Back-to-School: Have you done a car safety check?

Are you a parent who’s sending a college student back off to school this season? Parenting a college student requires remembering all the little things that they’ll need but won’t think of packing like extra sheets, phone chargers, HDMI cords, and Command hooks. If your child is one of the 70% of college-aged kids who owns or has access to a vehicle, there’s definitely one more important thing your student is likely to forget: getting a car safety check.

In most states, a car safety check or vehicle inspection involves checking components such as brake linings, tire treads, windshield wipers, brake lights, and turn signals. If your child is driving to college this year, having a generic safety inspection conducted is a step you don’t want to miss. However, a back -to-school car safety check goes beyond the minimal restrictions laid down by your state. Consult the owner’s manual or visit a trusted automotive servicing center like Ken’s Automotive & Transmissions to determine what other maintenance your student’s vehicle may need.

One of the most important things you can do as a car owner – and as a parent – is to have preventative maintenance completed for your college-age student before they leave for the school year. Oftentimes, your child is traveling to college from another state or hundreds of miles away. When you do see them it’s a short, rushed weekend trip in which they may be juggling visits to both family and high school friend, and may not have the extra time to stop by a service center. It’s better to perform preventative maintenance on your child’s car as soon as you can to verify that your son or daughter has 8 to 9 months of care-free driving while away.

Below are just a few questions to ask yourself about the condition of your student’s vehicle before he or she heads off to college.

Car Safety Check: Things to Consider

• Are the lights in working order? Are any of the head lamps foggy, which could make driving at night hazardous?
• Has the oil been changed recently?
• When is the last time the tires were checked? Not just the treads, but the pressure, air, and rotations?
• Is an alignment required?
• Are the windshield wipers functioning properly? Has the wiper fluid been refilled?
• Have the fluids been checked (oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, etc.)? Are all the reservoirs full?
• When was the last power steering flush, brake flush, coolant flush, and/or transmission flush performed?

If you are uncertain about the answers to any of the above questions, you need to stop by Ken’s Automotive & Transmissions for a detailed assessment based on the year, make and model of your car. Our automotive service center is family-owned, so we understand the significance of sending your son or daughter off to college in a vehicle that has been thoroughly checked and maintained.

Before your child gases up to take on a new year of higher education, get your own education and learn what your their vehicle will need to be in prime condition for driving. Stop by Ken’s Automotive & Transmissions and put your student’s vehicle in the hands of automotive professionals who understand your family’s unique needs.