Often people never think to test their brakes themselves, they rely on them being done during the annual MOT test and then assume that if it passes it will be fine for the rest of the year. As with any part on a car, general wear and tear or even defect parts can mean that something stops working at any time even a week or so after an MOT. If you are going on a long journey, motorway travelling or have any doubt that your brakes are not as they should be then you can test them. You need to know what you are doing and find a safe place to do this though. Many car dealerships and car part shops offer a free brake check where it is done...

Keeping the fluids in your engine topped up and in good condition is one of the most important aspects of caring for your car. Remember, a car is usually one of the most expensive purchases people make, so don’t skimp on looking after it. The main fluids to keep an eye on are oil and coolant. The oil is vital for the running of your cars engine, without it the engine would rapidly overheat from friction and seize up. You should have the oil changed about every 6 months as old oil starts to degrade and loses its efficacy. Failure to do so will lead to increased engine wear and shorten the lifespan of the engine. Use the oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer or consider a specially formulated high...

Take the stress out of buying a second hand motor with these pointers. Research- the internet is great for checking for common faults with the car you’re interested in. Some simple checks on the car can point to well known issues so arm yourself with the facts. Mileage- Check the log book and service history for any discrepancies in mileage. The condition of the vehicle should be in line with it’s mileage. Damage- look out for evidence of re-spraying, mismatched parts, overly large panel gaps and odd welding. Tyres- Don’t bother kicking them but do check the tread depth and look for uneven wear that could indicate suspension problems. Avoid mismatched tyres. Check a spare and jack etc. is present. Interior- Check all interior lights and adjustable seats etc. Check...

Modern cars usually are fitted with a decent sound system and many allow you to connect your phone or mp3 player to it via Bluetooth. This means long gone are the days of having to carry around a wallet full of CD’s only to find that when you do put one on it is scratched and won’t play. Bluetooth is not only good for your music but also for making and receiving phone calls hands free (although it is not recommended that you make / receive calls even using this method if you can avoid it). If you have an older vehicle, you could always look at purchasing an after market stereo. These often require additional parts of the dash board, such as stereo surrounds, to allow them to fit...

Many car sales staff work mostly on commission and are trained to sell hard. When you go to look at a vehicle they have for sale they will often offer you a specific deal that is only valid for that day. If this is the case then you could always go and grab a coffee somewhere to think about it without the pressure. Many garages say this, but if you actually call them up the next day or so and say you will buy the car but only if they honour the original deal, often you will find they will still do it. Unfortunately this is another hard sales push that many garages try to do. They are expecting you to haggle a bit so always ask for either money...