The little habits that you have every time you use your car will really add up over time – so it’s important to think about how you treat your vehicle. If you make the effort to form good habits that keep your car in prime condition, you will be able to maintain it’s value if you ever decide to sell it later. Here are some great habits that every car owner should have:
Keep Service Records
Whenever you have the car repaired or serviced, it is important to keep a record of what has been done. If you stay in this habit, when it comes time to sell the vehicle you will have a comprehensive collection of paperwork that proves the vehicle’s oil, battery and tires are in good condition. This will be very helpful when you are selling the car and will ensure that you are getting the best price possible.
Check Your Tire Pressure
If you are in the habit of maintaining the proper tire pressure this will not only keep your car in good condition but will also save you money. Properly inflated tires will give you better petrol mileage. Also, they will reduce your risk of a tire blowout – so checking your tire pressure regularly is also a matter of safety. Checking your tire pressure is not very tricky and you can learn how to do it in only a few minutes. There are tutorials online that will teach you how, as is the case for many other car maintenance tasks.
Wash Your Car Regularly
Every day your vehicle is subjected to grease, grime, tree sap, dead insects, bird poo and all sorts of other debris and dirt from the atmosphere. When these things stay on your car they will eat away at the paint and eventually the metal of the car. Washing your car on a regular basis will prevent this from happening and keep the vehicle looking new for longer. To help you remember, you can schedule it for a certain day every month or associate it with some other regular commitment, such as paying a monthly bill.
Protect Your Upholstery
Do you ever carry messy or dirty items in your vehicle, such as muddy boots, gardening supplies, wet dogs, building materials, foods, paints or other items? If these items spill on, smudge or stain your upholstery this can dramatically bring down your car’s retail value. Fortunately, there are a number of good habits you can have that will protect your vehicle.
For example, you should always be in the habit of using a car boot liner when you are carrying messy items in your car boot. These types of protective liners are made from waterproof plastic and will cover every inch of the boot so that you don’t have to worry about spills. There are liners that are specifically designed for your make and model of car, including Range Rover Boot liners, VW Boot Liners and Audi Boot Liners. They are tailored to fit the vehicle, so they will match the dimensions of the boot perfectly and protect against any spills and stains.
Another important habit is to clean up any spills that occur as quickly as possible. The sooner you clean them up the less likely they are to permanently stain the upholstery.
Removing Rubbish When You Stop
Another good car owner habit is to have a trash bag in your car so that you can place all of your rubbish into it – including food wrappers, tissues, coffee cups, etc. Once the bag is filled, get in the habit of taking it out of the car and throwing it in a bin when you are stopped somewhere. This is a simple habit, but it will make a big difference when it comes to avoiding clutter in your car. If you often carry passengers in your you can also have a rubbish bag back there for them too and ask them nicely to use it rather than putting their rubbish on the floor.
These are just a few of the good habits you can have that will help you to keep your car clean, safe and in excellent working order. Habits can be difficult to establish at first, but once you stick to them for a while they will become second nature and you will do them without even thinking about it.