Check your tyre pressure

Keep your battery charged

Check your oil levels

Regularly maintain your cooling system

Carry a complete tool kit and check your spare tyre

Keep topped up with the right fuel

Carry an emergency kit

Keep your car clean

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Check your tyre pressure

Both under and over-inflating your tyres can affect the handling of your car, and lead to extra wear and premature failure.

Always check your owner's manual to find out the specific recommended tyre pressure for your car and use your own tyre pressure gauge each time – this will make it easier for you to determine that a pressure loss is due to a tyre problem and not due to a variation between gauges. This should be done when the tyres are completely cold.

Every time you check the tyre pressures, you should examine the tyres for damage, foreign objects and wear. Look for bumps and bulges in the tread or side wall of the tyre, and cuts, splits, or cracks in the tyre that expose the fabric or cord. These regular checks will prevent a failure on the road, and also make you aware of the tread you have left on the tyre which should prevent you from driving around with tyres which are no longer legal.

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Keep your battery charged

To protect against flat batteries, take your vehicle on a relatively long journey at least once every week. Alternatively, use a charger to make sure the battery is in the best condition.

And always make sure map lights are turned off and all doors are closed when leaving the car.

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Check your oil levels

This is a simple but extremely important check, as it’s essential in keeping the engine running.

Check your oil levels regularly, for example when refuelling, and always double-check before heading off a long journey. It’s just as important to check the level on your new car, as while the car is in the running-in period the engine can consume more oil.

If the engine does require oil when you are topping up, be careful not to put too much in as this can overfill the engine and cause as much damage as running low on oil. For further information on checking your oil level, please refer to your owner’s manual.

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Regularly maintain your cooling system

The cooling system on the car is just as important as the oil in your engine, and if it is not functioning properly then overheating can lead to breakdowns.

Make sure that your coolant levels are sufficient, and there are no signs of coolant leaks around the engine bay and underneath the car. Please refer to the owner's manual for further instructions on checking your cooling system.

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Carry a complete tool kit and check your spare tyre

Tool kits are rarely used but are vital when needed in an emergency. The simple check is to make sure the tool kit is complete and in good working order.

The other item which is normally forgotten about is your spare tyre or your Tyre Repair Kit (TRK). Again, another simple check is to make sure the spare is in good condition and fully inflated. The TRK has an expiry date, so it's well worth making a note to remind yourself when it needs replacing.

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Keep topped up with the right fuel

Running out of fuel is a mistake which can be all too easy to make by simply overlooking the amount that your fuel gauge is reading, underestimating the length of your journey, or having to make unexpected detours.

Another common cause of breakdown is putting the incorrect fuel in your car – incurring a large repair bill and possibly permanent damage to your car.

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Carry an emergency kit

You may have made every precaution to prevent a breakdown, but unfortunately they can still happen. Always be prepared and carry an emergency kit in your car at all times. Here are some suggestions on what to include in your kit:

• Blankets
• First aid kit
• Torch
• Maps
• Emergency Triangle
• Shovel
• De-icer
• Anti-freeze and engine oil
• Warm and waterproof clothing
• Tow rope
• Mobile phone and charger

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Keep your car clean

This is not just about making your car look good. It’s the perfect opportunity to have a look around your car and see if there is anything out of the ordinary. And to carry out all your maintenance checks too.

It's also an ideal way of keeping your car in the best condition possible to get the maximum resale value for it.