Car Insurance Cost

10 Most Common Yearly Vehicle Maintenance Expenses

Vehicles are more expensive than many people expect. Not only are they pricey to buy, but they include high yearly expenses for insurance and maintenance costs. While some people may be tempted to forgo regular maintenance, poorly-maintained vehicles can end up causing a small fortune because of breakdowns and even accidents. By keeping up with these 10 common maintenance items, you can save money on expensive repairs down the line.

  1. Check your tires and alignment: When your wheels are not properly aligned, the car will pull to one side, causing uneven wear to your tires and even damage to your axle. A car with alignment problems will get poor gas mileage and is prone to dangerous tire blowouts. Even if you avoid an accident, the poor alignment will still cause you to spend money on buying new tires.
  2. Maintain your oil: Most car manuals recommend you change your oil every three months or 3,000 miles. Dirty oil can cause extensive engine damage, and if you have any unidentified oil leaks, you run the risk of running dry and destroying your engine.
  3. Replace your windshield wipers: Oftentimes, people don’t realize that their wipers are worn down until they’re needed, and by then it’s too late. Don’t wait for inclement weather to check your wipers; test them regularly and replace them as needed. Wipers are inexpensive and much cheaper than a car accident caused by poor visibility.
  4. Keep your coolant topped off: Overheating can cause a car to break down, even causing irreparable damage to the engine or transmission. Keeping the engine cool is not difficult, and most people are able to check coolant levels on their own. Once you know where the reservoir is, you can easily check the level and top it off with antifreeze. While water can be used in an emergency for an overheating car, it’s not a good idea long-term: water can freeze inside the engine and destroy it.
  5. Check the engine belts: Your belts don’t need to be replaced regularly, but they should be checked routinely for cracks or damage. Without a belt, the car cannot work properly, and if the belt snaps while the engine’s running it can destroy the engine.
  6. Check your transmission and power steering fluid: These fluids may not need to be changed frequently, but they should be checked and refilled as necessary. It’s easy to have these fluids checked during your next oil change, and will save you time and money if your steering or transmission suddenly fails.
  7. Make sure your headlights and taillights work properly: It can be easy to forget to check your car’s lights, but it’s essential to make sure the lights function correctly. Burnt-out taillights can lead to car accidents, and broken lights can lead to expensive citations from police as well. Every so often, have someone check that your lights are working, and replace bulbs or check wiring as necessary.
  8. Fuel injectors, spark plugs, and fuel filters: Keeping your fuel system clean and well-maintained can help save money long-term with fuel efficiency, and can also prevent your car from breaking down. These parts are cheap and easy to replace yourself, so there’s no reason not to routinely replace worn-out plugs and filters.
  9. Keep a clean battery: Take a peek under your hood occasionally to check the battery connection for corrosion. Faulty connections can lead to your battery draining rapidly, and can even be dangerous. Sometimes, a dead battery only needs to be cleaned and recharged, not replaced.
  10. Maintain your shock absorbers and struts: Not only do shock absorbers cause a smooth ride, they also help keep your vehicle properly aligned and improve fuel efficiency. Over time, poor shocks and worn struts can cause wear on the chassis of the vehicle, so it’s good to keep it well-maintained.