Maintaining Your Car

Regular maintenance is about more than avoiding breakdowns — it protects your car’s resale value and keeps your manufacturer’s warranty valid, since most manufacturers require proof of servicing at the recommended intervals. If you’re not sure which plan you need: a Service Plan covers the parts and labour for your car’s scheduled services (oil, filters and spark plugs, for example), while a Maintenance Plan also covers wear-and-tear parts such as brake pads and discs, wiper blades and batteries. Neither covers major mechanical or electrical breakdowns — that’s what an Extended Warranty is for once your manufacturer’s warranty ends — and a Scratch & Dent Plan takes care of minor cosmetic damage. Watch for warning signs between services: dashboard lights, unusual noises when braking, or a drop in fuel economy can all point to a problem that’s cheaper to fix now than later.