“It’s alright, it’ll wait until January now.”
How many times have you heard something along these lines, when the end of the year is approaching?
Whether it’s giving the garden a thorough tidying, or sorting out your tax documents, far too many important issues are left until the new year – including car servicing.
Given how temperamental many cars can be, this is never a good idea. Especially when you factor in how the autumn and winter weather affects our cars’ operation.
But with up to a quarter of all road users now putting off servicing and MOT testing for their car, according to data from RAC, concerns among local garages and on a national scale are growing about the condition of the vehicles on our roads.
At CJ Auto Service Centre, we specialise in car servicing in Warrington, MOT tests, car repairs and much more.
So, if you’re reading this in the latter part of the year and want your car to give you the responsiveness it should, it would be a wise move to get your car booked in with us instead of hanging fire until your vehicle fails!
Let’s take a look at some of the specific reasons why you should never put off servicing your car until the new year, if you’re going to be waiting a while.
Why putting off your car service until the new year is a bad idea
Winter weather can have a detrimental effect on your car
The October-November-December months aren’t the easiest to drive in, nor are they the easiest on our cars in general.
In fact, the coldest months of theyear are often thetimes when our cars need attention, because of the negative effects it can have on certain car parts. You can read all about these in our blog here.
For example, if your battery is on the older side, it may struggle to do its job when the temperature dips, making starting your car a nightmare. Or, your radiator may show signs of leakage; often a result of the components folding under fluctuating temperatures in older cars.
However, by booking your car in for a service earlier, instead of waiting for the new year, you could have these problems addressed and fixed far sooner, saving you headaches and concerns later down the line.
The longer you leave problems, the longer they have to get worse
Avoiding problems can be a comfort, but they always come back to surprise you at the least opportune moments.
Some people are more than happy to avoid issues with their car, like gear change problems or a soft or spongy brake pedal.
But if you plan on leaving these problems until you get your car serviced – and you’re intentionally putting off a service until the new year – you’re giving the problems plenty of time to get worse the more you drive your vehicle.
The solution? Book your car in for an examination at the soonest possible moment to diagnose and fix issues before they spiral out of control.
The safety of others
Surprisingly, there is no legal requirement to service your car regularly. But you’d have to be pretty silly not to get your car serviced after a lengthy period.
Many car manufacturers recommend servicing your car every 12,000 miles or at least once a year. So, if there’s no legal requirement to do so, why is this such a strong recommendation?
The reason is simple: Safety. Or, more specifically, the safety of other drivers on the road.
If something in your car fails while you are driving, it may pose a significant safety risk to you and other drivers on the road.
If you’re tempted to put off your service as long as you can to save some cash, you may actually wind up spending more cash than you needed to by not staying on top of your servicing, not to mention putting others in danger.
So do the right thing and don’t wait until the new year to service your car, especially if it’s months away.
Looking for service and repair garages in Warrington? Talk to CJ Auto
If all of the above has convinced you to get a full service or interim service at your earliest convenience, and you live in or around the Warrington area, CJ Auto Service would be happy to help.
With over 35 years of experience in car servicing and car repair at our Warrington centre, we’re your trusted local motor experts who’ll help keep your car in the best condition no matter the time of year.
We can also carry out an MOT test if you need one of these as well – all in line with the rules and regulations set out by the vehicle standards agency, so you know your MOT tests are fully valid.
To find out more, get in touch with one of our local car experts today and see how we could be of service to you and your vehicle.
