Why Maintenance Is Important

Following an auto maintenance schedule can help keep your vehicle reliable and maintain its resale value. Maintenance schedules are developed by each manufacturer to highlight the recommended minimum maintenance requirements for a particular model or trim level. In most cases, completing this minimum recommended maintenance is necessary to keep a vehicle’s warranty in good standing.

If, for any reason, your maintenance history does not meet or exceed the recommended minimums, you may have warranty claims denied by the manufacturer. If this happens, you may have to pay out of pocket for costly repairs. Regularly completing scheduled maintenance items like oil changes, filter changes and tune-ups can also keep your vehicle performing smoothly and getting good fuel economy.

Perhaps the most important reason to following an auto maintenance schedule is to preserve the resale value of your vehicle. While all vehicles depreciate on an ongoing basis, completing recommended maintenance can help raise the resale value of your vehicle. Whether you foresee selling to a dealership or private party, having proof of all completed maintenance on the vehicle can increase the value of your vehicle.

Some car buyers are fanatical about maintenance, and closely following an auto maintenance schedule will appease them. From the dealership’s end, a vehicle with a good maintenance record is easier to make a certified pre-owned vehicle. Whether you have scheduled maintenance completed at the dealership or an independent mechanic, be sure to save all documentation relating to maintenance items and other repairs in order to keep the warranty intact and raise the resale value of the vehicle.