When my husband and I recently purchased our newest car, I had no idea what a stickler he was going to be on car care. I love that he's taking such amazing care of the car, and can already see what a big difference it's going to make in terms of the car's value if and when we trade it or sell it. There are so many little things that you can which make a big impact on the car's appearance. These things should be done regularly, and year-round. Then, there are a few things which should be done seasonally, or quarterly to ensure your vehicle is running smoothly and can get you and your family where you need to go without any hiccups along the way.


Here are the top fall car care tips you can implement:

Test your battery

You should test your battery once a quarter. With falling temperatures (especially in the evening) during the fall season, you should test your battery to make sure it's in good health. If you don't have a way to test it at home, you can easily take it to your dealership (best to schedule an appointment) for a check-up, or take it to an auto part store, where they can check this for you. If you wind up needing to replace the battery, the staff will be able to help you do that on the spot.

Check the tire pressure

Fall is an interesting time for car tires. Depending on where you live, you may experience more winter-like weather in the fall, or you may experience the opposite- summer-like weather. Only you will know which tires will be best for your car, and you might need to change them out throughout the year to comply with seasonal driving to keep yourself and your passengers safe on the road. No matter which tires you have on your vehicle, however, you should check your tire pressure often. Most newer car makes and models have their own electronic tire pressure gauges, and the car will automatically alert you as to when tire pressure changes or is too low. If you have an older car, however, you will need to have a mechanic check this for you, or you can check it manually (yes- the old-fashioned way) with a hand-held tire pressure gauge. You can pick one up at most convenience or auto part stores.

Check your fluids

Fall can bring about a lot of crazy weather situations. If you live along the coast, you're not really out of the woods when it comes to hurricanes. The plain states and midwest regions can still be hit with strong storms, hail, tornadoes, and rain can happen anywhere. Mix all of these elements in will falling leaves, tiny branches, pieces of nuts, squirrels hopping on cars, and it can make for a big mess. Expect the unexpected during the fall season, especially when driving. Check your fluids and make sure everything has been flushed and topped off. You don't want to get into a situation where you need to clear your windshield and have no washer fluid, making it impossible to see clearly.

Wax your car

You hear a lot about waxing your car in the summertime, but what about the fall? Keeping your car waxed through the fall season will help keep its topcoat protected from falling natural elements and debris from the roadways. You should wax your car when it's overcast (but not raining), and out of the heat, if possible. Giving the car one final wax before winter comes will help protect it even more!

We typically think of fall as a pleasant and enjoyable season, with gentle weather, but the reality is that fall is a complete toss-up when it comes to weather and possible problems for cars. Take just a few extra steps to keep it clean and stack on track with scheduled maintenance, and you'll be in for a much more pleasant fall season as a car owner and driver.

This post brought to you by Pearson Toyota Scion.