After passing your driver’s education courses and earning a license, it won’t be long before you show off your driving skills. But as a new motorist, you should know more than the rules of the road before you get behind the wheel. It’s also important to master all aspects of car care so that you can maintain reliable control and keep your vehicle in good shape for years to come. To help you steer your way toward success, here are five auto care tips every new driver should know.  

5 Ways to Protect Your Vehicle When You Start Driving

1. Follow Preventive Maintenance Schedule

Take time to study the owner’s manual and learn the manufacturer’s recommendations. Tending to oil changes, coolant flushes, brake pad replacements, and other tune-up tasks will help ensure that your car is running at its optimal capabilities. This maintenance will also help keep all mechanical components in peak condition to reduce your risk of experiencing car troubles on the road.

2. Keep an Emergency Kit

No matter how strong your driving skills are, you never know what you might encounter when you’re behind the wheel. To make sure you’re always prepared, keep a fully stocked emergency kit in your car. This kit should include first aid supplies, flares or reflectors, a flashlight, emergency blanket, water, nonperishable food, jumper cables, and a tire jack.  

3. Practice Changing Tires  

Knowing how to change a tire properly can help you avoid panic if you ever encounter a flat or blow-out while driving. To stay prepared, position your car in a safe and secure area. Follow the instructions that come with your car jack and practice changing the tires with an experienced friend or relative. 

4. Check the Wipers

To help you stay safe in rainy weather, make sure to install new wipers when you start driving. Using your owner’s manual as a reference, determine which wiper size is right for your vehicle. Since these devices wear with time, a smart rule of thumb is to replace the wiper every time the seasons change.

5. Know Who to Call for Help

Getting in an accident or experiencing a breakdown can leave you stranded, especially if you’re the only one who seems to be on the road. New drivers should always know who to call for roadside assistance. In the event of an emergency, your provider should be able to come to your location no matter the hour to resolve fuel shortages, flat tires, and dead batteries. 

When you’re determined to drive with confidence, look to Eaton Driving School for comprehensive behind-the-wheel training. Offering private driving lessons in Rochester, NY, this instructor will teach you how to safely operate a vehicle. To learn more about how this affordable driver’s education program will make you a better motorist, visit their website. To book instruction time, call (585) 227-4800.