It can be so tempting to just put off that oil change or ignore that pesky engine light on the car for a few months. Taking the car in for repairs, or even regular servicing, is such a hassle for those of us who have busy lives, chaotic schedules and way too many responsibilities on our plate. While you can sometimes avoid these little checklist items without facing any real repercussions, the truth is, more often than not if you avoid getting your car serviced at the right time, it can lead to bigger problems down the line.
That engine light may just be alerting you to a small issue that can be easily fixed, but those small issues, when ignored for lengthy periods, can lead to larger issues later. Sure, it’ll take some time, but when you find yourself faced with a huge mechanic bill, you’ll wish you had taken care of it when it was just a minor issue. For example: forgetting to put oil in your car for a few days is no big deal, but when you’ve put it off for a solid month, you could destroy your engine. The same goes for larger maintenance tasks, like an oil change, having tires rotated, and more: it might not seem like a pressing issue but it will be when you’ve messed up your alignment, have to replace an engine, or worse, get in an accident because you didn’t change your brake pads.
Photo credit: Malte Luk
One major reason that people put off car maintenance is because of the cost. Things like oil changes and tire upgrades cost money, and often we’re strapped for cash. It’s an understandable concern. If you look, however, you can find reputable mechanics and shops that will work with you, providing financing, bundle deals for getting more than one vehicle serviced or having more than one issue taken care of at once, or even free oil changes after you’ve paid for so many. Having your car serviced at a dealership that specialises in your type of vehicle can also save you cash. Some mechanics and shops are even offering discounts for key workers, such as Vauxhall Servicing for Key Workers, providing a major discount for NHS and other essential service workers. These generous shops are happy to give you a discount as a thank you for the hard work you’re doing to help others.
It can be so tempting to just put off getting the car taken care of, but if you can afford to, don’t. Biting the bullet and getting those little things taken care of will not only take a load off of your mind as a task checked off, but will save you time and money in the long run as you avoid larger problems later. It’s an annoying responsibility, but it’s one worth doing, and doing on time. Your car (and your wallet) will definitely thank you later.
