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You finally purchased the car of your dreams and you’re enjoying driving it around town, congratulations. To keep this dream car of yours running in the best shape possible, measures need to be taken to maintenance it. There are seven key steps that every car owner must know to keep their car maintenance and running at optimal performance. These steps range from insurance to detailing and everything in between. You paid a lot of good money for your vehicle, it’s only right to treat it the best way possible and get the most out of it. With these car maintenance key steps, your car will last much longer and run better.

Read the owner’s manual

To some car owners, the owner’s manual is just a booklet in the glove compartment that is there to take up space. For others, it’s a guide to how to correctly use your vehicle. The owner’s manual is very important in car maintenance. It contains vital information about your car. Anything from what kind of bulbs is in your brake lights to what kind of engine oil you need to change your oil. These are important pieces of information needed to operate your vehicle the best way possible and it’s all located inside of the owner’s manual, all you have to do is give it a read.

Change your oil

Yes, it’s easy to take your car to the shop and pay a mechanic to give it an oil change. However, if you learn how to do it then it’s much easier for you to just change your own oil in your car. It’s a simple process that can be found online. It will save you both money and time. Additionally, you can research what kind of oil your car will burn best and use that when you change it. Changing the oil in your car as frequently as needed is a key step in getting the maximum results from your vehicle.

Insurance

Apparently, a majority of new car owners and beginner drivers don’t know what they’re buying when it comes to car coverage & comprehensive insurance quote. For example, you get in an accident, and you do not have car insurance. You could get caught up in a lot of trouble(a legal standpoint). Plus, you could be responsible for all costs, including any costs that the other party has. That is why you must have insurance. It would protect you in good times and bad.

Pop the hood

Looking underneath the hood of your car can be a great way to make sure everything is running well. This is basic in car maintenance. You don’t need to be a mechanic to examine your belts and make sure everything looks as it’s supposed to look. Inspecting the belts, hoses and engine bay are simple things a car owner can do to make sure everything looks in place and nothing is damaged. Doing this once every few months can really help in making your car last years. Don’t be afraid to look underneath the hood of your car and see what’s going on.

Check your tires

Frequently checking your tire pressure is a great way to reduce trips to the mechanic and take care of your vehicle. If you’re constantly having lower tire pressure then it might be a sign you need to see a dealer because something might be wrong with your tires and you can fix it before it gets worse and costs you more money. Additionally, good tire maintenance will lead to you not needing to purchase new tires as much and saving you money down the road.

Test the lights

Testing the lights on your vehicle could save you a ton of money because you can buy better bulbs than the mechanic suggests at a price you find on your own. It’s important to test all of the lights on your car at least every other month to make sure they are working properly. You might need to call a friend or relative to hit the brake and turn on different lights while you examine it. This will save you and your car down the road and you’ll never have to worried about getting pulled over for having a light out.

Replace windshield wipers

Replacing the windshield wipers on your car is a basic car maintenance step that any and every car owner should know how to do. It doesn’t take long to do and you can easily find out how by researching it online. You can also research the best windshield wipers to use for your car and buy high-quality wipers that will work well and last a long time.

Wash and detail your car

The last key step is keeping your car clean. This step might seem like an obvious one but it’s a very important in car maintenance. Keeping the inside and outside of your car clean from junk and clutter is an easy ad great way to prevent long term damage. Your vehicle is forced to endure multiple things like snow, ice, salt and rain. These can really damage the paint on the outside of your vehicle and other functions. Making sure your vehicle is clean is a crucial step in keeping it maintained.