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Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. How We Make Money
The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you. SHARE: Kiyoshi Hijiki/Getty Images June 07, 2021 Mandy Sleight has been a licensed insurance agent since 2005. She has three years of experience writing for insurance websites such as Bankrate, MoneyGeek and The Simple Dollar. Mandy writes about auto, homeowners, renters, life insurance, disability and supplemental insurance products. Maggie Kempken is an insurance editor for Bankrate. She helps manage the creation of insurance content that meets the highest quality standards for accuracy and clarity to help Bankrate readers navigate complex information about home, auto and life insurance. She also focuses on ensuring that Bankrate’s insurance content represents and adheres to the Bankrate brand. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of how we make money. Our content is backed by LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by and edited by , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Our insurance team is composed of agents, data analysts, and customers like you. They focus on the points consumers care about most — price, customer service, policy features and savings opportunities — so you can feel confident about which provider is right for you. We guide you throughout your search and help you understand your coverage options. We provide up-to-date, reliable market information to help you make confident decisions. We reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible. All providers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide. And we constantly review our criteria to ensure we’re putting accuracy first. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Bankrate logo Insurance Disclosure
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. There is more to owning a car than filling it up with gas and driving to your destination. If you want your vehicle to last, you have to take care of it, which means routine maintenance. Maintaining a log of all your car maintenance intervals is a great way to stay on schedule and help keep your car on the road for years to come. Tracking issues and the car’s maintenance schedule will also make it easier to know when the time has come for professionals to get under the hood. These car maintenance tips will help you keep your car running smoothly in between trips to the mechanic. The more you know about your vehicle, the quicker you can spot an issue and have it looked at by a professional before a minor problem becomes a big issue. Taking care of your car
Part of maintaining a car is having the right insurance coverage in place. Car insurance helps protect your investment by providing coverage to pay for damages caused by negligence. If your vehicle is damaged because of a covered claim, the will help pay to fix the damage or replace the car, depending on your level of coverage and the amount of damage. Some car insurance companies offer specific coverage for car maintenance, which is typically not covered by standard car insurance. , or MBI, offers coverage for mechanical parts failure, which can offset the cost of paying a professional to fix your car. Here are more tips on taking care of your car with routine maintenance: Check all your lightbulbs: At least weekly, you should turn your car’s lights on and walk around it. Check to make sure no lights are burned out and, if they are, have them replaced. Do not forget about the tag lights in the back. Depending on your make and model, you may be able to replace them yourself for a few dollars. If not, you will have to pay labor costs to have a professional do it for you. Wash and clean your car: Another part of car maintenance is washing your car regularly. Whether you do it weekly or monthly, washing and waxing your car removes dirt, pollen, oils, road salt and other grime from your car. Allowing contaminants to sit on the paint can cause damage over time, and people living in snowy states may have road salt on their cars that can cause rust damage. While you’re cleaning the outside, don’t forget about the inside. Pick up all the trash, wipe down the interior, vacuum the floors and seats. Check fluids monthly: You should check all the fluids, including oil, coolant, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid and differential fluid, once a month. If you notice any fluid leaks, make an appointment with a mechanic to have it checked. Fluid changes depend on make and model and are usually based on mileage. A can cost around $100, while a could be as high as $400. For all-wheel or four-wheel-drive cars, should also be checked and changed when stated in the owner’s manual, which can cost about $100. Change your oil regularly: Regular maintenance includes oil changes, but the frequency depends on how much you drive and your driving style (short vs. long trips, highway vs. city, etc.). Some cars can go 7,500 miles or more, while others need more frequent oil changes. The cost will vary based on the type of oil needed, how much your car takes and where you live. Checking your battery life, air filter and whether a wheel alignment or rotation is needed is also a good idea during each oil change. Schedule recommended maintenance: Certain parts have recommended scheduled maintenance after a certain number of miles, usually at 12,000, 24,000, 36,000, 60,000, 75,000 and 100,000 miles. The car owner’s manual will provide recommended maintenance intervals. Make it easy to remember by putting the schedule in your calendar so you can keep up on your car maintenance. Check your windshield wipers every six months: Damaged or worn windshield wipers can impair visibility during a storm. Once the wipers stop working or you notice streaks on the windshield, you should replace them. If you are not sure what size you need, someone at the auto parts store can assist you in finding the right wipers for your car. Costs for wipers vary by size and conditions needed and can be anywhere from $10 each to over $100. Change your engine air filter: Engine air filters keep dirt and other particles out of your engine so it can run smoothly and efficiently. Even if it is being checked during other maintenance appointments, inspect it at least once per year and replace it accordingly. You can purchase an engine air filter yourself or have a shop do the work for more, but it should cost less than $100. Keep an eye on your brakes: Your car’s brakes are vital and can prevent an accident. While they should be checked regularly during other maintenance appointments, you should also listen to them while driving. If you notice noise coming from the brakes, including shuddering or vibration in the pedal, set up an appointment with a mechanic. The , but it can be as much as $400 per axle but could be more for performance cars. Check your tires: Check to make sure your tires are properly inflated based on your owner’s manual recommendations at least once a month. Each time your car goes in for maintenance, you should also ask for the mechanic to check your tire tread depth. How often you should buy new tires depends on how much you drive and the road conditions. Irregular wear could be a sign of a bad alignment and could cause your tires to wear prematurely, so make sure that you include tire rotation as part of your regular car maintenance routine. Most tires start with a tread depth of 10/32 and should be changed before reaching 2/32. Cost for tires and replacing them vary widely by tire, location and labor costs. Change belts and hoses regularly: It is recommended to change belts and hoses every two or three years, even if they have not failed. If you notice a squeaky belt, it may need to be adjusted. The timing belt or chain is usually done every 60,000 miles, though each manufacturer has its recommendation in the car’s owner’s manual. The costs for parts and labor vary by location, manufacturer and which belts and hoses need replacing. The average cost for a is $175. AAA to be between 8.39¢-10.11¢ per mile. By understanding how and when to care for your car using these maintenance tips, you can keep your vehicle running better for longer. SHARE: Mandy Sleight has been a licensed insurance agent since 2005. She has three years of experience writing for insurance websites such as Bankrate, MoneyGeek and The Simple Dollar. Mandy writes about auto, homeowners, renters, life insurance, disability and supplemental insurance products. Maggie Kempken is an insurance editor for Bankrate. She helps manage the creation of insurance content that meets the highest quality standards for accuracy and clarity to help Bankrate readers navigate complex information about home, auto and life insurance. She also focuses on ensuring that Bankrate’s insurance content represents and adheres to the Bankrate brand. Related Articles