A beginner’s car maintenance checklist and servicing guide
Keeping up with car maintenance is an important part of vehicle ownership.
Even if you don’t drive far or often, not following your car’s servicing schedule could damage its engine or void its warranty. By getting into the habit of servicing your car regularly, you may help yourself to avoid unexpected – and often expensive – trips to the mechanic.
While you’re at it, consider making sure your insurance is up to scratch too. If you have an AAMI Insurance policy – especially leading up to a renewal – log in and make sure everything still suits your circumstances.
Visiting your mechanic
When should I service my car?
Your vehicle’s logbook states when your car should be serviced (both time and distance-based). This is either a book of its own, or may be located at the back of your owner’s manual.
If you can’t access your vehicle’s logbook, a general rule of thumb for servicing is every six months or 10,000 km – whichever comes first.
What can I expect?
For a standard service, your mechanic will check signs of use and wear, as well as the required maintenance listed in your vehicle’s logbook. They’ll also probably check your engine oils, lights, steering, suspension, tyres and windscreen wipers.
Your logbook will indicate when your vehicle needs a more comprehensive service – the type that may take most of the day.
Of course, if you notice anything unusual between services it doesn’t hurt to head to your mechanic for a quick check up.
Who should service my vehicle?
You don’t need to visit your car dealer for servicing but it’s crucial that you do use a mechanic with the proper accreditations for your state.
To get the best value for money, it can be useful to shop around and ask for quotes from a few businesses.
Car maintenance checklist for at home
There are a few things to keep on eye on between visits to the mechanic. We’ve put together this checklist to help you spot a small issue before it gets big – or even just for peace of mind.
Basic car safety checklist
Tyre checklist
- Check the tread depth
- Check the tyre pressure
- Look for anything stuck in the tyres
- Check your wheel alignment
For a more comprehensive rundown, read our blog on how to check your tyres.
Fluids checklist
- Check your windscreen washer levels
- Make sure your engine has enough oil
- Check your transmission fluid
- Inspect your radiant coolant
- Check your brake fluid
Lights checklist
- Turn on your hazards and ensure your indicators work
- Make sure the headlights are clean, uncracked and not hazy
- Check your reversing lights and brake lights work
Other things to check
- Test your battery
- Check your wiper blades
- Don’t forget your A/C
- Keep an eye out for rust or dents
- Inspect your mirrors and windscreen
- Make sure your brakes are responsive and aren’t squeaking
- Any unusual noises – they’re usually a great indication something’s wrong!
How often should you check your oil?
If the oil runs out, your engine will seize and there’s a good chance of major damage occurring. Checking your oil once a month should prevent this from happening.
Remember to consult your owner’s manual or a mechanic if you need a hand topping anything up.
How often should you clean your car?
Give your car a little TLC by aiming to clean it inside and out every fortnight.
Not only will it keep your car looking sleek, it gives you an excuse to check your paintwork for any chips and scratches.
If you notice any, consider using vehicle touch-up paint to fix it and to help prevent any rust from developing.
How often should you check your tyre pressure?
You should check your tyre pressure once a month – simply use the pump at your local service station the next time you top up your petrol.
How do you maintain your car battery?
While a car battery’s life is finite, you can prolong it by driving your car regularly. It’s that simple!
Your engine’s alternator will produce electricity while you drive, and this keeps the battery topped up. A weekly drive between 10-30 minutes is usually enough.
After about five years, you may want to check with a professional on whether it needs a full replacement.
How often should you replace your car’s engine air filter?
These filters help prevent dust, dirt and debris from contaminating the engine, and make sure it maintains performance and fuel efficiency.
So, the short answer to when it should be replaced? When it’s dirty!
Though it’s easy to forget, this usually works out to be once a year, or around 50,000 to 70,000 kms.
Mistakes that can cause damage to your car
Ignoring strange sounds
This is one of the clearest ways your car can communicate that something’s wrong. Ignoring it can lead to issues becoming bigger, costlier and unavoidable down the road – literally.
If you hear a strange sound – a bang or a squeak or a scrape – take a closer look. And if you find something or are still unsure, book with a professional to make sure it’s not a deeper problem.
Continuing to drive when your car is overheating
It’s not safe to drive a car with an overheating engine. Doing this can risk permanent engine damage and may be costlier than standard maintenance, since replacing a whole engine is obviously a lot more expensive than replacing the individual parts that caused the overheating.
The most shocking – and dangerous – risk is the engine, and then the rest of the vehicle, catching fire. That’s definitely something we recommend avoiding.
Riding your brakes downhill
While slowing a descent down a hill is a normal thing to do, starting to brake once you’re already rolling down can lead to damage. This is due to:
- wearing out your brakes at a faster rate
- overheating the brake pads, or
- potentially increasing the risk of losing control with sudden or hard stops.
Instead, consider slowing down before you start the descent, and gradually braking as your move downhill. This can prolong the life of your brake pads, maintain traction and keep you safe.
Skipping oil changes
While this may be tempting to save money in the short term, the damage in the longer term will be more expensive to address.
Skipping oil changes can lead to serious engine damage as oil becomes less effective over time.
Renew your car insurance
While the points above focus on the physical elements of car maintenance, you shouldn’t forget to check your insurance!
When your policy is due for renewal, it’s a good time to go over everything you do and don’t need on your policy.
Compare car insurance quotes
Just like finding the right mechanic, having the insurance that suits your needs can take a little research.
Take a look and see if AAMI's Comprehensive Car Insurance , with its choice of optional extras, suits you.
If you’re after something that just covers the basics, like damage your car might cause to other people’s cars or property, Third Party Property Damage Car Insurance might be more your speed.
Read more:
- Car Insurance renewal prices explained
- How to check your tyres
- More ways to save on your AAMI policy
Insurance is issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 AFSL 230859 (AAI) trading as AAMI. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance.. The Target Market Determination is also available.
The information is intended to be of a general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law, we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon it – please make your own enquiries.
This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.