Maintenance Tips for Cars

October 10, 2025

Maintaining your vehicle is often easier than repairing it. In many cases, staying on top of regular maintenance may help reduce the time, cost and effort involved compared to waiting until something breaks. Your vehicle’s condition can affect how it drives, dependability, affordability, safety and even resale value.

We’ll break down some of the key maintenance points to watch out for and provide tips to keep your used vehicle running smoothly for years to come.

Maintenance matters

Many serious car problems start small and manifest into something larger. Regular maintenance like oil changes, brake checks and tire rotations can help sustain your car parts and help identify issues before they become severe. Should you put off maintenance, you may end up paying for towing, premium parts and costly labor.

 Preventative maintenance considerations

The chart below highlights the key areas to watch and maintain, so you can stay ahead of problems to help keep your vehicle running smoothly. Refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual for exact frequency and mileage for maintenance visits.

What to Check	Considerations
Engine Oil	Change oil regularly to ensure the engine parts stay clean and lubricated. If the dash warning light appears, you should have your vehicle checked by a certified technician as soon as possible.
Brakes	If you hear squealing noises, grinding noises, have pulsations when braking or if your pads are a quarter inch or less then you may need to change your brake pads. If the dash warning light appears, you should have your vehicle checked by a certified technician as soon as possible.
Engine Coolant	If the dash warning light appears, coolant level may be low or your engine is overheating.
Windshield Washing Fluid	Can be topped off by you or a service tech.
Belts and Hoses	Replace if they appear to be overworn or if they feel brittle.
Battery	Corrosion on the terminals, slow engine cranking, or dim headlights can indicate a problem with the battery or alternator. If the dash warning light appears, you should have your vehicle checked by a certified technician as soon as possible.
Tires	Regular tire rotations, alignments and maintaining proper air pressure can all help prevent uneven tire wear and maintain safe handling. If the dash warning light appears, check tire pressure and adjust them to the correct pressure with an air compressor. If the warning light reappears, have your tires checked by a certified technician.
Information in this table is intended as a general recommendation. Please refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for information for your specific make and model.

What to Check

It is important to listen to your vehicle and stay proactive. By creating a maintenance calendar and keeping records of service, you can stay on top of your vehicle’s condition and maintenance needs. You can even do some of these inspections yourself.

Other symptoms to look out for:

Vibrations or tension when driving
Sudden drops in fuel efficiency 
Puddles or leaks under your vehicle after operating 
Any dashboard warning lights that come on
Grinding, pulsing or squealing brakes
Any knocking or unusual ticking 
Burning smells (rubber or oil)

Maintenance on older vehicles

Owning an older vehicle doesn’t mean you are constantly encountering problems. With the right preventative care, your vehicle can often be just as reliable as a newer model. Common issues in older vehicles can be deterioration of rubber components, gaskets and seals, rust, malfunctioning sensors and suspension wear.

Do it yourself

You can even do some of your own vehicle maintenance at home like cleaning your vehicle, changing wiper blades, topping off fluids, replacing the air filter and checking tire pressure. Doing these small tasks yourself can save you money and help maintain resale value.

So, if you’re feeling handy, grab a bucket, some soap and wax, and give your ride a nice cleaning. Thoroughly washing and waxing your vehicle once a year or more can help keep your vehicle free from scratches and rust.

Call a pro

Sometimes, maintenance and repairs are more than you can handle. Should you hear strange noises like grinding or squealing, if you notice smoke, or if your ride feels more bumpy than normal, now is the time to call in an expert. A lot of vehicles even tell you there is something wrong with dash warning lights and notifications. Just make sure you don’t ignore these signals and be sure to visit a service center right away.

At CarBravo, we not only sell certified used vehicles, but we have thousands of Certified Service centers nationwide with Certified Service technicians who are trained to work on all makes and models using the best parts. Check us out next time your vehicle needs some maintenance or a repair.