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Tips for vehicle maintenance no matter how much you drive

The number of employees telecommuting in the United States is steadily on the rise. According to PayScale, remote work has increased 91 percent over the last decade to 4.7 million people in 2019.

If you work remotely some or all of the time, even if you aren't driving as much as normal, you still need to keep up with car maintenance. Read on to learn why.

A man checking the air pressure in a car's tire.

Why You Need to Maintain Your Car

Here is why regular vehicle maintenance is so important:

It keeps your engine running and all systems functioning properly. When you're not using your vehicle, it's easy to forget about filter changes, oil checks, replacing the coolant, and changing the spark plugs. But all of these things are important to keep your car running smoothly.
It ensures your vehicle is safe to drive. Whenever you're driving, you need a safe vehicle. Keeping up with your car's maintenance will help keep everything from the engine to the transmission to the brakes working properly.
It saves time and money. If you don't maintain your vehicle properly, anything could break or malfunction — and that never happens at a convenient time. If you break down when you're on the road, you'll need roadside assistance, immediate repairs, and possibly a rental car until your vehicle is fixed.
It keeps your vehicle's value high. If you want to sell your vehicle after a couple of years, it's helpful if you can prove your car has had regular maintenance.

What You Need to Pay Attention To

There are certain things you can easily do yourself in regard to car maintenance. Every 30 days, you should check that the engine light is off, make sure the lights are working, check the tire tread and inflation, check your windshield washer fluid, and clean the interior and exterior of the vehicle.

However, there are other things that are best done by a mechanic, such as checking the transmission fluid, belt condition, cables and battery, fuel filter, exhaust, power steering fluid, and hoses. You should also have your mechanic check the chassis lubrication, windshield wiper blades, engine air filter, cabin air filter, coolant, and steering and suspension.

Remain Vigilant

Even if you're not driving as much as normal, it's important to keep up with your vehicle's maintenance in order for it to be safe. So make sure your vehicle is in good working order, and bring it into a reputable auto repair shop for upkeep on a regular basis.

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