7 Mistakes New Car Owners Usually Make

Now that you are a car owner, you are probably excited about exploring your car and showing it off to everyone. If you have purchased the car without knowing much about it or the responsibilities that come with it, you’re likely to make quite a few mistakes.

As a car owner, you are wholly responsible for your car, its maintenance and making sure it functions well. Know about what you have to do and avoid these mistakes that new car owners make.

mistakes new car owners — *Image credit: Pexels*

Table of Contents

1. Knowing How Your Car Operates

Many new car owners don’t know what half of the buttons or parts in the car do. But it is very important to understand the basic functionality of a car before driving it.
Make sure you know where the important functions like the brakes, dashboard lights, engine and operating temperature buttons are located.
Read the owner’s manual thoroughly before you even start driving your car.
In case of emergencies, you should be knowing which buttons to push and which ones to avoid.

2. Not Changing The Oil

Car experts repeat this countless times yet a lot of car owners fail to change the engine oil regularly.
Oil changes are important to keep your engine running smoothly. Over time, lubrication will decrease and the parts of your car will start to rub against each other and lead to wear and tear because of friction.
Heat will also build up and cause permanent damage to your car.
To avoid thousands of dollars in repairs or even the complete breakdown of your car, make sure you change the oil every 3000 miles.

3. Not Purchasing Car Insurance

It doesn’t matter if you think you are the best driver in the country, car insurance is necessary for the safety and well-being of yourself and the people who ride with you.
Accidents can happen anytime and almost always occur when you least expect them to. If you are not insured you will have to pay huge sums of money for repairs and also if a third party has been injured in the accident.
There are different types of car insurance so make sure you do thorough research on all of them to figure out which one is the most suitable for you and your car.
Purchasing usage-based auto insurance will help you take advantage of discounted premiums and you will also be conscious of how you drive on the road.

4. Irregular Inspections

Your brand-new car may work just fine in the beginning but if you ignore proper maintenance procedures, it will start suffering.
Make sure to perform regular inspections to check if any worn-out parts need replacing or if any of the normal functions are affected.
First, perform a physical inspection and look for scratches, dents, or loose parts. If you do happen to stumble upon loose or worn-out parts, have them fixed or replaced immediately.
Take a look at the internal parts as well including the engine, pulleys, belts and brake pads.
If you don’t know how to perform a proper inspection, have a car mechanic do it for you.

5. Ignoring Your Car’s Tires

Your car’s tires are one of the most important parts of your car so it is only sensible to take good care of them.
Check the tire pressure and make sure it is not under-inflated. If you drive with under-inflated tires you risk facing tire failure which can potentially be dangerous on the road.
You should also check the tire tread depth. If it is low, get it replaced to avoid sudden blowouts or punctures.

6. Letting Your Car Stay Dirty

Cleaning your car will help maintain its appearance and even boost its resale value.
You can either hit the car wash or clean the car yourself. But make sure you do it at least once every few weeks.

7. Not Having A Maintenance Procedure

Set up a proper maintenance schedule and stick to it because your car will thank you in the long run.
Whether they are oil replacements, inspections, part replacements, or tire pressure checkups, make sure you follow all of them religiously.