When you own and run a car there are certain areas that you need to make sure you are aware of. A car requires maintenance, insurance and tax in order to be road legal. Now you don’t need to an expert to know and understand some of the basic, important parts of owning a car.

Have a look below at some of the things that every car owner should be aware of:

WINDSHIELD WASHER

Unobstructed visibility is crucial in order to drive safely. Washer fluid plays an essential role in helping clear your window screen of any debris and grime. It’s really simple to fill the reservoir with windshield washer liquid, you just need to pop the hood and find the can with a picture of a windshield on it. Normally blue or yellow they’re easy to find. Make sure you check the levels of this before any long journeys and keep it topped up through the winter, this is when you tend to get more much from the road because of gritting.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS

Wipers literally just clip into place so they’re really simple to change however many of us leave them that long that often an MOT comes back as a fail for something this small. Having window wipers that aren’t functioning properly can mean that no amount of windscreen wash is going to keep your windows clean. You’ll just be left with smeary, dangerous windows. They’re not overly expensive and are simple to replace however if you are unsure some places will fit them for you with a fitting service.

ROAD TAX, MOT AND INSURANCE

As a car owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure you’re road legal and this means you need to have a valid MOT, pay the relevant road tax and have car insurance. Without these three you are breaking the law and putting yourself and others at risk. You tax and insurance can often be paid on a monthly basis however it’s your duty of care to ensure you get an MOT completed every year. You can even have an MOT completed a month before your date to keep it intact.

OIL

Another essential vehicle component is the engine oil. It’s really easy to check, with most vehicles having a dipstick so you can check the levels. You need to keep your car on a level surface, if you’ve been driving it it’s best to wait a little while for the oil to settle before checking it. As long as you get a reading between low and full your good to go. If you’re low then top it up, simple. It’s a good idea to check the owners manual to make sure there are no restrictions when it comes to the oil that can be used.

TIRE PRESSURE

All motorist should be making sure they are checking their tires on a regular basis. In fact, this is something that you even get asked about on your driving test. It’s again, a very simple task. You need to check the pressure of your tires which is free at most petrol stations, it’s advised to check the guidelines in your owners manual for the correct pressure. If you are seeing a drop in pressure then chances are you may need a replacement tire. Something else that you should be looking at is the tire tread depth, there is a legal requirement for this so it’s wise to familiarize yourself. Whilst on the topic of tires it’s also worth pointing out hat you should know how to competently change a tire or how to use the filler in case of a puncture.

JUMP START

You would hope that you never need to jump-start your car in order to check it going. It’s usually down to the battery running flat. This is, however, something that every driver should be able to do. This requires a set of cables, a vehicle that’s fully charged (or a portable jump starter) and a little bit of knowledge. Try doing some research online about how to do this. It’s also possible to jump-start your car by pushing it however, you do need the help of a few people to do this.

This short guide is just a few of the basic things that every owner should be aware of. So, whether you’re just starting out or have been driving for some time, make sure you are fully prepped with owning a car.

Do you have any other things that every car owner should know? Please share them in the comments section below.