5 Maintenance Tips for your Teen's First Car
Being a teenager is a time of change, discovery, and newfound freedom, and few things represent that freedom more accurately than your teen’s first car (and, hopefully, a good auto insurance plan). Whether they’re driving their own car or the family’s vehicle, teens have an increased risk of being involved in an accident due to their inexperience, but teens driving their own vehicles are 2.5 times as likely to crash.
Young drivers are just learning the basics of the road, and they’ll need a few years’ experience before they have the skillset of a developed, adult driver, but it’s never too early to learn how to take care of your vehicle, so we gathered up these five easy tips to help you and your teen make the most out of their first vehicle.
1. Know Your Vehicle’s Maintenance Schedule
Every car comes with an owner’s manual, and within that owner’s manual is a complete guide to taking care of your car – you just need to know where to look for it! Flip through a few pages and check the table of contents to find your vehicle’s required maintenance schedule for information on how often to change fluids, oils, brakes, tires, and filters.
2. Don’t Ignore Your Tires
If you take good care of your tires, they’ll take good care of you, so pay close attention to things like tire pressure, wear, and tear. Be sure to keep your tires inflated to the tire pressure setting indicated in your owner’s manual, and regularly check on them to catch any damage before it becomes a problem.
3. Dashboard Warning Lights Don’t Lie
The Check Engine light isn’t just a friendly reminder that your car has an engine inside of it – it means there’s some sort of problem, and even if that problem doesn’t immediately impact your driving experience, it does require your attention. Don’t ignore dashboard lights – if one of them comes on, get to the bottom of the issue and your vehicle will last longer and cost you less. Comparing car insurance quotes can make you realize how much it can really cost to drive a car, and getting your first unexpected repair bill is even worse.
4. Don’t Wait for the Gas Tank to Bottom Out
In many vehicles, gasoline doesn’t just serve as fuel – it’s also lubricant and coolant for the engine. That means that your vehicle needs a little extra to keep running efficiently and safely, so it’s never a good idea to let your gas tank run to the last drop.
5. Slow Down
Driving fast might be a rush, and it might seem like a good idea if you’re running late to class, but there is no good reason to speed. It’s bad for your vehicle, and it’s an irresponsible risk to yourself and other drivers. Driving slower gets you better gas mileage, and pushing your car to the limit puts immense strain on your vehicle, permanently damaging the engine.
Start your teen’s life behind the wheel off right by sharing these essential driving tips today. Who knows, you could save your family quite a bit of money! Looking for more ways to save money? Call us today to learn about our low-cost liability insurance – perfect for new drivers and drivers on a budget.
