We can often fall into bad habits when it comes to maintaining a car, assuming that it would be obvious if anything was wrong. However, that is not always the case and some basic, regular checks can help to maintain the safety of your vehicle and also potentially save money in the long run. For example, if your engine oil runs low and you ignore it, your engine could be damaged which can be very costly to repair. Small chips in windows can also turn into large cracks quite quickly, particularly on the windscreen where the damage can be caused by stones flicked up from vehicles in front. Therefore keeping an eye on any chips and getting them repaired as soon as possible can help reduce the likelihood of needing the entire windscreen replaced.

Tyres that are running low on air or have lost their tread can be quite dangerous and reduce efficiency, so they need to be checked now and again. Many petrol stations have pumps to refill tyres, and sometimes different pressures are recommended for different road conditions so checking the handbook may be worthwhile. Water and screenwash levels should be kept topped up and lights must be checked to ensure they are all working correctly – a broken headlight can leave a car looking like a motorcycle at night.

Finally it is important to keep essentials handy in case there is an incident or emergency – a toolkit and perhaps a hi-vis jacket in case you ever need to stop at the roadside.