5 student car essentials: looking after your motor

Having a car while at university can make you a popular student.

Just make sure you don’t become the campus taxi service, ferrying mates across town all hours of the day and night.

Here’s a checklist of five vital things you need to look out for while running a car at uni.

1. Get yourself covered

You may be a safe a pair of hands, but the stats are stacked against you. The sad truth is that young drivers are more likely to experience a crash, with 1 in 5 having a knock in their first year of driving. Don’t just buy the first policy that pops up in Google. It genuinely pays to compare car insurance. Not just because you can see lots of different offers and cross-reference each policy. Perhaps surprisingly, you can often get a better price via a comparison search than you would going to the broker directly.

2. Keep an eye on your tyres

Check what pressure your tyres should be and make sure they stay at those levels. Many garages provide free air or, at worst, charge 20p to top up. Every couple of months make sure the pressure is correct. You’ll reduce the risk a dangerous blowout while driving. Look at your tread depth too. Stick a ruler into the grooves – you’ll need at least 1.6 mm to be legal and safe.

3. Stay well oiled

Oil is crucial to the ongoing health and operation of your vehicle. Take your oil seriously. Every month or so pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean with a tissue and then dip it back in. You want to be registering somewhere in the middle of the level markers. Run a car on low oil and it won’t be long before it overheats or serious damage occurs. But don’t put too much in either – over-oiling a car can lead to high pressure and permanent harm.

4. Don’t let it go thirsty

Another liquid to keep an eye on is water. Your car needs water, but not the free stuff from your taps. Unfortunately you need to splash out on distilled water, which as had various impurities removed. Use tap water and the minerals and ions contained in it will gradually corrode the vital components of your car’s engine. Keep your water topped up and avoid being one of those motorists sometimes seen on the hard shoulder with a steaming bonnet and a red face.

5. Are the lights on?

When your car is turned on, the chances are you’re inside it, sat in the driver’s seat, not outside admiring the bodywork. So noticing whether all your lights are working doesn’t always come easily. Make sure you ask a friend every now and then to help you test. Get them to give the thumbs up as you run through all your lights – it will only take a minute, yet it will save you a lot of bother. Having a dead light or lights could lead to being pulled over by the police. Worse, it creates a real danger for you and other motorists.