One thing I didn’t miss about lockdown was having to keep up with my car’s bougie maintenance schedule. This year I made the decision to use a professional valet service instead of putting it through the hand car wash and although it’s more expensive the results are amazing and you don’t have to leave the house. I’ve learned a lot from doing this. I’ve learned that your paintwork can get damaged in hand car washes because not as much care is taken during the washing process. Cars are expensive machines if they are not looked after properly, with the inconvenient cost of repairs and/ or fines adding to the usual running expenses of fuel, oil and servicing. Here’s your winter checklist to ensure you don’t spend any more precious time or pennies than you have to whether you own your car or have a hire car with KJ PCO.
MOT Regularly
A simple one. Take your car for its MOT when it is due. You can book the MOT for any time in the month preceding the anniversary without losing that date (effectively giving you a 13-month MOT) so make sure you book your car in promptly and be happy that all the cars on the road must undertake the same test, keeping everyone on the roads that much safer!
Drive Sensibly
Get into the practice of driving safely and sensibly all the time. As someone who recently got a speeding fine, I know it can be tempting, especially on a wide-open, and seemingly empty, road, to floor it – resist that temptation and remember your highway code! Accidents happen in the merest split-second of inattention, and driving in a reckless fashion increases the odds of your becoming a statistic or having to pay for a fine.
Look to the Wheels
Your wheels are what keep you safely on the road and going in the right direction. Keep them inflated to recommended levels, ensure that your tread depth is legally compliant and check the alignment and balance regularly too. You can book wheel alignment at Jet Wheel Tyre to ensure that your tyres and wheels are actively working to keep you roadworthy.
Maintain It
As well as a professional clean inside and outside, check your vehicle several times throughout the year. This should be done weekly or fortnightly if you drive a lot, monthly or quarterly if you seldom drive anywhere. Draw up a little checklist of things to look for – take inspiration from the MOT checklist, perhaps – and tick off all the items as often as you think necessary.
Not only will this keep your car roadworthy, but it will also make your MOT even more painless!
