Instead of waiting for there to be a problem, it is a very wise thing to have a plan as a preventative measure, so that you won't be paying out a major amount of money, especially when you need your vehicle for driving back and forth to work or family. Hopefully all this trouble can be avoided, just by taking your car in for its regular service check.

Certain parts of the vehicle need to be looked at on a regular basis, but every 5000km. or every 8 - 12 months, it is suggested you have a full service check on your vehicle to ensure it is in full working order.

The core items that need checking are the state of the car's oil and air filter. It is advised to have a full oil change as part of your service. The air filter may also need to be cleaned or replaced.

The amount of money that you would spend to have this done every 8 – 12 months, will save you the headache and the cost to your wallet, when you have to pay out much more, if a major problem arises potentially when you are travelling somewhere. It is important to remember the towing costs if a problem arises away from home.

Under the bonnet, the most important checks include the battery and fan belt as well as the water and coolant levels of the engine.

Around the car, items to take care of include window wiper blades, head lights, indicators window chips and cracks.

The tires should be inspected and rotated, new ones put on, if it is necessary. Have the mechanic show you the problem before you agree to the new ones though. On this inspection, they should also take a good look at your brakes, especially the rear ones, to make sure that the wear and tear on them hasn't made them dangerous for your driving. It could be a very simple thing that they have to do to them, to keep them in tip-top shape, for you to drive for another length of time and to also have the peace of mind.

Again, depending how much you drive, about once a year or every 25,000 km. the balance on your tires should be regulated. This is a very important detail, especially if you are driving on very bumpy roads, and they are full of potholes, the tire alignment, can be thrown off, and this creates a problem on the wear of your tires and how your car operates. Another thing to remember is to extra care during the winter months as freezing temperatures can have an adverse effect on your car and its performance.