While it may seem unnecessary and inconvenient, regular vehicle maintenance is a necessity. This is even when your vehicle seems to be performing just fine without even a hint of a problem. Proper maintenance prolongs the life of a vehicle and also ensures your brakes work efficiently, the steering is accurate, and your tyre treads are within legal limits.
Additionally, a well-maintained vehicle is less likely to experience mechanical failures that could lead to road traffic accidents. Neglecting routine maintenance, such as failing to replace worn tyres or ignoring warning lights, significantly increases the likelihood of accidents. Faulty brakes, insufficient tyre tread, or broken or faulty lights can compromise your ability to respond quickly to hazards, leading to collisions that might have been entirely preventable.
Legal Requirements for Vehicle Maintenance in the UK
UK law mandates that vehicles meet specific safety standards, such as passing an annual MOT (Ministry of Transport) test, to ensure their suitability for use on public roads. This test assesses various facets of the vehicle’s roadworthiness and environmental standards, including brakes, lights, tyres, and emissions. Failure to pass the MOT means your vehicle is deemed unroadworthy and cannot legally be driven on public roads until the necessary repairs are made.
Failure to comply with these requirements can result in significant legal penalties. Drivers caught driving a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate may face hefty fines and could also incur penalty points on their licence. If a defect is discovered after an accident, the consequences can be even more severe, potentially leading to imprisonment.
7 Key Aspects of Vehicle Maintenance
Regular vehicle maintenance involves inspecting and resolving various components to ensure roadworthiness. These are some of the most important features that require consistent attention:
-
Tyre Safety
Tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, making their condition crucial for the safety of the driver, passengers and other road users. Worn tyres can significantly reduce grip, especially in wet conditions, increasing the risk of skidding and increasing braking distances.
Additionally, maintaining the correct tyre pressure is essential for optimal handling and fuel efficiency. Over or under-inflated tyres can lead to uneven wear, reduced control, and even blowouts.
-
Brakes
The braking system should always be in optimal working condition. Worn brake pads or low brake fluid levels can compromise a vehicle’s stopping power, which can make the difference between life and death in emergencies.
Regular servicing ensures that potential issues with the braking system are identified and resolved promptly. Aside from scheduled servicing, it helps to routinely inspect the brakes for signs of wear, such as squeaky noises, reduced responsiveness, or a vibrating brake pedal.
-
Lights and Indicators
Properly functioning lights and indicators are critical for visibility and communication with other road users. Headlights, rear lights, brake lights, and indicators must be visible and checked regularly to ensure they are working correctly. Faulty or dim lights can reduce visibility at night or in adverse weather, while broken indicators can lead to miscommunication with other drivers, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
-
Suspension and Steering
The suspension and steering system directly affect a vehicle’s handling and stability. If your vehicle pulls to one side or bounces excessively while driving, or the tyres are unevenly worn out, these could indicate potential issues with the suspension or alignment. Regular checks ensure that your suspension and steering function efficiently, providing a safe driving experience.
-
Fluid Levels and Engine Health
Engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and windscreen washer fluid are critical fluids that a vehicle relies on to function efficiently. A lack of engine oil can cause severe engine damage, while too low levels of coolant can lead to overheating. Checking the levels and topping up these fluids regularly help avoid costly repairs and ensure the vehicle drives smoothly.
-
Windscreen and Wipers
A clear windscreen is essential for maintaining an unobstructed view of the road. Cracks, chips, or other damage can impair visibility or weaken the windscreen’s structural integrity.
Windscreen wipers must also be in good condition, with blades that effectively clear rain and debris. Failing to replace worn windscreen wiper blades can result in streaks and reduced visibility, especially in rain and bright or low sunshine.
Checking both routinely and replacing either one at the first sign of damage can help prevent unnecessary car accidents.
-
Battery and Electrical Systems
The battery and electrical systems are often overlooked but are vital for starting the vehicle and powering its electronics. A quick inspection to check that the battery is charged and terminals are corrosion-free is enough to prevent unexpected problems on the road and keep the vehicle functioning properly.
Performing Vehicle Maintenance at Home Vs. Regular Professional Inspections
While there are some checks you can perform at home, it is best to leave more complex inspections to the professionals.
Monitoring tyre pressure and fluid levels or inspecting the windscreen, wipers, lights, and indicators are basic checks that you can perform at home. In fact, these checks should be performed regularly before driving off in your vehicle A few minutes spent assessing these basic features can help keep you safer on the road. Not all checks are this simple, however. Regular professional inspections at a service centre are mandatory to maximise safety on the road.
Service centres employ qualified mechanics who have the expertise and training necessary to inspect and fix the more complex components and systems. These professionals also have the right tools at their disposal, which is something most homeowners don’t have. Trying to make do with an improvised tool can do even more damage to the vehicle.
Professional inspections typically include diagnostic tests to detect hidden issues, such as electronic faults or minor leaks, that could compromise safety if left unaddressed. Mechanics also perform maintenance tasks such as oil and filter changes, brake adjustments, and checks on the battery, tyres, and lights, all of which keep the vehicle in optimal condition.
At a scheduled servicing, the mechanic can also check the suspension and engine performance, which usually do not exhibit obvious signs of wear or malfunction until too late. Identifying these problems early can lessen the odds of sudden breakdowns or accidents caused by mechanical failures.
Benefits of Regular Professional Servicing
The benefits of regular professional vehicle servicing far outweigh the costs.
Regular servicing helps prevent small issues from becoming major problems. For instance, a minor oil leak detected during a service can be fixed promptly, avoiding costly engine repairs down the road.
Servicing also ensures that your brakes and tyres are functioning correctly. A well-maintained vehicle is more predictable and responsive, especially in emergencies.
Crucially, many vehicle warranties require owners to adhere to a regular servicing schedule. Failing to meet these requirements could void the warranty, leaving drivers responsible for exorbitant repair costs that might otherwise be covered.
Last but not least, a vehicle that has a regular servicing history demonstrates that it has been well cared for, making it more appealing to potential buyers. It also increases the vehicle’s market value.
Make sure to maintain detailed records of all inspections and servicing as proof of compliance with legal and warranty requirements and to keep track of recurring issues.
Consequences of Neglecting Vehicle Maintenance
Understanding the benefits of regular professional inspection and servicing gives you only half the picture. What’s more important is understanding what can happen if you’re negligent in this regard.
Failure to maintain your vehicle can have far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the inconvenience of unexpected breakdowns. It could endanger your life and that of the passengers in the car as well as other road users and result in legal issues and financial losses.
A lesser-known consequence of neglecting maintenance is that it can invalidate your insurance policy, leaving you personally liable for damages in the event of an accident. You may also face legal action, including prosecution for dangerous driving or manslaughter in severe cases. These situations can result in significant financial liabilities, legal fees, and even imprisonment.
Last but not least, ignoring minor issues more often than not leads to more extensive and expensive repairs down the road. For instance, not replacing worn brake pads can eventually damage the brake discs, further increasing repair costs. A small oil leak, if left unchecked, can cause extensive damage to the engine requiring costly replacements.
Proactive maintenance is far more cost-effective than addressing major breakdowns or accidents caused by neglect.
Maintenance should not be viewed as a chore but as an important responsibility that keeps you and your family safe, prevents avoidable accidents, and minimises legal and financial risks.
