able to have more informed conversations when you take your vehicle to a mechanic.

Maintain Cabin Air Filter

Changing the cabin air filter will ensure your car stays smelling fresh. You can easily remove your cabin air filter and replace it with another one for cheap.

Download “Autocare” Vehicle Maintenance App

With a busy life, it can seem daunting to remember all of these maintenance tips for your vehicle needs. Luckily you can use technology to make your life easier! Autocare is an app that makes maintaining your vehicle easier by recording the maintenance you perform on your car. Main functions of this app include:

• Store all vehicles you own
• Tracks gas mileage and vehicle maintenance
• Sync with iCloud
• Analytical Report of MPG, gas expenses and service expenses
• Customizable service reminders
• Easy measurement conversion tips from the metric system to the imperial system

Having an app that can track your gas mileage and remind you of the maintenance you have done to your vehicle will prove invaluable to extending the life of your car.

Remember Preventative Maintenance Saves Money

By following these tips you are well on your way to saving money. Performing these steps can lead to reduced repair costs, improved vehicle mileage, and increased passenger safety. Talk about lifesaving.