Basic Vehicle Maintenance, Car Checks and Breakdown Tips

Key points

• The graphic covers nine checks before you drive: battery, controls, water and coolant, lights, windscreen, power steering, motor oil, tyre pressure and tread, and cleaning.
• It lists what to keep in the car, explains seven dashboard warning lights and sets out what to do if you break down on an ordinary road or a motorway.
• Its legal figures match UK rules: tyre tread of at least 1.6mm [2], windscreen damage limits of 10mm and 40mm for the MOT [4], and a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind the car, never on a motorway [3].

Car maintenance basics, in text

Title: Car Maintenance basics. A second drawing shows the car with its bonnet open and numbered labels for each check.

Before you head out

1. Battery. Check battery regularly, using a qualified mechanic, or check it yourself with a car battery tester.
2. Controls. Ask a mechanic to check controls urgently if there is knocking or rattling from the steering or suspension, “play” in the steering wheel or heavy steering, or the brakes feel spongy or slack.
3. Water and coolant. Prevents the radiator from freezing or overheating. The water level should be between the max and min marks on the tank. To avoid injury, only ever open the radiator cap on a cold engine. Check your car handbook for more details.
4. Lights. Ask a friend to help you check lights regularly. Ensure brake, indicator and fog lights work. Make sure lights are properly adjusted.
5. Windscreen. Check for chips or cracks. Small, unattended chips can grow into cracks. Chips in your line of sight larger than 10mm, or any chip larger than 40mm, could result in a failed MOT. Check wipers regularly and replace when necessary.
6. Power steering. Check power steering fluid regularly. If steering becomes heavy: low fluid level, top it up; correct fluid level or losing fluid, ask a mechanic to take a look.
7. Motor oil. Cars need motor oil to run smoothly. Check oil regularly, “always before longer journeys” (the graphic’s wording). The level should be between the two lines on the dipstick.
8. Tyre pressure and tread. Check pressure and tread weekly. Over-inflated or under-inflated tyres can be unsafe. Tread must be at least 1.6mm deep. Inspect tyres for cuts and damage, and check the spare too. Incorrect wheel alignment can increase tyre wear; typical signs are uneven or “feathered” wear, steering wheel vibration, drag or pulling, and audible distress when turning corners.
9. Cleaning. Regularly clean lights, indicators, reflectors and number plates; windscreens and windows; and the car interior, to prevent distractions when driving.

On the road, what to keep in the car

• Car care and road safety basics: jack, reflective triangle, puncture repair kit, wheel lock opener, tyre wrench, multi-tool, jump leads, screen wash, oil and other engine fluids.
• Health and safety essentials: first aid kit, small fire extinguisher, high visibility vest.
• In-car travel must-haves: water, sunglasses, flashlight, hands-free set, multi-use car charger, small change or a phone card, up-to-date maps or GPS kit, blanket.

What if something goes wrong?

“Generally, if a warning light comes on when driving or doesn’t switch off when the engine’s running, you should stop when it’s safe and investigate or seek assistance.”

• Airbag: airbag could go off unexpectedly, or not go off when it should.
• ABS: there could be something wrong with the brake system.
• Engine: indicates an issue with the engine management system.
• Tyre pressure: you may need to top up the air in tyres; check for punctures.
• Oil pressure: oil level needs to be topped up.
• Battery charge: there might be an issue with the battery charging system.
• Handbrake: if it stays on after the handbrake is released, have the brake fluid level checked.

Footnote: your manufacturer’s handbook should give full details on your warning lights, which vary from vehicle to vehicle.

In the event of a breakdown

On the road: wear a high visibility vest if available; get your car off the road if you can; use hazard warning lights; keep sidelights on in poor visibility; stand away from your car; place a warning triangle at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind your car, on the same side of the road, and be careful.

On the motorway: stop as far to the left as possible on the hard shoulder with wheels turned to the left; leave the car by the left-hand doors; keep all passengers away from the carriageway and hard shoulder; never place a warning triangle on a motorway; walk to an emergency telephone on your side of the carriageway (free calls to the Highways Agency or police), use it rather than a mobile if possible, and always face traffic when on the phone.

Servicing your car

Your manufacturer’s handbook should tell you how often to get your car serviced, how often regular maintenance tasks should be carried out, and when replacement parts need to be changed. “The above checklists are not exhaustive; refer to your car manufacturer’s handbook or a qualified mechanic for more information.” Sainsbury’s Bank logo.

How the advice compares with the Highway Code

The Highway Code says cars must have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the whole circumference, and tyres must be inflated to the manufacturer’s specification [2]. It also says lights, indicators, reflectors and number plates must be kept clean, and windscreens and windows clean and free from obstructions [2]. On warning lights it advises that if a light stays on after the engine starts or comes on while driving, you should stop and investigate [2].

For breakdowns, Rule 276 matches the graphic on hazard lights, sidelights and a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind, never on motorways [3]. Rule 277 says to stop as far to the left as possible with wheels turned left, leave by the side furthest from traffic, keep well away from the vehicle, use the free emergency telephone and face the traffic while you speak [3].

Notes on this infographic

• Motorway advice has been updated. The current Rule 277 adds emergency areas as a place to stop, says to stay in the vehicle with seat belts on and call 999 if you cannot get safely away from it, and allows an SOS button [3]. The graphic predates this.
• The graphic names the “Highway Agency”. The body that runs England’s motorways is now National Highways [5].
• The MOT windscreen limits are 10mm in zone A, a 290mm wide strip of the wiper area centred on the steering wheel, and 40mm elsewhere in the area swept by the wipers [4].
• The graphic was published by Sainsbury’s Bank in 2015 [1] and is for UK drivers.

Questions about basic vehicle maintenance

What do you need to check in your car?

The graphic’s nine checks are the battery, controls, water and coolant, lights, windscreen, power steering fluid, motor oil, tyre pressure and tread, and cleanliness. The Highway Code lists lights, brakes, steering, exhaust, seat belts, demisters, wipers, washers and warning systems among the things to keep working [2].

What are things I should always have in my car?

The graphic suggests a jack, warning triangle, puncture repair kit, tyre wrench, jump leads, screen wash, a first aid kit, a small fire extinguisher, a high visibility vest, water, a torch, a charger, maps and a blanket.

Sources

1. Sainsbury’s Bank Money Matters, Visual guide to car maintenance basics (5 August 2015, archived copy), the creator’s page for this graphic.
2. GOV.UK, The Highway Code, Annex 6, vehicle maintenance, safety and security.
3. GOV.UK, The Highway Code, Breakdowns and incidents (274 to 287).
4. GOV.UK, MOT inspection manual, 3. Visibility.
5. GOV.UK, National Highways.

Last reviewed 30 October 2026