You can rest easy if you’ve just bought yourself a car today. The cars in the market now are those that don’t need to be serviced all the time to keep them in go od working condition. What used to be a monthly exercise can now be done a few times in the year. In addition to that, you’re given a long factory warranty so if you ever have problems with your car, you can get these problems fixed and solved at no extra cost.

Sure car maintenance is easier with new cars but that doesn’t mean you can forgo car maintenance entirely. Here are just some of the things you need to remember with regard to new car maintenance.

There are three key tasks when you’ve purchased a new car and you want to maintain its upkeep.

1. Wash your car regularly. Since it’s a new car, you’ll be excited to wash your car and the recommended times for you to wash your car is every week. When you wash it, make sure you clean the body well and hose the undercarriage and fender wells with water. A lot of road salt and dirt will be gathering there and if you want a clean car, you have to get into those tight spaces too. You then wax your new car’s finish if you notice water beads gathering on your car after a wash or after the rain a size larger than a quarter.
2. Check engine oil. This task has to be performed regularly. Monthly is a good amount of time to check your new car’s engine oil. But if you notice that you have engine oil leaks, you have to check more often because you also need to add more oil. Park your car on level ground when you’re checking for oil level with a dipstick. Don’t over replenish your engine oil and if leaks are established, find the leaks and get them fixed.
3. Check tire pressure. When you have a new car, one of the things that can put a damper on the smoothness and quality of your ride is the tire air pressure. You have to make sure you check this monthly. If you’re going on a road trip, check the tire pressure before your trip. Use a tire pressure gauge to ensure that you have the right pressure. You’ll have details on the amount of tire pressure your car needs on the manual or on the tire’s sidewall. Make sure that your spare tire also has the right tire pressure.

After checking for these three things in new car maintenance, you then have to check the other parts as well. When you’re getting your oil changed, make sure that you also get your air filter, exhaust system, brakes, radiator, battery, fluids and constant velocity joint boots checked. With regard to the air filter, you just have to hold a light up to it and if you don’t see any light shining through the filter, it needs to be replaced. You’ll also have service interval instructions to follow when you have a new car.

The exhaust system should be checked for rusted parts and loose parts. Since your car is new, it’s highly unlikely you’ll have rust under your car, but it’s better safe than sorry. While your car is on the ramps, the exhaust system can be checked thoroughly. You also have to listen for any changes with the sound of your exhaust when you’re driving. Brakes need to be checked for worn out brake pads and also for scored drums or rotors. You have to check the condition of your brakes every six months.

In the case of the radiator, you can prevent your new car from ever overheating if you just clean off debris on it and wash the outside with detergent solution. The battery cables and terminals have to be attached securely. Look out for signs of corrosion. With your car, you don’t have to worry about transmission but if you get a new car with unsealed automatic transmission, you have to check your fluids like transmission, power steering, brake fluid and top them off. For the constant velocity joint boots or CV boots, check for any leaks, cuts or cracks.

When you check all these parts of your new car regularly, you can ensure yourself of a smooth and comfy ride every time. When two years has passed, you then have to set off with maintenance relating to your car’s cooling system, your drive belts and hoses, your timing belt and your automatic transmission fluid. For the cooling system, make sure you drain and flush it two years from the time you bought your car. You have to do this after every two years.

For drive belts and hoses, check for wear and tear. If you have a noisy belt, you need to adjust it. For the timing belt, this has to be changed based on the manufacturer’s replacement interval.

If you don’t check on this, you have to replace your whole engine if the belt breaks. As for the automatic transmission fluid, you might have bought a car that doesn’t need this fluid to be changed. If you bought a different model, you might have to replace filter and fluid after every 36,000 miles or 100,000 miles.

It’s easy to lengthen the life of your car and keep it running as good as the day you bought it from the car dealer if you do new car maintenance.

If you do your own maintenance and auto repairs, purchase your Ford, BMW, Chevy and Nissan parts at discount prices.

Essentially, all an extended warranty is is an insurance policy you take on your automobile. It is just a way to avoid those unpredictably but outrageous repair expenses. The term warranty is less accurate than insurance, in this way. However, similar to auto warranties, these do cover repairs or any sort of maintenance you encounter during the time period the policy is instated. But with the traditional warranty, you’ll purchase them as part of the product price. Extended auto warranties, on the other hand, are more like contracts. Service contracts if you will—they’ll run a separate cost and you’ll need to buy them separately as well.

Now, that doesn’t mean it needs to be done on a different day or place. In fact, you can purchase the extended warranty at the same place and day you purchase your vehicle, or even many days or months later. If you are the kind of person who needs full preparation at all times, just in case—the extended auto warranty is undeniably right for you. Especially when you consider the always rising cost of vehicular repair, the benefits of being protected are not difficult to see.

Once you determine that an extended auto warranty is the right decision for you, you’ll need to select a plan that addresses your needs. We understand this can seem a tad daunting, so we’ve listed a few points to consider below.

Your Pre-Existing Warranty:

Suppose you just purchased your vehicle brand new—examine its factory warranty and determine its value to you. For instance, suppose your warranty is for a couple of years or pre-determined amount of miles.

Well that’s fine, unless you plan on keeping it for more than a couple of years or driving more miles than what is pre-determined. If you do plan on keeping the car for a short period of time, then an extended warranty is hardly necessary. At the end of the day, it’s all about how long you choose to use the car. If you can predict your utilization of the vehicle to transcend the parameters of the original warranty, an extended plan is certainly in order. When buying a used vehicle, be aware that inherent warranties are usually packed with much less coverage. If purchasing a late-model pre-used vehicle, it may still be under original warranty or be part of a “Certified Used” program. These usually extend factory warranted to pre-owned automobiles. If your vehicle is under no (or just insufficient) warranty, the extended warranty is simply the natural choice.

The Reliability of Your Model:

It’s always a good idea to do some research before you buy. Even after you buy, it can be effective in figuring out of the extended warranty plan is a good bet. Look at how reliable the model vehicle you are buying is. While this might not be the one stop answer to determining your future repairs, it does give you a hint of what to expect, so keep it in mind when making important warranty decisions.

Warranty Provider:

Keep in mind that most warranties are only as good those who provide it to you. With an extended auto warranty, it can be backed either by an independent warranty company (or an aftermarket) or alternatively by the manufacturer of the vehicle. You’ll find that just knowing who is underwriting your policy can provide you with insight into the strengths and weaknesses of contracts you are considering. For instance, warranties backed by the manufacturer are generally much easier to use, while aftermarket values are typically cheaper. Always do additional research into the warranty practices and offerings of either the manufacturer or the aftermarket company, as the quality can differ from brand to brand, instance to instance.

Reparation Policies:

There are a few extended auto warranties that require your repairs to be done at the dealership from which it was purchased. This is nothing but restrictive and often becomes inconvenient for you. It’s ideal that you prefer a warrant that allows you some selective freedoms when choosing a repair facility, one that is more convenient for you. For instance, if you’re on vacation or a road trip and you need a repair, is it really practical to drive all the way back to the original dealership just to receive repairs? This can be a deal breaker.

Exact Coverage:

You’ll need to know exactly what is covered, and what is not, by whichever extended warranty you choose.

Does your service contract cover breakdowns and just usual wear and tear, and what are the specifics of a “breakdown warranty?” Also, a few entry level contracts won’t cover ABS brakes, which is an amenity gaining rapid popularity. If your vehicle employs the ABS feature, you’ll need to find an appropriate extended auto warranty. Additionally, overheating is usually not covered by warranties, even if it is proves to be not your fault. If an overheating fiasco is caused by a faulty radiator, you’d have quite an expensive repair bill to pay. Before investing in any warranty contract, make sure to familiarize yourself with its areas of coverage and regulations. While some contract-to-contract instances differ only in subtly, they can make all the difference in certain instances.

Cash for Repairs:

There a few different ways in which warranties can operate. With some, you pay the bill, and then send them a receipt so they can compensate you accordingly. However, as you could expect, the warranty companies relax and take a few months before sending you these hefty sums. For best results, find a warranty that pays the dealership directly via credit card.

In the long run, you just need to compare all options and weigh the odds before making a final decision in regards to warranty. Thankfully, the internet makes this considerably easy, many companies sell these contracts directly online, or at least offer instance quotes. With these features, you’ll be able to obtain a decent idea of what your desired plan will cost you. But at the end of the day it’s just like anything else, you best bet is to be very well informed.