Importance of Maintenance
If one were to use the analogy of your car being just like a human body, it would make a lot of sense as to why a vehicle must be maintained. If you don't eat healthy and fail to exercise, you become overweight and drastically reduce your lifespan.
Related: How often should I service my car?
Conversely, if you exercise regularly, have healthy eating habits, and care for yourself, you will be a better person and live a long and fruitful life. The same goes for your car. If it is neglected and uncared for, it will break down and leave you in the lurch, but if you care for it and service it regularly, there is no telling how far it will eventually go. Those aren't the only reasons to service your car; here are a few more.
How to check a car's service history?
Warranty compliance
Most new and relatively new used cars have a manufacturer warranty. To comply with the warranty, your vehicle must be serviced at the required intervals. Failure to service the vehicle on time could result in the warranty being voided.
Resale value
Very often, when you see vehicle advertisements in the description, you will see the abbreviation FSH, which stands for Full Service History. This indicates that the previous owner properly maintained the vehicle, and because of this, the vehicle can be priced accordingly. Vehicles that have not been maintained often do not command great prices as consumers won't trust them.
Safety
Vehicles that have not been maintained may experience issues while driving that could be a danger to the driver. Brakes, suspension and steering components must be serviced and maintained at regular intervals to keep the car safe.
Mechanical damage
Failure to conduct regular scheduled maintenance on your car's engine, such as oil changes, spark plugs and filters, could result in irreparable damage to the motor
Fuel Economy
Conducting regular maintenance on your car's moving parts can actually increase its fuel economy. The engine struggles less to turn over, and the wheels and tyres roll and turn smoothly, making the whole package easier to move, thus lowering your car's fuel consumption.
