Most car problems that end up costly started as something small and ignorable: a tyre a few PSI low, an oil change pushed back “one more month.” A basic maintenance rhythm catches almost all of it.
Every month
- Tyre pressure and tread depth (legal minimum is 1.6mm, but replace nearer 3mm in winter)
- Oil level check
- Lights: indicators, brake lights, headlights
Every 3 months
- Coolant and screenwash levels
- Wiper blades
- Battery terminals, especially before winter
Every 6–12 months
- Full service (check your manufacturer’s interval: many modern cars are 12,000 miles or 12 months)
- Brake pad and disc inspection
- Air filter
Annually, non-negotiable
- MOT (once the car turns 3 years old)
- Road tax renewal
- Insurance renewal, worth shopping around even if you plan to stay put
Why a schedule beats memory
Garages will remind you about their service, but nothing coordinates MOT, tax, and multiple services across more than one car unless you’re tracking it yourself. This is where most people fall behind, not from neglect, but because the dates live in different places (a text from the garage, a letter from the DVLA, a sticker on the windscreen).
A simpler approach
Keeping all of these dates in one place, ideally somewhere that reminds you before they’re due rather than after, turns car maintenance from something you scramble to catch up on into something that just runs in the background.