Cars are complex and can cause large bills out of seemingly nowhere. But you can bypass high costs and avoid legal trouble by regularly inspecting your vehicle and running basic maintenance checks.

We've compiled a complete car maintenance checklist to make your life easier and to help you discover little-known checks your driving instructor may have missed!

These checks will help you meet UK laws, keep your car healthy, and improve your overall driving experience! Ready? Let's get started.

Without further ado, here’s the basic car maintenance checklist all drivers should own. Bookmark this page ASAP so you don’t lose these insider tips.

At a glance: Basic car maintenance checklist

Here’s an overview for those who want the major tips in seconds. 

Now, scroll on for our expert-approved info! 

First on the car maintenance checklist is tyre checks. 

Your tyres are arguably the most safety-critical part of your car, and ensuring they’re in good condition can pay dividends. Tyres are a 

. Finding faults early can help plan out the most cost-effective or convenient replacements, but most drivers don’t remember to do this!

For more info on these points check out our tyre article 

An engine is made with extremely tight tolerances, with metal components effectively rubbing together at great speed. Oil is vital to aid in lubrication and avoid wear and premature failure by checking the: 

Our article on which oil your car needs is 

For obvious reasons, your brakes are essential and are another common failure point on MOTs. Brakes are worn every time you use them. If you drive often, extra checks might be in order.

Many local garages offer free brake checks, stating the thickness level of your pads and discs. Take these readings away and check your car's manual, as some garages may try to sell you something you don't need. 

For more on how your brakes work, our article is 

Engines get hot and need the correct level of good quality coolant to 

. Whilst a coolant flush and replenishment is better left to service time, you can regularly check: 

Split the cost of service and repairs into interest-free monthly repayments at 1000s of trusted service partners. 

Number 5: Ensure air filters are replaced when required

Another car maintenance checklist must-check is your air filters.

As the engine combines outside air sucked in through a filter with petrol or diesel to make power. The incoming air is filtered to stop things such as leaves, dust, insects and other debris from entering the engine.

The filter will stop all these things from entering, but they then clog the filter. This reduces engine performance and can cause various other symptoms, such as bad fuel economy and trouble starting.

We humans need air too, but when we're in our cars' sealed chamber, using 

 or heating, all of the air we breathe passes through the cabin filter.

Often located under the glovebox area, the cabin filter is very similar to the engine's air filter, except it stops us from breathing in nasty debris. One of its significant benefits is filtering out pollen.

So if your heater is blowing strange-smelling air, or you've not had your car serviced for a long time, check the cabin/pollen filter and change it if you don't know when it was last done. 

 You should also ensure the air con functions well. If you can get the right temperature, head to the garage for a professional check.

Not having sufficient screen wash fluid in your car can be grounds for receiving a £100 fine and three points on your licence if caught. So, this is a crucial basic car maintenance checklist point. 

It’s easy to top up and advisable to carry a spare few litres in your car. This way, you'll avoid being caught short — especially in winter.

Number 8: Listen out for any strange noises

This tip might sound silly. But noise can be a great indicator that something is wrong.

There are many different types of noises, including those that increase with the car’s speed, engine speed or when turning. 

For more information on what to listen out for and what it could mean, check out our guide to automotive noises 

Screenwash can only do so much, not to mention your side and rear windows.

Regularly clean your windows and mirrors to give the best visibility. Dirty glass is hazardous at night, as street lighting and other car headlights can make seeing out difficult.

Experienced drivers often forget this car maintenance guide tip. Don’t get comfortable with long waits between washes! 

Number 10: Clear out the junk in your trunk

Carrying excess weight is wasteful and can be dangerous. Every extra bit of weight counts, as the engine needs to burn more fuel to move you and your car along, so be sure to clean out your boot regularly.

Not only does extra weight in your car cost you money, but in the event of an accident, a half-empty water bottle can become extremely dangerous flying around the cabin!

Junk isn’t a boot-only issue! You should also clear out the footwells, back seats, and wipe down the dashboard. 

Cars are full of bulbs: headlights, indicators, number plate lights and, of course, brake lights. 

These are all on your car for a reason. If you’re driving without one of them, you are increasing the risk of either someone not seeing you or you not seeing someone else on the road. 

If a police officer spots you, you can expect at least a stern warning, but up to a 3-point penalty and £100 fine! 

Number 12: Replace wiper blades if required

 could turn from a damp inconvenience to a serious safety issue if your wiper blades aren’t working, especially if you’re on a busy road or motorway. 

If your wipers have stopped clearing the screen correctly or make a horrible screech or judder as they wipe, it’s time to get some new ones. This common sense tip isn’t usually added to car maintenance checklists, but we think it’s too important to skip. 

You can place a thin cloth or plastic sheet under your wiper blades in the winter to prevent them from freezing. This is when parked, of course!

Number 13: Make sure you're using the right fuel

In 2021, Britain switched over to a new type of fuel: E10. It uses a slightly different mix of ethanol to petrol ratio and is generally suitable for motoring. It is said to burn cleaner and pollute less.

The problem is that not all cars are designed to use them. Older cars can have seals and pipes in their fuel systems that cannot handle the higher ethanol content, often causing the plastic to degrade prematurely.

Check what fuel your car should be using on the 

, and read more about the effects of E10 

Number 14: Change your spark plugs (petrol cars only)

 ignite the fuel in a petrol-engined car cycle, meaning at motorway speeds, each spark plug will create a spark 25 times per second. They are screwed into the cylinder head and experience extreme highs of pressure and heat. 

Because of this, spark plugs need changing every 40,000 miles. If left longer, they can cause inefficiencies and excess fuel consumption.

Number 15: Check when your cambelt was last changed

 to control the engine timing; they are vital to the engine's smooth running and peak efficiency. Worse than this, if the belt snaps due to deterioration from ageing, it can seriously damage the engine.

Most cam belts last between 60 and 100,000 miles, but you must check both your car's belt change interval and when it was last done. This crucial and preventative maintenance can easily save you thousands in repairs.

The air pressure in your car's tyres significantly impacts safety, performance and efficiency, so you'll want to keep a constant eye on your pressure.

Too low pressure and more drag will be caused, reducing your MPG. A severe braking and turning performance reduction occurs if the pressure is too high.

Also, car manufacturers specify strictly what pressure should be used in specific situations. If you regularly carry three passengers, the pressures will be different than if only you were aboard - check your manual for more information and adjust accordingly. 

Number plates aren’t just for customising. Having visible number plates is a big deal when driving in the UK, and the penalties for having an unreadable number plate, whether intentional or not, are pretty severe.

The main things to check for on your licence plate are cracking or delamination (when the plastic separates) that causes water and dirt ingress and non-functional number plate lights.

If you don’t fancy cleaning your car every winter weekend, regularly wipe down the number plates and lights to stay legal. 

It's good to be prepared should your car break down. A few essential but handy items stowed in the boot can make life easier. Surprisingly, this basic car maintenance checklist tip often goes ignored. But trust us, it's critical!

If you get a flat tyre, discovering your spare is in poor condition, needs a repair or is missing altogether would be highly annoying. 

Check your tyre for damage and make sure that it holds air. Consider carrying a foot pump if you get a slow puncture or need to top up the spare.

It is also advisable to practise jacking up and changing a wheel in a safe environment just to familiarise yourself with the procedure.

If your car isn’t fitted with a spare and instead has a can of tyre weld and a pump, check these parts are all present and read the manual on how to use them.

From time to time, car manufacturers find faults with their vehicles. These can be minor issues, such as small issues with infotainment systems, or serious safety problems, such as failing brakes. 

Safety recalls are used to notify every owner of the affected vehicle model, with guidance on fixing the problem at the manufacturer's expense. 

The problem comes when vehicles change hands many times over the years, and databases are not kept up to date. In this instance, you may own a car with an outstanding recall, but the manufacturer does not know you own that car. 

 where you can check for safety recalls based on vehicle models and registration numbers. It only takes 5 minutes and is completely free.

Top 23 Car Maintenance Tips

If you're ready to make your monthly car loan payments more affordable, car loan refinancing could be the route for you. 

But before you sign up and get started, ensure you're clued in on how car refinancing works. From the pros and cons of refinancing your car to whether it affects your credit score, we answer all the big questions. So, keep reading! You'll be an expert in car refinancing in minutes. 

Car refinancing is the process of taking out a new loan to pay off your existing car finance contract. 

This allows you to access a deal with terms that better match your needs. For example, you could lower your monthly payments with a longer-term plan. You could also access a lower interest rate or even take out a loan to pay off a final PCP balloon payment. 

Car refinancing looks different for every driver. But the concept stays the same — to make payments easier! 

First, you'll have to take out a new loan to repay an existing finance arrangement. The money from the new loan pays off the existing loan, and a fresh contract comes into force with new terms and repayments. 

These repayments will typically be less than your original finance deal due to lower interest rates or a longer contract. Common options for car refinancing include PCP (Personal Contract Payments) and Hire Payments. 

Like all things, there are pros and cons of refinancing a car. If you’re considering this concept, skim the benefits and drawbacks below. These will help you decide if this pathway works for your finances. Research is key! 

Does Refinancing A Car Hurt Your Credit Score?

Yes, refinancing a car loan can negatively affect your credit score. 

This is because each time you apply, a 'hard' credit check is carried out, which ends up on your permanent credit record. Credit lenders will look at this when you are applying for other loans in the future, such as a mortgage or business loan. 

Don’t worry if you’ve noticed that your credit score has dropped after applying for a refinancing loan. You can build it back up by keeping on top of your payments, managing other financial commitments, being responsible with credit cards, and getting on the electoral roll. 

Why car refinancing affects your credit score 

When you take out some forms of borrowing, the lender carries out a ‘hard’ credit check. They use the information in your credit file to determine the level of risk they’re taking by lending to you. Each time this type of check is made, it’s registered on your credit record and can affect your ability to obtain other borrowings, such as a new credit card. 

However, note that applying for car refinance won’t leave your credit score low permanently. There are ways you can boost your score, and making reliable payments is the first step! 

What about car loans and the potential for negative equity? 

You might also be wondering about car loans and negative equity. Negative equity means that you owe more money to the lender than the car is worth. 

As refinancing typically involves a longer period to pay for the car, you could potentially reach a point of negative equity. This is one of the critical drawbacks of car refinancing. So, take time to think through your decision and do the maths to ensure you don’t end up paying more than is needed. 

What documents do you need to refinance a car?

Once you’ve applied for car refinancing, you’ll need to gather some important documents. Get these ready before you start to save time and stress in the refinancing process. 

Alongside pondering the pros and cons of refinancing a car, you should compare offers from different lenders. Some lenders allow you to get prequalified without applying. However, others may require a complete credit check before giving personal quotes. 

When comparing offers, look at repayment terms, fees, and interest rates. If in doubt, reach out to the lender for more information. Asking questions is key to getting the best deal for you. 

When does it make sense to refinance a car loan?

Unfortunately, there’s no one answer to this question. Refinancing a car is a case-by-case decision. But some factors indicate refinancing might be a positive decision for you. 

There are also clear signs that you shouldn’t refinance your car. The following circumstances aren’t great for refinancing a car: 

What are the alternatives to car refinancing?

Not sure if car refinancing is the route for you? Check out these alternatives before you make a commitment. 

A personal loan from a bank can help you pay off your car finance agreement. 

If the interest rate and other lending terms are correct, you won't need another hire purchase agreement and can repay your car at a fixed rate over the time your bank offers. 

If you have significant savings, you can use them to repay your car rather than refinance. 

It's critical to note that spending all of your savings isn't advised. Having an emergency fund helps you with last-minute expenses and unexpected debt. If you can, retain some of your savings for future expenses! 

If you’re in serious financial difficulty and can’t keep up with repayments, you may be able to pay off the credit card and other unsecured debts within a formal debt payment plan. 

This is called an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) and could free up more money to make your car repayments so that you don’t have to refinance. You can work with a professional advisor to find the right option for you. 

How to refinance your car with bad credit

Refinancing a car loan with bad credit in the UK can be a challenging process, but there are a few steps you can take to improve your chances of success. 

Step 1: Make sure refinancing is right for you 

Step 2: Obtain a copy of your credit report 

Step 3: Supporting documentation for your application 

Now you know what refinancing is, the pros and cons of refinancing a car, and how to get started, take a look at our final tips for anyone considering refinancing. 

Is car refinancing right for you? The bottom line

Refinancing your car can significantly affect monthly outgoings if you secure a lower interest rate or a longer term. With the cost of living rising so steeply, it may also make priority payments, such as mortgage/rent and utilities, easier to manage. 

But before you start, you must be aware of the drawbacks! Refinancing isn't right for everyone. So, spend some time researching to help you make an educated choice that benefits your finances. 

Bumper can also help to ease your financial situation with our interest-free car repair loans. Split the cost into interest-free monthly repayments at thousands of repairers nationwide.

has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

How Car Loan Refinancing Works

Travelling to Europe in your own car affords many benefits, saving costs on car hire, taking as much luggage as you want, and more. 

But there are some occasions where having your own vehicle with you in a foreign country is less than ideal, especially if it’s currently broken down at the side of an Autoroute or Autobahn. 

Below we’ll take a look at how best to prepare and deal if your car breaks down while driving abroad in Europe. 

Precautions to take before driving to Europe 

Road laws differ from country to country, so it’s essential that you take note before you leave of what rules you need to follow. Don’t forget you’ll need to comply even if only passing through. 

There are a few things you need to bring for most European countries, check the specific rules for the countries you’ll be visiting but here's a rough idea of what to bring: 

The laws and customs may be different too, so make sure you comply with these, a starting point of the following things will get you most of the way, but again check specific countries' laws: 

What to do if your car breaks down while travelling? 

Regardless of country, you should pull over into a safe place if possible, then evacuate all passengers to the side of the road, ideally a short distance from the carriageway and behind a barrier. 

What happens if my car breaks down in France? 

Move the car to a safe location if possible 

If your car still drives, getting off the carriageway will be far safer than obstructing it. Be careful not to block emergency exits and lanes on certain motorways. 

Ensure everyone is wearing their hi-viz vest, safely get everyone out of the car, and have all passengers move a little way from the road, ideally to behind a barrier. Do not stay inside, in front of or behind the car. 

If the car is obstructing the road, walk 150 metres behind the vehicle, still behind the barrier, and alert other drivers of the danger. 

At least 30 metres behind the car, place your warning triangle clearly visible on the ground directly behind the car. 

Use the orange boxes at the side of the road, or call 112 from your mobile phone. Describe your location as best you can. 

Finally, wait for help to come, ensuring all members of your party are out of the direct sun or are wearing adequate warm clothes, depending on conditions. 

What to do if my car breaks down in Spain? 

If possible, move your car to a safe location

Make sure to move your car off the carriageway, without blocking any exits.

Spain has similar laws to other countries in Europe regarding hi-vis vests and waiting outside your car, so be sure to have all passengers move away from the road, ideally to behind a barrier. Do not stay inside, in front of or behind the car. 

Place your warning triangle and warning light 

In Spain, it is the law to carry two warning triangles - place your warning triangle clearly visible on the ground, at least 30 metres back from your vehicle. 

Since January 2021, Spain also requires every car to have a ‘luz de emergencia V-16’, an 

 that should be placed on the roof of your car. Complete this as per the instructions on the device. 

Use the orange boxes at the side of the road, or call 112 from your mobile phone - this number works all across Europe. Describe your location as best you can. 

What to do if my car breaks down in Germany? 

If you can, move your car to a safe location. Leaving your car on the carriageway could be very dangerous.

Put on your hi-vis vest, ensuring every passenger has one too, and wait outside your car, be sure to have all passengers move away from the road, ideally to behind a barrier. Do not stay inside, in front of or behind the car. 

Place your warning triangle clearly visible on the ground, at least 30 metres back from your vehicle. 

Call 110 for the German emergency number, and they will be able to put you through to an English-speaking advisor. 

What to do if your car breaks down on a German autobahn

Because of the higher speed limit and potential danger on the German Autobahns, a dedicated service is established to tow you from the main carriageway to a designated safe zone. 

If you’ve broken down on the Autobahn, call from one of the roadside emergency telephones, and follow the arrows on signs beside the road to get to one. 

Once safely off the motorway, call the regular emergency number or your European Recovery service should you have one. 

Should I get a European breakdown cover before going to Europe? 

 of drivers' purchase breakdown cover driving in the UK, but many of these policies don't cover going abroad, or if they do, only in certain circumstances. Luckily there are short-term policies available through most breakdown companies. 

Does my UK breakdown cover me in Europe? 

Most common breakdown services such as the RAC and AA offer varying levels of coverage, including extras such as from-home recovery if your car fails to start, unlimited callouts etc, but be sure to check with the provider if yours includes cover whilst abroad. 

None of the Basic, Standard or Complete packages offered by both the 

 mentions any European cover, but both offer a year-long European cover option. 

This can be tailored to suit how much cover you need and in what specific countries you’ll be travelling to. 

Benefits of the European cover include a 24/7 English-speaking helpline, unlimited assistance to get your car to a garage, and the cost to transport your broken car back home.

If your current provider doesn’t offer roadside assistance in Europe, there are many companies offering short-term or one-trip cover that can be very reasonably priced. 

What to do once your car is recovered back to the UK 

 Have over 3,000 partner garages and repair centres around the UK, they also make it quick and easy to split the cost of your car’s repairs into monthly payments, all with no interest or fees. 

Apply to split your bill at 1,000s of dependable service partners nationwide.

 has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

What Happens if I Break Down Abroad? 

The 1.5 million potholes on UK's roads cost motorists £1 billion a year in repairs. 

Drivers reported 1.5 million potholes on roads to 51 UK authorities between April 2018 and June 2021; this figure would undoubtedly be far higher if potholes on major highways and motorways were also reported. So we started to wonder: how tall would the hypothetical skyscraper be if all of the reported potholes in the UK were placed on top of one another? 

According to data gathered by the RAC from 190 of the 207 local highway authorities in Britain, three out of four local authorities (or 75%) have switched to a "risk-based approach" to repairing potholes. This means that councils will take into account the type of road, the amount of traffic the road carries, and the mix of road users in addition to the size, width, and depth of a pothole. All municipal highway administrations are accountable for the upkeep of their individual road networks under the terms of the Road Traffic Act of 1980. Surprisingly, there isn't a nationwide legal standard that specifies what constitutes a pothole. 

A pessimist would say that a local government short on funds might just change the categorization of a pothole to avoid filling and repairing the damaged road. 69% of local transportation authorities only look into potholes that are 40 mm or deeper. 

The hypothetical tower reaches 11,250 metres, which is roughly the cruising altitude of a civil aircraft (10,000–12,000 metres), comfortably taller than Mount Everest (8,849 metres), deeper than the Pacific Ocean (11,022 metres), and nearly 100 times taller than the London Eye. If even one-quarter of the reported potholes on local roads were, for example, 30mm deep, this would mean that over two-thirds of local highway, authorities would not investigate further (13,500 metres). 

Given that the majority of local traffic authorities in the UK only investigate potholes that are at least 40mm deep, the cumulative depth of the 1.5 million reported potholes on local roads is 60,000 metres. This sum will get you halfway there. The Kármán Line is an invisible line at 100,000 metres above sea level when the atmosphere becomes too thin for conventional aeroplanes. 

According to earlier data, 32% of UK drivers experience damage from hitting a pothole, which forces them to replace at least one tyre every year. Given that the average cost of replacing four tyres is £397, or £99.25 per tyre, owners of the 40.8 million licenced vehicles in the UK must pay a yearly replacement cost of £1,127,352,960 due to pothole damage.

Tips for reducing damage caused by potholes 

Always leave a two-second gap between you and the car in front, as they may brake or swerve to avoid a pothole if it suddenly appears. This way you will have a clear view of the road and more time to react. 

If possible, slow down and steer away from a pothole 

Sometimes it's impossible to completely dodge a pothole. If you can see one coming, attempt to slowly approach it without braking abruptly and gently veer away. 

The expected lifespan of a car tyre is 10 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. Regularly examining your tyres, especially before a lengthy trip, should help you spot any issues in the earliest stages. The centre three quarters of every tire's tread must measure at least 1.6 millimetres across in order for it to comply with current UK driving regulations. 

Split the cost of tyres, repairs, and services into interest-free monthly payments with Bumper, and choose from 1000s of dependable service partners. 

How tall is the combined depth of the potholes on UK roads?

In many ways, the electronic control unit can be considered the most important component in a modern car, through it all primary functions operate. Below we take a look at exactly what it does, and what issues it can cause.

The acronym ECU refers to a car's Engine Control Unit, there are many other control units in modern cars such as: 

As the name suggests, the ECU is a device that controls and monitors various parameters and systems in a car. The first ECUs were basic microprocessors that only monitored basic engine parameters such as 

With the advent of things such as electric windows and doors, reversing cameras and parking sensors, modern cars have multiple control units alongside the ECU, such as Body control modules, lighting modules and more. 

All of these fulfil the same function within their respective system, to control and display data about the car’s status, either changing parameters or displaying issues to the driver.

Modern ECUs control or read almost everything that happens in and around the engine. There is a plethora of sensors that report back and parameters, of which the ECU will regulate, monitor and take action. 

For instance, the ECU uses data from the engine on RPM, Ignition timing, fuel injection rates and exhaust gas composition, to detect whether the combustion is happening exactly as it should. 

In the instance of any faults, such as a misfire, the ECU will detect and make changes accordingly, whether that is to alter the ignition timing or display an error message to the driver. 

Other control units such as body-control units monitor the status of things such as bulbs, windows, door locks, wiper motors and more. Again allowing the car to display an error message to the driver. 

Typically a modern car will have around 4 different ECUs; including the engine control unit, body control unit, ABS control unit and alarm/immobiliser control unit. 

But luxury cars will often have even more than this, with some vehicles having a separate unit to control things such as infotainment systems, active aerodynamics and more. 

The most common cause of ECU damage, especially in the UK, is water damage. A lot of manufacturers mount the ECU near the passenger or driver footwell, as this is convenient for all the electrical systems whilst being protected from the elements. 

However, the elements can sometimes get into this area, as things such as car sunroofs, windows and windscreens can leak. The water can then run down into the footwell and damage the ECU. 

Another common cause of ECU damage is faulty or badly modified electrical systems, such as shorts and wiring issues. Jump starting incorrectly can also cause problems, as high electrical loads can be sent through the ECU. 

Some cars can suffer if the battery is left to drain to empty too often or for too long, damaging the ECU’s internal battery system. 

One of the main jobs the ECU does is control the fueling and ignition of the engine. On 

 cars, this means the ECU can increase or decrease the amount of fuel injected, and on turbocharged cars, the amount of turbo pressure is permitted. 

Joseph Law

Bumper Content Writer

Top 23 Car Maintenance Tips

How Car Loan Refinancing Works

What Happens if I Break Down Abroad?

How tall is the combined depth of the potholes on UK roads?

Electronic Control Units Explained

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