A Responsible Car Owner Maintains a Better Vehicle

Most of us consider ourselves to be responsible.  We know that maintaining our vehicles is important, and we don’t speed (much), and definitely don’t drink and drive.  When behind the wheel we pride ourselves in our defensive driving where we are constantly playing the “what if” game.

But how responsible are you really?  You are probably a good driver, but do you maintain a vehicle that could literally kill you if it’s not maintained properly?  As we strive to be the best auto body repair shop in Billings, we strive to provide you with great driving tips.  Here are our top 5 signs of a responsible car owner.

Systematic Maintenance and Tune Ups

How many times have you pushed the envelope on maintenance?  You end up a couple thousand miles overdue for an oil change, you skip the tire rotation, you forget to swap your windshield wipers, and a variety of other regular items are neglected.

The problem isn’t that you went 10,000 miles between oil changes.  The problem is those are the common ones that are well-known maintenance items.  If you don’t change your oil regularly, are you flushing the transmission fluid, brake fluid, and checking everything else?

Not neglecting the regular maintenance makes you a responsible car owner.

Meticulous Service Records

There are two ends of the spectrum when it comes to service records.  On one end there is the owner that says, “I take it to the same shop every time, they should be keeping track.”  On the other end there is the owner that writes down when and where they filled up with gas, how many gallons, and calculates out miles per gallon for every single fill up.  You want to be in the middle.

Recording fuel details isn’t all that important, but recording maintenance and service is.  It’s as simple as keeping a small notebook in your glove box, and after any work is done to your vehicle, you write what it was, the date, and the mileage when it was performed.

Your vehicle will be easier to sell someday if you’re a responsible car owner that has meticulous service records.

Always Keeping it Clean

Nobody enjoys driving a dirty vehicle.  Some grow to accept a substantial level of filth, but most don’t actually desire a dirty vehicle.  As our rigs age, however, we get less and less particular about how clean we keep it.  At some point, it takes such a back-seat priority that our vehicles are pretty much never cleaned.

During the warmer weather, we should be giving our vehicles a wash and vacuum once each month.  Every spring and fall, we should be taking them in to have a full auto body detailing done (you can put these items in your service notebook).  A clean vehicle lasts longer, and it’s safer to drive.

To be a responsible car owner, take pride in your vehicle and keep it clean.

Driving is On Point

Have you ever monitored your driving?  I’m not talking about just paying attention to how fast you’re going, how hard your braking, and whether you roll through stop signs or not.  That’s very subjective and you tend to only pay attention when you’re driving responsibly.  Instead, using a plugin in your vehicle to monitor your driving habits.

Many insurance companies will now offer discounts if you’re a safe driver.  They know if you’re safe by having you install a small device in the vehicle that monitors how many miles you drive, when you drive, how fast you speed up, and how hard you brake.  There are a variety of cell phone apps (most designed for teen drivers) that can record the same data.

A responsible car owner will know their faults, and correct them so that their driving is on point.

Staying Current on Technology

You don’t have to be a gear head to know how your vehicle operates.  And you don’t have to subscribe to car magazines to stay on top of the latest technology.  But you should know at least something about what’s under the hood, and any improvements that have come out after you bought your vehicle.

Vehicle technology is always changing.  Most of it will last for decades, but on occasion something changes so dramatically that what you’re operating now isn’t exactly safe.  If you buy from a dealer, you get the regular notifications in the mail about important safety recalls.  But if you don’t, you need to stay on top of these things by keeping abreast of the latest vehicle technology.

A responsible car owner will know what needs updated in their vehicle to keep it as safe as possible.

 

Big Sky Collision Center Fixes Cars

As we work toward being the best auto body repair shop in Montana, we want to work toward helping you be the best auto owner in Montana.

But if an accident does happen, keep us in mind.  We can restore your vehicle to full factory safety standards so you can remain a responsible car owner.