Back-to-School Vehicle Checks: Is Your Car Ready for the Routine Again?

The summer holidays can be a different kind of busy for our cars. Family days out, staycations, long motorway journeys, extra passengers and a boot full of luggage can all mean your vehicle has covered more miles than usual.

Then September arrives, and the demands on your car change again. The school runs start, the daily commute returns, and shopping trips, appointments and busy schedules all begin to fill up.

For many people, their car quickly becomes something they rely on every single day.

This makes the end of the summer a sensible time to take a moment to think about your vehicle and check that it is ready for the months ahead.

Why Summer Can Be Hard on Your Car

Winter often gets the blame for vehicle problems, but summer can be demanding too.

Long journeys, increased mileage, traffic queues on hot days and carrying extra weight can all put additional strain on your car. Hot weather can also affect areas such as your tyres, battery, cooling system and fluid levels.

Sometimes, a problem can start developing without any obvious warning. You may not notice anything unusual during the holidays, but that same issue could become much more inconvenient once you are relying on your car every day again.

A Few Simple Checks Can Make a Difference

An Ayliff’s Garage Vehicle Health Check (VHC) is designed to identify wear and tear before it becomes a bigger issue. Some of the areas we typically inspect include:

• Tyre condition and tread depth

• Tyre pressures

• Brakes and brake wear

• Suspension components

• Battery condition

• Engine oil levels and condition

• Coolant levels

• Windscreen wipers

• Exterior lights

• General under-bonnet checks

A Vehicle Health Check is about identifying wear and tear early, giving you the information you need to make informed decisions about your car.

Why Checking Early Is Worthwhile

Small issues are often easier to deal with when they are found early.

Uneven tyre wear, a battery that is beginning to weaken or brakes that are getting close to needing attention may not cause an immediate problem. However, knowing about them gives you the opportunity to plan ahead.

The end of the summer can be a particularly useful time to deal with any necessary repairs. Once work, school runs and everyday commitments begin again, finding time to leave your car with us can be more difficult. Having any required work carried out before your normal routine gets busy again can help you avoid the added stress of a vehicle problem when you need your car most.

Ready for the Months Ahead

As summer comes to an end, your car is about to become an important part of your everyday routine again. A few simple checks now could help you identify anything that needs attention before the school runs, daily commutes and autumn weather arrive.

Whether your car has covered hundreds of extra miles over the summer or you simply want to know that everything is in good condition, our team is here to help.

It also gives you more time to plan any repairs around your routine, rather than having to deal with them unexpectedly once life gets busy again. To book a Vehicle Health Check or speak to us about your car, please get in touch with the team today.