Don’t worry, we’ve all been there (myself included). You know exactly how long ago you were supposed to take your car in for a check-up. Why is getting our cars serviced such a neglected necessity?

For me, it’s a combination of ‘I really can’t be bothered calling them to book it in’ and ‘When on earth am I going to find the time to do all of this?’

I can not stress this enough, maintaining a regular servicing schedule as per your manufacturer’s guidelines is so crucial for the longevity of your motor vehicle, as servicing can help maintain the safety of your vehicle, the performance of your engine and result in less overall fuel consumption in the long run.

With that being said, I’m here to help! We all may have *accidentally* skipped over the sticker that our mechanic put on our window last time, so here are five signs you might not be aware of that mean your car needs a little more TLC.

Engine Warning Lights

This one is pretty self-explanatory, let’s break the stigma of ignoring our dashboards and pretending like we can’t see the ‘check engine’ light until it magically turns off.

Please book your car in with a mechanic as soon as warning lights appear, just because they go away for a day does not mean the car has fixed itself.

Ignition Issues

If you drive your car most days, you’ll be relatively aware of what the car should sound like when it’s starting up. If you hear any stutters, strange noises, or feel anything out of the ordinary when trying to start your car, then your best option would be to go and see a mechanic.

Vibrations

These are definitely not what The Beach Boys were referring to when they wrote ‘Good Vibrations’.

Vibrations can be caused by many different components that may malfunction in the car, such as brakes, defective tyres and many more. Vibrations = bad, take your car for a service.

Loss of Power

You might notice that a full tank of petrol isn’t taking you as far as it used to, or your car isn’t quite reaching 100km/h on the freeway as easily as it once did.

Older cars often lose power as a result of extended use over time, yet loss of power can also come from a number of components, such as faulty brake pads or issues with the fuel line.

If you notice a loss of power at any point throughout your car’s lifespan, it’s probably time to take a trip to the mechanic.

Mystery Noises

Are you one of those people that just turns up the radio whenever the car starts making a strange noise? Much like recognising an ignition issue, if you use your car enough, you’ll be able to notice when something isn’t quite right.

Stay alert when driving your motor vehicle, hear any ticking? Squeals? Rattling? Mystery noises usually mean that there is an issue with your vehicle, and you should probably get it serviced.

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This article may contain general financial product advice that does not take into account your personal financial circumstance. Make sure you read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before making any decisions about your insurance.