Published on: 11/05/2023

With the days getting longer and the sun starting to shine, we can officially declare that winter is behind us!

Now is the perfect time to get on top of your car’s maintenance; with the warmer weather comes day trips and holidays that we need to prepare our motor for. It’s important that you look after and maintain your motor to ensure your motor’s life is a long and healthy one and to keep you and your loved ones.

Here at Trust My Garage, we’ve put together some top tips to help prepare your car for spring:

Check your tyres!

You’ll inevitably hear that a lot as a driver – check your tyres. We can’t help but emphasise how important it is to check your tyres regularly and often. Having the correct tyre pressure helps with road holding, braking, acceleration, reduces fuel costs, and helps to prevent accidents and reduce tyre wear and the risk blowouts while on the road.

Take some time to carry out a visual check of your tyres to ensure they are legal and roadworthy. Do they look deflated? Check to see that there is no clear damage or bulges and make sure that you check the tyre tread depth.

We recommend purchasing a Tyre Tread Depth Gauge and a Tyre Inflator to help maintain your tyres in between your servicing and MOTs.

Top up your fluids

We’ve all been guilty of not checking our windscreen washer fluid and needing it in a particularly muddy moment, but did you know that there are other fluids that need intermittent maintenance? From engine oil to brake fluid, your motor is a complex machine that needs these essential fluids to keep moving. You can find information on checking your fluid levels here.

If you’re not confident in check your fluid levels yourself, click here to find your nearest Trust My Garage member to book your car in for a quick levels check or a service.

Clean your car

Nothing screams spring more than a spring clean.

Over the winter, your car may have collected mud, dirt and dust that has stuck to your car. Not only will dirty windows, mirrors and lights reduce your ability to see and be seen when driving, dirt can damage your paintwork, so don’t put off cleaning your car any longer!

Whilst cleaning your car, check for any damages you may have missed with the darker days such as chips in the glass.

Don’t neglect the inside of your car either – whilst a quick hoover and dusting will do a great deal, it will leave some areas in your car untouched. Ensure that you hoover everywhere in your car, including the hard-to-reach bits in between your seats and under your car mats.

Check the battery

The colder months can be harsh on your battery. If you feel that your battery is not operating effectively, it may need charging or even replacing. If you are unsure as to the condition of your battery, consider having a set of jump leads in your car just in case you need them.

There are some signs you can look out for to tell if your car battery is running low. You may find that your headlights dim when the car is ticking over, or when starting your car the starter motor may seem to turn the engine over much slower than normal.

If you are concerned about the condition of your battery, your local Trust My Garage member can advise you.

If you’re looking for further help, Highways England has prepared a guide showing road users how to carry out the five most important vehicle checks: tyres, engine oil, water, lights and fuel. The guide has written details and helpful videos showing you how you can make sure your vehicle is always safe and roadworthy.

Keep safe this spring with Trust My Garage

If you are unsure of your vehicle’s readiness for spring driving or if you experience any issues with your car, Trust My Garage members are here to help you.

Whether it’s for a check-up, MOT, service or repair, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) approved code of conduct that our members follow means that you and your motor both get the best possible service – no matter what the weather!

For more information about Trust My Garage or to locate your nearest TMG member visit www.TrustMyGarage.co.uk.