April is National Car Care Month and the perfect time to make sure your car is ready for spring and summer.
“The change of the season means you need to prepare your car for that next element that’s going to be in the environment,” president of the Better Business Bureau John North said.
Most people think of winter as the season for car maintenance, but according to Ryan Hoodie, general manager of Grismer Tire and Auto Service in Springboro, it’s just as important in the warmer months.
“What do your tires look like?” he said. “Is your steering suspension okay coming out of pothole season? It’s those things that sometimes get forgotten because we got through the hard months. Well, now we’re going into wet season. So are you going to be safe taking that trip with your family?”
Regular maintenance is important year-round.
Give your car some TLC during National Car Care Month (WKEF/WRGT)
“If you let things go and you let them go to their max and it fails, now you have a consequence you’re dealing with because of that failure and how expensive is that consequence going to be?”
With over 250,000 auto repair businesses to choose from in the U.S., finding the right shop can be difficult.
“What you want to do is get recommendations from family and friends,” North said. “People they’ve used and had good experiences with are likely going to lead to good experiences for you.”
It’s also a good idea to go to three different mechanics and get a cost estimate from each. Keep in mind that the lowest price isn’t necessarily the best price though.
“As we plan for spring and summer vacation and we’re taking our car on trips, we want to make sure we’re safe and our car is up to speed,” North said.