A season’s change is a great time to get your car in order. Many vehicle owners have a fall auto maintenance checklist they go through to get prepared to have a reliable vehicle in even the toughest weather. The following are some things that should be on your checklist for the fall.

1. Change Your Oil

An oil change should always be on the top of your list of any fall auto maintenance checklist you create. It can help extend your car’s life for many years beyond what you desire or expect. The oil is the most vital element in your vehicle because it protects your engine’s most intricate and vulnerable parts. It’s not an expensive thing to buy for your car, so you should encourage yourself to keep up with the process of changing it.

Sometimes, knowing when you need an oil change is hard. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual is the best place to locate that information. The manual explains everything about your car in short form. You’ll find a section that delves into the maintenance tasks and how frequently you should perform them. Oil changes should typically be done every 3,000 to 7,500 miles. However, the time intervals your manufacturer suggests will depend on your make and model of car as well as the type of oil it takes.

Synthetic oil will have a longer-lasting period in between oil changes. You can probably change your oil every 7,500 miles if it takes synthetic. Some synthetic types can last well over 10,000 miles. That’s why it’s crucial to check the book the people who built the car wrote.

You’ll also need to pay attention to how frequently you drive the car and the mode of travel you use. You might want to change your oil more frequently if you drive your car in the city and do a lot of stopping and starting. However, you can wait longer if you do all highway driving. They say highway driving is very safe for a vehicle’s engine, so you can feel confident if all of your travels are of that type.

2. Check Your Transmission

Your transmission is another component that should be on your fall auto maintenance checklist. It’s wise to ensure your auto transmission has enough fluid because a fluid loss can ruin its sensitive parts. It might also be time to have a mechanic empty your transmission case and refill it with a new fluid type.

Usually, vehicle owners only do this service once every 50,000 miles. Some do it every 100,000 miles. The best reference to check is the owner’s manual once again. It will explain to you the best time to perform this service so that you’ll know when to see your local mechanic. Ensure that this mechanic is trained to handle transmissions and provide adequate service. Once you know that you can count on this person or shop, you should visit and have them service your transmission.

3. Get a Several-Point Inspection

A several-point inspection is the next thing that should be on your fall auto maintenance checklist. It’s an overall inspection that looks at your vehicle’s systems to ensure everything works well and properly. This inspection should include your car’s tires, engine, brakes, spark plugs, filters, batteries, etc. You should get into the practice of having a certified mechanic look at all these things before every season changes, not just the fall seasons.

That way, the specialist can spot problems when they arise and do the work necessary to resolve them before they cause financial hardships or time spent without a vehicle. It’s better to be on the preventative side than the aftermath side of automotive issues.

Most car repair shops have convenient scheduling systems that allow clients to schedule meetings when they want to bring their vehicles in for appointments. They are hassle-free systems that your car repair garage will hopefully have. Please make your appointment when you’re off from work, and then sit down and wait for them to provide the service. If all is well, the technician will let you know you have no worries.

4. Change Your Brakes

Your brakes are arguably the most important part of your car. They give you the ability to stop your vehicle for lights and obstructions. Therefore, you should include the brake repairs on your fall auto maintenance checklist. Have someone check your brake fluid. Many drivers have a difficult time stopping their vehicles when the fluid is low. The brakes may also feel soft or ineffective, and sometimes, filling the fluid helps immensely.

When you finish that, the repair shop must ensure you have enough brake padding left for a good stopping distance. Ask the mechanic to change your brakes if he or she finds that you don’t have quite enough padding-left. That way, you will stop your vehicle well once the fall hits. You’ll be glad you put a little effort into keeping your brakes up to par. You can go about your day feeling confident that you will have the stopping power you need to protect yourself and your passengers.

5. Take Care of the Body

The next thing on the fall auto maintenance checklist should be the body of your vehicle. Your auto body repair specialist can repair any dings, rust spots, dents, or scrapes your car has now. All you need to do is schedule an appointment and explain the issue you would like to resolve with the body of your car. People who work in body shops have been in the field for years and know just how to eliminate unsightly spots on vehicles. Therefore, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact an auto body repair specialist and arrange a time when you can bring your vehicle in for some bodywork.

You might also want to get in touch with an auto detailing company and ask them about waxing the body of your car. Car wax can make your vehicle look brand new and make you proud to own the one you have. Thus, you should check the internet and phone book for companies in your area.

6. Get Specialized Care

If you have a foreign vehicle, you should make visiting a manufacturer-specific mechanic something you put on the tip of your fall car maintenance checklist. You can’t visit just any provider. You will need to see a certified local BMW service provider. These professionals have specialized training in working on foreign vehicles, and they can help you with yours anytime you need it.

It might not be easy to find a provider for your vehicle right away, but continue your search until you find someone who can help. Then, of course, you’ll need to do the appropriate research to find someone with experience and good reviews. That’s how you can keep your car in excellent condition for the fall or any other season.

7. Install a Radio or Speakers

Another thing you might want to do is get a new car stereo installed in your vehicle. So, it might be a good idea to have the installation on your fall auto maintenance checklist. Nothing is quite as exhilarating as going for a long ride in the fall and listening to your favorite playlist on a brand-new radio. You should also check out the speakers your local store has for sale. Get something that will give you the bass, treble, and overall sound you enjoy. You’ll enjoy your new sound system and the nice fall weather.

Make sure you don’t jump and spend your money on the first system you see. You’ll need to perform the same comparisons on any other piece of equipment. Check the star ratings of the radio systems and see what customers say about them. Only then can you make an informed choice about which system to buy. Also, be sure you hire an experienced installer so that you know your system will run very well.

8. Get Your Garage Ready

Now would be a good time to ensure that your garage is in good condition so that you can store your car. Keeping your car in a garage protects it from all the elements and shields it from mishaps. Thus, you won’t have to worry about rain getting into a cracked window or a random hailstorm putting dings on your exterior. You also won’t have to deal with vandalism and mischief. Countless people fall victim to car keyers and people who like to destroy other people’s property for fun and vengeance. Storing your vehicle in a garage will eliminate such problems.

You might want to think of a new way to renovate your garage. Perhaps you want to try having an Amish built garage door installed. Maybe you believe it’s time to switch from a standard garage door to an electrical one.

Alternatively, maybe you don’t need to do anything elaborate to feel satisfied about your garage. Maybe you’ll be fine cleaning your garage and making it neat enough to move around. It’s up to you, but you should put the garage on your fall auto maintenance checklist. It isn’t something you’ll do to your car directly, but it can ultimately help you.

9. Get Your Garage Door Checked

Along with renovating your garage, you should also have your garage door and all of its components checked for faults and imperfections. You should do that if you’ve decided not to install a new one. Have a professional visit your home and check that all electrical components work correctly. Have this person ensure the door is on the railing, and the unit will respond to the garage door opener when prompted. Having a professional look at these things is one of the best ways to help take Care of your car this fall.

10. Find a Good Mechanic

A good mechanic should be on the top of your fall auto maintenance checklist. Everyone should have the number of an excellent car caretaker in their contact list. What is a good mechanic, though? That’s a great question, and many things can qualify a mechanic as a good one. Years of experience do count for something, although not many people may want to ignore experience. A mechanic should have a few years of experience doing the work you need on your car. He or she should also have the correct credentials and certifications. If you can see examples of this individual’s work, that will be even better.

A good mechanic also has a strong reputation in the community. Thus, you will find positive reviews about this person online. You’ll see star ratings between three and five within a five-star system. A six-star system should give you results of five or more stars.

Those are not the only attributes you’ll find in a good mechanic, though. You’ll also find that the mechanic has an excellent sense of customer service. This person will greet you kindly and be very informative and forthcoming about any questions you need to be answered.

This person will also be willing to provide you with promotions, discounts, or fair prices, at the very least. A true professional also loves their work. Therefore, they won’t ever make it seem like you are troubling them for asking for information or assistance. They will have a pleasant demeanor, and their good attitude will shine through in their work. That’s how you know you have a good mechanic you should hire to help you take Care of your vehicle.

You know some things you should have on your fall auto maintenance checklist. The above list is not exhaustive, but it will give you a good idea of where to start. Keep doing those little things to your car, and don’t stop until you feel comfortable about its appearance and performance. You might want to add some tasks to the list to give yourself the overall satisfaction you deserve. When you’re finished, you’ll have a well-running vehicle, and you won’t have to worry about many troubles while on the road.

Use this list as an outline for creating a safe and comfortable vehicle for yourself and any passengers in your car. Above all else, have a wonderful fall season, and keep taking care of your car.