Learn how to prepare for your driver's license test by learning these vehicle maintenance tips:
Want to pass your driving test and avoid roadside emergencies?
Here's what most learner drivers do. They practice parallel parking. Mastering the art of the three-point turn is next. But learners make a huge mistake when it comes to…
Yup. They don't learn basic vehicle maintenance.
Ignorance under the hood is one of the leading causes of failed driving tests and preventable car trouble. Knowing your way around your vehicle keeps drivers safe. It also avoids stressful and sometimes costly roadside emergencies.
Here's what you'll learn:
- Why Maintenance is Important for New Drivers
- The Maintenance Checks Every New Driver Should Know
- How To Prepare for Common Roadside Emergencies
- Bonus: Vehicle Maintenance Before Your Test
Why Vehicle Maintenance is Important for New Drivers
Did you know...
Teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have fatal crash rates nearly three times higher than people age 20 and older. Road crashes are bad enough. But throw a preventable mechanical breakdown into the mix and you've got a disaster.
AAA kept track of just how bad it is by analyzing their service calls. According to their 2024 report, AAA roadside assistance crews responded to over 27 million vehicle service calls last year. Battery and dead vehicles accounted for approximately 74% of those calls.
The best part?
The majority of these breakdowns are preventable by learning a few simple maintenance tips. That's why signing up for quality driving lessons in Greenfield, MA should include how to maintain your vehicle as well. If you're preparing for your license test, you'll feel much better by knowing your vehicle inside and out.
Let's take a look at a few examples:
- Flat tires during a driving test = instant fail
- Dead battery = no driving at all
- Low fluids = severe damage to your vehicle
When you understand how to do basic vehicle maintenance, you can prevent all these situations. Plain and simple.
The Maintenance Checks Every New Driver Should Know
Before hitting the road, there are some basic maintenance checks that all new drivers should know. They take five minutes or less. But can save you hours of panic.
Checking Tire Pressure and Tread Wear
Your tires are the only thing connecting your vehicle to the road. And yet, tires are the most overlooked maintenance area for new drivers.
Let's fix that with a couple of simple checks:
- Locate the recommended PSI on the sticker inside the driver's side door.
- Check tire pressure with a tire pressure gauge once a month.
- Inspect tires for cracks, bulging, or worn tread.
Insert a penny into your tire's tread with Lincoln's head upside down. If you can see his whole head, it's time for new tires.
And don't forget about the spare tire. There's nothing worse than changing a flat only to find your spare is flat too.
Checking Fluid Levels
Cars aren't just filled with gasoline. There are several vital fluid levels you should always keep an eye on.
Here are the fluids you should know:
- Engine oil – should be checked monthly with the dipstick
- Coolant/Antifreeze – this prevents your engine from overheating
- Brake fluid – allows you to stop at a traffic light
- Washer fluid – for your windshield
Checking your vehicle's fluid levels should take no more than five minutes. Most vehicle fluids have clear reservoirs you can eyeball.
Pro Tip: Never check fluid levels when the engine is hot. Not only will you burn yourself, but some fluids may provide an inaccurate reading.
Battery Maintenance
Battery issues are responsible for millions of vehicle breakdowns each year. If you look at AAA's list above, battery failures accounted for a significant chunk of their 27 million service calls in 2024.
New drivers should know how to:
- Locate their vehicle's battery
- Recognize corrosion on the battery terminals
- Identify what a dying battery sounds like
Most car batteries last between three and five years these days. If you know how old your battery is, you can anticipate when you'll need a new one.
Lights Check
Every year, cars fail driving tests because headlights are burned out. Or they fail inspection because taillights don't work.
Make sure to examine these often:
- Headlights (remember high beam and low beam)
- Brake lights and turn signals
- Reverse lights
- Hazard lights
The easiest way to check your brake lights? Back into a garage or up against a building. Then apply the brake pedal. If you can see the lights reflected on the wall, they're working.
How To Prepare for Common Roadside Emergencies
Maintenance is the best defense against breakdowns. But sometimes roadside emergencies are inevitable.
Here are some basic techniques to get you out of some common problems.
Changing a Tire
This should be second nature to every driver. If you don't know how to change a tire, learn it. It's not difficult. But it can be stressful if you've never done it before and are stuck on the side of the road with a flat.
Here are the basic steps:
- Pull over to a safe spot away from traffic
- Set your parking brake once you're safe. Loosen lug nuts before jacking vehicle
- Replace tire with spare. Torque lug nuts in a star pattern.
Make sure you learn how to do this before you actually have a flat. When you're freaking out over spilled tire iron grease on your hands, it will seem a lot harder.
Jump-Starting a Vehicle
All drivers will experience a dead battery at some point. Maybe you left your headlights on overnight. Maybe it just died.
No matter the reason, you should know how to jump your car. And you should know the correct order of connecting jumper cables.
Steps for jump starting include:
- Connect red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery
- Connect the other red clamp to the positive post on the good battery
- Attach black clamp to the good battery's negative post
- Connect the last black clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the dead car
Start the working vehicle first. Then attempt to start the dead vehicle. Let it run for 20 minutes before turning off.
Recognizing Warning Signs
Cars these days are smart. But they let you know when something isn't working right with dashboard warning lights. Familiarize yourself with what these buttons mean to avoid minor repairs turning into giant bills.
Some of the most important dashboard warning lights are:
- Check Engine Light – get this checked soon
- Oil Pressure Light – shut off your engine immediately
- Temperature Warning Light – your car is overheating!
- Battery Warning Light – something is wrong with your charging system
Dashboard Warning Lights aren't there to scare you. But ignoring them will turn small repairs into expensive fixes.
Vehicle Maintenance Before Your Driving Test
When preparing for your license test, you should include a quick vehicle maintenance check before heading to the test site.
- Check all fluid levels
- Test all vehicle lights
- Check tire pressure
- Inspect battery for corrosion and fluid leaks
- Test windshield wipers and washer fluid
Ten minutes of vehicle maintenance before your test can mean the difference between passing and instant failure.
Many driving schools are even starting to incorporate basic vehicle maintenance into their driving curriculum. It's a great way to ensure new drivers know everything about their car.
Bringing It All Together
Learning basic vehicle maintenance is one of the best tips to learn before hitting the road. AAA responds to millions of preventable roadside emergencies each year. You can prevent yours by learning these simple tips:
If you know your way around your vehicle, you'll benefit from:
- Avoid breakdowns when you least need them
- Save money on repairs by catching issues early
- Gain confidence as a driver
- Pass your test with flying colors
Learning to maintain your vehicle goes hand in hand with learning to drive. Use these tips to your advantage and they'll serve you for a lifetime.
Start with the basics. Check your tire pressure regularly. Check your vehicle fluids monthly. Pay attention to dashboard warning lights. Learn how to fix simple problems.
It's these simple habits that separate drivers stranded on the side of the road from those who make it to their destination safely
