Dear Just Be: How do I know when to have my car maintenanced?

Approximately 75% of American’s own a car. This is a big investment for many people. Sadly, not enough people maintain their investment. Failure to maintain your car or truck can be very costly for you (monetarily) and others (physically due to an accident). However, if you do follow your car’s maintenance schedule, you save money on repairing and replacing prematurely worn parts and you may save money on fuel consumption because your car will run properly.

The first step in figuring out when to take your car in for maintenance is looking at your car’s owner manual. If you don’t have the owner’s manual, locate the parts department of a dealership that sells your type of car or truck, and ask them to order one for you. Keep the manual in a convenient location for quick reference. The owner’s manual is THE resource of maintenance information for your car.

Another quick way to determine your car’s maintenance needs is on how and where you drive. Your automobile manufacturer will then provide you a schedule on when to take your car in for maintenance based on if your driving habits are “normal” or “severe.” Below are definitions of what is considered normal and severe driving conditions.

Normal:
Highway driving on paved roads in relatively dust-free areas

Severe:
Stop-and-go city driving
Driving in extremely cold weather
Dusty driving conditions
Towing a trailer
Idling for long periods
Trips less than 10 miles

Vehicles that drive in severe conditions will require more maintenance than those that drive in normal conditions.

For more information on vehicle maintenance visit:
American Automobile Association