How Often Should You Have Your Car Serviced?

When a vehicle is running well, it’s easy to overlook routine maintenance. Many people feel that if nothing seems to be wrong with their vehicles, there’s no point in taking them to a mechanic. In truth, that’s not the best mindset for vehicle owners to have. Routine maintenance is essential whether you’re dealing with obvious problems or not. It’ll keep your car, truck, van, or SUV running properly and efficiently. It’ll also keep expensive repairs at bay.

When is the right time to have your vehicles serviced, though? The answer to that question isn’t necessarily straightforward. Maintenance needs can vary by vehicle, and several factors come into play here. Read on to learn more about when you should have vehicle maintenance performed by professionals like those at northside auto group san antonio and some additional considerations that can affect a vehicle’s service needs.

Generally Speaking

First, let’s look at the matter from a general perspective. For the most part, experts recommend having vehicles serviced every six months or 5,000 miles. Those are good, round figures that can ensure you have routine maintenance performed before a vehicle sustains significant wear and potentially expensive damage.

Now, let’s delve a bit deeper. Some maintenance needs arise less frequently than others. For example, though you need to have your tires checked, and possibly rotated, at every service appointment, you may only need to have them replaced every five years. General service appointments include checking transmission fluid levels, but you may need to have your transmission fluid changed after 30,000 miles or so. Your coolant and brake fluid may need to be replaced every couple of years as well.

Branching Out

Those are general guidelines for common vehicle maintenance needs. Certain factors can affect how often you need to have your car serviced, though. The type of vehicle you drive and its age are a couple of the most important. With older vehicles, high performance models, and luxury vehicles, more frequent maintenance is often recommended. From there, several other considerations come into play.

Driving Habits

For one, your driving habits can affect how frequently your vehicles need attention and determine the types of service they need. Frequent short drives, like those less than five miles either way, take more of a toll on a car than long drives. Stop-and-go traffic can place a great deal of strain on a vehicle as well. Towing heavy loads and hard braking and acceleration can wear a vehicle down too. If either of those situations is the norm for you, having your vehicles serviced more often is advised.

Where You Drive

Where you live and the conditions your vehicles are up against should be considered as well. If you often drive on dirt roads, dust and debris can get into your air filter and other components and cause significant damage over time. If you live in a coastal area or frequently drive on roads that are covered with salt or brine, those factors can cause corrosion and other issues. In areas with extreme temperatures, vehicles tend to sustain excessive wear and tear. That means they may need maintenance more often.

Keeping Your Vehicles in Top-Notch Condition

In general, vehicles need to be serviced every six months or 5,000 miles. Each vehicle is different, though, and where and how you drive can affect just how often your vehicles need maintenance. Paying attention to those factors and taking your vehicle in for routine maintenance as often as necessary will keep it running well and make it last longer. Though maintenance is an expense, it’s well worth the investment in the long run.