How to Take Care of Your Car
At university, especially during the first year, it is difficult to keep a car at your halls but by the time it gets to third or fourth year there is slightly more flexibility. This is a result of living off campus although in many student areas there are likely to be parking restrictions.
Having a vehicle with you is often a lot easier than relying on public transport which is why Service4Service have produced a list of some top tips for keeping your vehicle in good condition at a low cost whilst you are studying.
Keeping it clean
One of the issues that you should expect with older cars is rust. During the winter it can be easy to forget about washing your car because the chances are it is just going rain again and your vehicle isn’t going to be left droplet free after a good polish. However, it is important that you do not neglect your vehicle during this time.
If you have a spot of metal that is no longer protected by paint you might find during the winter the acid in the rain causes some erosion making the situation worse. Another big problem for the paintwork of your vehicle is bird droppings. If it is not cleaned off within a couple of days this too can also cause erosion.
The best thing you can do to keep the outside of your car in the best condition is to invest in a pressure washer. Now, you don’t have to buy one first hand, there are sure to be lots of second hand ones you can purchase and you might even want to get your housemates to chip in too, especially if you are giving them a lift to and from the campus each day!
MOT and Servicing
Keeping your car running smoothly is important and maintenance work little and often will keep those repair bills down. The odd bump or dink here and there might not seem to be an issue but when it comes to resale it can be. The same comes with tyre and engine wear.
Keeping your tyres fully inflated to the appropriate level will mean that you don’t need them changed as often. 20p twice a month at the local petrol station and a little effort is really nothing compared to the bill for 4 new tyres, especially on a student budget!
An MOT and service is recommended at least once a year to ensure that everything is in full working order. You can have a service carried out at different levels throughout the year even as often as every three months. The more attention and care you take over the vehicle, the less money it is going to cost you in the long run. The vehicle will also hold more value too when it comes to resale.
Insurance
Not only is insurance a legal requirement but it is also very beneficial. If you are in an accident or something happens to your vehicle you won’t have to shell out for the cost yourself. You might also want to consider adding your flatmates to the policy too. Who knows they might even reduce your premium and the longer you have a valid insurance policy the longer you accrue your no claims bonus making the policy cheaper in years to come.
Being at university can often be a tough time financially so looking after your vehicle is important. This means that you are less likely to come across a major financial pay out because bird droppings have rusted your bonnet or you didn’t have your oil checked and the engine has overheated.