Published 26 Jun 2025
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7 min read
What is a Car Maintenance Checklist?
A car maintenance checklist, also called a vehicle maintenance checklist, is a tool used by auto service technicians to keep track of car service schedules and eliminate unexpected defects and engine breakdowns. It helps prolong the operational condition of a vehicle, ensure roadworthiness, and promote safety by proactively catching issues before accidents can occur. A basic car maintenance checklist includes inspection of the engine lights, brake, tires, lights, and wipers.
What is Car Maintenance?
Car maintenance is a proactive approach to preserving and maximizing the performance of a vehicle. It is performed by car service technicians or fleet managers to prevent unexpected machine breakdowns that may lead to car incidents, property damage, or costly repairs.
Importance
Car maintenance is a crucial task, especially for the fleet and service industries. It keeps vehicles running smoothly to avoid any operational delays and disruptions. Carrying out regular car maintenance helps businesses to:
address car issues even before they arise;
increase employee safety while on the road;
reduce the probability of car breakdown that may cause vehicle damages; and
save time and money on unexpected auto repairs.
Preventative Car Maintenance Schedule
Car maintenance varies depending on the needs of a vehicle. It can be performed regularly, monthly, or based on accumulated mileage. For proper vehicle maintenance, the following can help identify vehicle parts or items that need to be inspected based on schedule.
What to Include in Basic Car Maintenance
Basic car maintenance or short term check-ups can keep the vehicle running smoothly by visually checking the following items:
Engine lights – flashing engine lights is a sign that the electronic control system has run into a problem that needed immediate attention.
Brake – manually test brakes if there is a spongy feels or if it takes more pressure to apply the brakes than normal. Check if you can hear a strange reak sound.
Tires – check if the tire pressure light is “on” and inspect if the pressure is in a normal range. Visually investigate for a possibility of tire holes.
Lights – test for busted lights including the head, tail, parking, brake, and signal lights.
Wipers – check wiper blades for any signs of wear and tear and replace them if necessary.
What to Include in Monthly Car Maintenance
Monthly maintenance can keep the vehicle tuned up by replacing consumable items such as gas, oil, and other lubricants. It is important to check the following items monthly:
Engine oil – check the difference between the “low” and “full” markings using a dipstick. Replenish the engine oil if below markings.
Coolant – verify the level at the reservoir and fill up the coolant up to normal level.
Windshield wiper fluid – go through the level and top off if needed.
What to Include in Every 3 months or 3,000 Miles Car Maintenance
When 3,000 miles is reached or after three months, whichever comes first, perform car maintenance and replace the following items according to the recommendation of manufacturers.
Automatic transmission fluid – check the level of transmission fluid, if it is low, add the appropriate transmission fluid type.
Power steering fluid – inspect the system for leaks, especially if topping off becomes frequent.
Engine air filter – replace the air filter if it is dirty, full of debris, or having discolorations.
Battery – check the battery if mounted securely and free from corrosion.
Belts – replace frayed or worn V-belts and serpentine belts.
Hoses – check if hoses are brittle, have leaks, or cracks then replace accordingly.
Exhaust – listen to exhaust systems and check if there is a strange noise. Check for leaks or damage.
Tire treads – replace the tire if the tire tread depth is 2/32” or less.
What to Include in Every 6 months or 6,000 Miles Car Maintenance
When 6,000 miles is reached or after six months, whichever comes first, rotate your tires to extend their service life. For long-term check-ups such as this, also check the following items:
Engine oil and filter – Change engine oil and filter as it accumulates tiny bits of metal, dirt, and carbon over time that can cause excessive wear on the engine.
Chassis, steering, and suspension systems – lubricate these parts as needed.
Brake systems – Inspect the whole system including brake fluid, brake linings, rotors, and pads.
Spark plugs – look for busted plugs and replace them if necessary.
Timing belt – Replace the timing belt if there are signs of wear and tear.
Shocks and struts – Check if there is a decrease in smoothness or loss of control when driving.
Depending on your location, seasonal vehicle maintenance is recommended to ensure your car can handle changing road conditions. For instance, during winter, switching to snow tires can improve traction and safety.
Car Maintenance Tips & Best Practices
Failure to implement effective car maintenance or auto repair system can result in less business and more customer complaints. To help avoid these, here are essential car maintenance tips for both automotive technicians and auto repair shop managers:
1. Perform Checks Consistently
Automotive technicians can usually tell if a car is likely to have problems through routine maintenance. A general maintenance check of the car, along with separate checks for each car function, can be scheduled to ensure that potential issues are caught before they become real problems.
2. Pay Attention to Details
Car maintenance needs to be taken seriously as it is critical to the safety of the car owners and the reputability of the auto repair shop. Managers need to ensure that maintenance checks are completed correctly. This means no skipped items, no rushed assessments, and no vague observations. By including photos, annotations, and notes, automotive technicians get a comprehensive view of the car’s condition.
3. Take a Systematic Approach
Aside from addressing isolated issues as they appear, auto repair shop managers can use the data gathered from maintenance checks to recognize recurring problems and resolve them at the root. For example, if there are customer complaints regarding tire failures, a review of the auto repair shop’s collective data could reveal that this issue occurs frequently when the tire’s tread depth has dipped below average due to wear and tear. This and other data gathered by maintenance software can be very helpful when inspecting a large number of cars daily.
Using a Software in the Auto Repair Industry
The auto repair industry faced serious challenges in 2020, with a projected loss of $1.8 billion from economic disruptions caused by the pandemic. However, the auto repair industry is expected to recover this year, with 18% of American households using an auto repair service and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. The global auto repair and maintenance market may even reach $828.6 billion in 2023, from $691.7 billion in 2020 and $693.5 billion in 2019.
Car maintenance companies are using Internet of Things (IoT) to get real-time data on components through sensors in vehicles. Another industry trend is telematics, which collects and transmits data on vehicle use, maintenance requirements, and automotive servicing. Software can help auto repair shops adapt to both of these trends by allowing automotive technicians to conduct routine checks and inspections from within a digital system that can be connected to sensors and other smart devices.
While IoT and telematics are examples of trends that can help the auto repair industry grow, several trends may hurt the industry’s outlook such as increased vehicle leasing and a growing preference for having dealerships handle repairs. Auto repair shops can soften the effects of these two trends by partnering with dealerships that lease and repair automobiles and by using car maintenance software to promote and manage client relations.
