Owning a car gives you the freedom to hit the open road any time you please — windows down, music up, and good times ahead. It also means you’ve made a sizable financial investment, considering a new car in 2024 comes with an average price tag of $47,338. Whether you’re driving a gas-powered car or have transitioned to an electric vehicle, keeping up with maintenance is necessary to extend its lifespan and protect its resale or trade-in value.
Drive Regularly
On average, Americans drive nearly 13,500 miles per year — that’s a lot of commuting. Not every car racks up that kind of mileage (nor does it need to), and some even sit in garages for weeks to months on end. In those cases, car maintenance experts recommend driving your car across town at least once per week. Tires, batteries, fluids, seals, and gaskets can all break down without regular use, but rolling 10 miles onto the odometer once a week can help keep them in shape.
Roll Through the Car Wash Frequently
Rust is one of your car’s biggest enemies, one that comes for all cars eventually. Rust spots are the visual sign of a chemical reaction between iron, oxygen, and water, but they’re more than an eyesore — rust breaks down your vehicle’s metal surfaces and makes them structurally unsound. Sleet, snow, road salt, and general grime can help feed corrosion, but knocking them off with regular washing and waxing every few weeks can extend the life of your car’s paint and frame.
Change Fluids On Schedule
Most drivers know to get their oil changed regularly; how often depends on your model, how frequently you drive, and the kind of oil used. But the other fluids that keep your car running need regular changes, too. Transmission, brake, power steering, and differential fluids all require attention at different mileage points or lengths of time shown in your vehicle manual. And don’t forget about ones you can easily top off at home, like windshield wiper fluid and engine coolant.
Monitor Your Battery’s Health
Batteries are important components for both gas and electric vehicles. After all, no car will start without one. Occasionally cleaning the battery terminals for gas-powered cars with a post cleaner brush can keep the connection strong, and you can use this time to check the battery indicator window, which will show a green dot for a healthy battery or a yellow (or missing color) dot for a battery that’s past its prime and in need of replacement. Regarding electric vehicles, car experts recommend charging them slowly, since fast chargers can degrade your car’s battery over time and shorten its lifespan.
Park Inside Your Garage
Parking indoors doesn’t only make getting in and out of your car more comfortable — it also reduces your vehicle’s exposure to the environment and preserves its paint finish and plastic components. Sunlight and temperature fluctuations can break down windshield wiper blades, fade headlights and plastic covers, and even wear down your battery faster. Parking in a garage can reduce UV and heat exposure.
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Change Your Cabin Air Filter
Cars have cabin air filters that work like your home’s HVAC filters by capturing dust, pollen, and other unpleasant pollutants as air flows into the interior. These filters typically need replacement every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, based on your model, or sooner if you notice musty smells, whistling vents, or reduced airflow when running heat or air conditioning.
Check Your Tires Weekly
Tires are a crucial safety component, and keeping an eye on their condition can prevent roadside emergencies. Highway safety organizations recommend looking over your tires weekly for visible damage, such as cracks, bulges, or embedded objects, and checking tire pressure monthly (including your spare). Tires should also be rotated every 5,000 miles, and replaced as they age — reaching no more than 6 years old.
Use Your Parking Brake
If you last used a parking brake during your driver’s exam, it may be time to start. Sure, parking brakes keep your car from rolling down a hill, but they also take pressure off your transmission’s parking pawl. This pin slides into place when you put the car in park, and activating the parking brake before you shift into P limits stress on that small part. Transmission replacements are one of the most costly car repairs you can incur, so taking this small step every time you park can help your car get further down the road.
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Nicole Garner Meeker is a freelance writer, research editor, and Optimism contributor. Based in St. Louis, she’s an enthusiastic gardener, fiber artist, and connoisseur of fine snacks.
This article is for general informational purposes only.
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