Important car checks to ensure your family car is safe

Keeping your family car in safe, roadworthy condition is essential for everyday journeys and longer trips. Regular checks can help prevent breakdowns and accidents, keeping you and your passengers safe, but knowing what and when you need to complete checks can be challenging.

If you want to make sure your vehicle is as safe as possible, here are the most important regular checks to ensure your family car is safe.

Inspect tyre pressure and tread depth

One of the most important things to check on a regular basis is your tyre pressure and tread depth. If your tyres aren’t up to standard, you can face a range of issues from decreased fuel efficiency to limited grip on the road. This can increase stopping distance, or even mean you lose control of your vehicle when going around a corner.

In other words, your car can become dangerous both for your passengers and for other road users. While your vehicle’s user manual should say what the recommended tyre pressure should be, UK safety laws state your tread depth should always be above 1.6mm. If your tyres are close to that limit, we strongly recommend getting them replaced by professional tyre fitters to limit the chance of any issues occurring while driving.

Test lights and indicators

Your lights and indicators are critical for your safety and that of other road users. They highlight your presence, and show where you intend to go – but only if they’re in working condition.

While testing your headlights and indicators can be completed by yourself in a parked car, checking your brake lights will require another person to help you.

Check brake performance

Something else to keep an eye on is your brake performance. If your brakes feel strange or spongy, this can indicate that they’re worn out and need replacing. Since you use your brakes every time you drive, it can be difficult to notice slight changes over time. That’s why we recommend you get your brakes checked during your annual services.

This professional analysis can keep you informed about the condition of your brake pads, and suggest when they might need replacing.

Top up fluids and engine oil

Your car needs a regular top-up of various fluids to remain in good working order. These fluids include coolant and engine oil. While windscreen fluid isn’t needed to keep your car in good shape, it’s good practice to top this up too.

Typically, your car will alert you when its fluid levels need topping up, but we recommend filling it up every month or two yourself. This can help prevent any issues from occurring, especially if you’re not in a position to refill the fluids when the warning lights come on.