Car safety during COVID-19 has been a regular topic of conversation, as individuals worldwide have looked to ensure they are taking the necessary steps to remain safe and healthy while still going about their daily lives. This time has also reminded people how important it is to have a clean, well-maintained vehicle.
If you need a reminder, read on for the top reasons you need to care for your car.
1. Safety
One of the most important reasons to care for your car is to increase its overall safety. Generally, how safe your car is to drive is directly correlated to the condition it is in. Therefore, when you are not adequately maintaining your vehicle, you undermine its ability to operate correctly, which causes safety risks for you, passengers, and other drivers on the road.
There is no denying that the better maintained your vehicle is, the safer it is.
To ensure your vehicle is as safe to drive as possible, you must prioritise comprehensive care and maintenance. This includes monitoring crucial parts of your car, such as the brake system, which is necessary for avoiding crashing. If you hear grinding or squealing sounds coming from your brakes or if you notice a burning smell or something else strange about your brakes, make sure you immediately take it to an automotive service centre.
Additionally, when it comes to your tires, if they are not maintained and adequately inflated to the manufacturer’s recommendation, their life could be shortened. Poorly maintained tires can adversely affect car performance and increase the likelihood of you experiencing a flat tire or a blowout.
2. Cleanliness and Damage Prevention
As well as helping to keep you and others on the road safe by caring for your car, you are also helping to prevent damage to the vehicle. For example, if you don’t have a process to keep your car clean, it will attract dirt and grime that will damage both the interior and exterior.
Luckily, with an on-demand car wash, you can ensure that your car is cleaned regularly to a high standard without it having to impact your busy life. These services are efficient and effective as you don’t have to waste time waiting in line at the car wash; instead, you can schedule the cleaning to happen at a time that suits you.
When you download an on-demand car wash app such as CAFU, all you have to do is sign up and register your vehicle before you can immediately begin scheduling your next car wash. Once you have chosen your date and time, sit back and relax while the car wash crew gets to work.
For an exterior wash, opt for CAFU’s SuperShineTM Exterior service, which comprises three steps that ensure all dust and dirt is eliminated.
This option brings an unparalleled shine and sparkle to your vehicle by utilising a high-quality clay bar, car wax, and microfiber towels. Alternatively, for a more thorough clean, the SuperShineTM Exterior with Interior option combines the Exterior cleaning with additional steps that leave your upholstery, carpets, panels and windows spotless.
When it comes to an on-demand car wash app, you can’t go wrong as they are the best way to ensure your car is expertly cleaned at a time that suits you.
3. Functionality
At the end of the day, if you aren’t caring for your vehicle, it isn’t going to be able to perform as well as it should.
Without proper care, every element of your vehicle can quickly start deteriorating – from the engine to the brakes, the mirrors to the sound system. Don’t overlook the importance of looking after your car when it awards you more reliable tire traction, more stable steering, and more dependable engine starts.
In addition to functionality, it will also increase vehicle longevity as it will reduce the repair requirements. When you regularly check the car’s fluid levels, tire pressure, lights, brakes and battery, you are better informed to keep them in good shape. This, in turn, makes it more likely that they will last longer.
4. Financial
Financially, looking after your car makes a lot of sense. By taking care of your vehicle regularly and prioritising its maintenance, you reduce the likelihood of larger, more costly issues occurring down the line.
Rather than skipping an essential check-up or avoiding a maintenance service now and then having to pay a lot for it down the road, choose to deal with it and spend a lot less, now, to keep the vehicle healthy.
Moreover, if you ever plan to sell your vehicle, it is imperative that you stay on top of your maintenance schedule. After all, a well-maintained car will have a much higher sale value. A potential buyer is going to consider whether or not the body or paint of the car is damaged, the state of the engine and battery, and if car parts need to be replaced.
Final Thoughts
To keep your car in the best condition it can be in, you also need to drive with care every day. This means accelerating slowly when you begin to drive and shifting to neutral at red lights to put a smaller amount of strain on your engine and automatic transmission. It means protecting your car from extreme weather, preserving door and window seals, and fixing small windshield chips before they expand.
While maintaining a car is no easy task, your best option is to ensure you are taking care of it on a daily basis, as this will reduce the likelihood that something drastic will have to be done to it.
In fact, the more preventative measures you can take, the less likely you are to run into any (truly) big problems. However, if you are a car owner who values and cares for your vehicle, you shouldn’t have difficulty maintaining it.
What steps are you taking this year to ensure that you are maintaining your car? How often do you give it a thorough clean or change the oil? What challenges do you encounter when it comes to being a car owner?
Let us know your thoughts and any additional insights or questions you have in the comments below!
AUTHOR BIO
Antonio Al Asmar is the General Manager at CAFU, the UAE’s first fuel delivery application, bringing value to cities and communities by making refuelling cars more accessible. CAFU is an “on-demand” contactless fuel delivery service that will fill up your vehicle with petrol or diesel while you’re at home, work, or play for the same price as the petrol station, with no additional delivery fees.