Planning a summer road trip during the school holidays?
Before you get your seatbelt on and hit the road, it’s crucial to give your car a thorough health check, or you could be risking a huge fine.
You could be risking a serious penalty fine if you don’t keep an eye on your lights, brakes and tyresgetty
Handily, car valuation specialists Goodbye Car have come up with three basic maintenance points that could save you a whopping £15k in fines.
Bright idea
Make sure you check the bulbs on your headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals, because driving without these in proper working order is illegal and can land you a hefty fine.
Faulty brake lights can give you a £60 fine and 3 points on your licence, while driving without one headlight working could leave you with a £100 fine on the spot.
And, if your indicators aren’t working, this could be classed as careless driving, meaning a whopping £2,500 fine depending on the severity of the situation.
Tread carefully
Overinflated tyres can affect your car’s handling and increase the risk of a blowout, while on the other hand, under inflated tyres can lead to poor fuel economy.
It’s crucial to check your tyre pressure regularly and ensure they’re inflated to the recommended level.
You can receive three penalty points on your driving licence, and be fined up to £2,500 per tyre if it’s not properly inflated or the tread pattern is worn, according to the Highway Code.
That means if all four tyres are found to be illegal, you could be fined £10,000.
Brake time
Maintaining reliable brakes is crucial for your safety on the road.
If you can, you’ll want to check the brake pads by looking through the openings in the wheel spokes or even by removing the wheel if necessary, looking for any wear and tear.
Next, find the brake fluid reservoir under the bonnet and ensure the fluid level falls between the minimum and maximum markings.
If your brakes don’t work, you could be charged for ‘using a vehicle in a dangerous condition’, which could result in a £2,500 fine.