First-time car buyers may be excited about their purchase, but they will miss the most important part of the buying process. Once the documents have been signed and the car is yours, you need to leave the dealership and go directly to an auto parts store to complete the process. There are some tools that any vehicle owner is going to have with them. These are jacks, jack stands, a good set of sturdy plugs, rags, funnel and a bucket, a pair of jumper wires, a pair of sturdy pliers, and a set of screwdrivers.
I know you are probably saying, “I have a warranty on my car.” This is good for the first year, but exactly what happens when the car starts to age and the warranty wears off. What if you are not buying a new car but a used vehicle? What if you don’t have the money on hand to have it repaired by a professional garage? You may want to start right now at the beginning of your purchase to begin the process of learning how to take care of do-it-yourself problems. Knowing now will prevent problems later when the problem arises.
With the right tools in the car, you will have them ready for any situation. You may even discover that others along the way can benefit from your future thinking. How many times do you see people who are stuck on the side of the road without a jack or a set of jumper cables? You can get out of the way and offer your help. Not only will you feel good planning ahead, but you’ve been in a position to do something nice for someone else. The feeling that comes from being able to help another person will not be surpassed by many other things.
If you can’t afford to buy all of these extras at once, make sure you have at least one set of jumper cables and a flat tire jack. Tires never last as long as the warranty and may need to be replaced at any time. Take some time to look in your car manual for the proper instructions for changing tires. Every year many people are injured because they did not set the jack correctly and the vehicle falls over.
Take a firm stand with yourself to begin learning more about the repairs you can easily do to your vehicle. You never know when the knowledge will be useful. Your car seems to pick the most inopportune times to break down and being prepared will make it a less scary event for you. Imagine for a second what would happen if you traveled at night and were stranded on the side of the road. You will feel much better when you get into your vehicle, not only for long trips, but also for short trips to work or leisure.
Every car will need to be repaired at some point. Maintenance not only prepares you for the worst of times, it can also teach you how to keep your car in tip-top shape for many years to come. Doing things yourself will also save you money. It can be quite expensive to have your car serviced, especially if labor charges are added. What could take an hour to repair could mean a week without having your car because it’s in the shop.