Can scheduling a spring tune-up for your car save you money? The short answer: Yes! The long answer? An annual spring tune-up may help you save money and keep you safe. Regular maintenance may help you get more miles out of your car and could lower the risk of accidents.
Given that the average cost of a new car, truck, or SUV now tops $40,000, the longer you can keep your vehicle running, the better.
The average car owner puts 13,500 miles on their vehicle in any given year. And that’s just the average; many people put far more miles on their vehicle. If you have a long commute, you could easily rack up 20,000 miles or more in a year.
A spring tune-up is a wise idea for anyone who drives as part of their job. A professional limousine driver averages roughly 105 trips per week. People driving for a ride share app or making deliveries through a delivery app can put 50,000 or more extra miles on their car per year. Without regular maintenance, their vehicles may break down sooner rather than later.
The Pros of Regular Maintenance
A spring tune-up will cost a bit of money upfront but it may keep your car running longer. What’s more, it could help you avoid more expensive car repair bills. As a result, a small investment now could save you a lot of money down the road (pun intended).
Over time, your brakes will wear out, your tires will lose their traction and air, your windshield wiper fluid will dry up, and your spark plugs may begin to lose their… well, spark. A seemingly minor issue now, such as a shock that’s losing its spring, could turn into a major issue that requires extensive repairs or replacement in the future.
A regular spring tune-up will give professionals an opportunity to look at your car. If an issue is caught early — say, if your brake pads or struts are wearing out — it could save you from more expensive repair bills later on. Keeping oil topped up and changed and your air filter fresh will help your engine run more smoothly and may prevent damage. This could help you save money on maintenance and repairs, making car ownership more affordable in the long run.
All in all, a spring tune-up will allow professional technicians to perform both preventative and restorative work on your vehicle. Perhaps more importantly, however, tune-ups will also help keep you and your loved ones safe by reducing the risk of accidents and breakdowns. Let’s take a look.
Here’s How a Spring Tune-Up Can Help Keep You Safe
Did you know that weather is a factor in roughly 21% of all accidents? If your windshield wipers are no longer working correctly because they’re worn out, you may suffer lower visibility during a storm. This could cause you to miss a red light or another car that’s changing lanes. Likewise, if your brakes are wearing thin and no longer provide optimal stopping power, this could lead to an accident. Someone may slow down in front of you due to an approaching red light. If you hit the brakes and they don’t respond, your vehicle will continue forward — right into another car’s rear end.
Or you could be driving on the expressway and suddenly a tire blows out. In a worst-case scenario, the blowout could cause a huge accident. Even if you simply end up on the side of the road dealing with a flat or waiting for a tow truck, a blowout could quickly ruin your day and put your well-being at risk.
Tire blowouts are believed to cause roughly 2000 accidents per year. And many blowouts are, in turn, caused by low air pressure. By taking your vehicle in for a spring tune-up, an expert can check air pressure and also look out for punctures, worn tread, and other issues. A tune-up also offers a great time to replace old windshield wipers and to top up windshield wiper fluids.
During your tune-up, the automotive technician may also notice that your brake lights or headlights are out or that another serious problem is present. If that’s the case, it’s best to fix the problem now to reduce the risk of accidents and other incidents.
While it may seem like an added expense to factor in a spring tune-up, it’s actually a great way to save money overall. If you can include springtime car maintenance in your budget, you’ll set yourself up for financial success by avoiding expensive repairs, premature replacement, or costly accidents.
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