When was the last time you took your car in for routine maintenance? Chances are that this task easily gets put off. Unfortunately, postponing routine car maintenance can end up costing a lot more on repairs in the future. Replacing oil, oil filters, and air filters are all important, but it’s also vital that you routinely bring your car in for a tune-up and inspection. Parts wear down, and fluids can leak. Keeping on top of these items can prevent expensive repairs. Newer cars may remind you about routine service checks. Some newer cars will display a message for you to “perform service”. This makes it easy to remember service checks. Unfortunately, many older vehicles (many prior to the year 2000) do not include these types of notifications. For example, parts such as brake pads wear down after time. These are hidden so they aren’t visible without removing your wheels. The last thing you want to do is find out the wrong way, like not being able to stop your car fast enough to prevent an accident, or waiting until you hear metal grinding on metal, instead of a brake pad. Add a reminder to your calendar to bring your car in, so you can help prevent more expensive and extensive auto repair.