Car care, used cars and electric cars
Practical guides for the things you can check yourself: what to look at, how often, and when it is time for a workshop. Each page has a short answer and the steps to follow.
Technically reviewed by Amara Musa, qualified light-vehicle technician and periodic vehicle inspection controller.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026.
Checks you can do yourself
Most of these take a few minutes once a month, on a cold engine and level ground, and can catch a slow leak long before it becomes a bigger problem. Uneven tire wear is often the first visible clue of a steering or suspension issue.
How to check your engine oil, and what the dipstick tells you
Check it once a month, with the engine switched off and cold and the car on level ground. It takes under a minute.
How to check brake fluid, and when it needs changing
Once a month, with the engine off and the car on level ground, look at the brake fluid reservoir and read the level against its min and max markings.
When to replace brake pads and rotors, and what to look for
There is no fixed mileage. Pads and rotors are replaced by condition, because wear depends heavily on driving style, road conditions and climate, so they are inspected at every tire rotation or service.
How to check tire pressure, and how often to do it
Check all four tires, and the spare, once a month and before long trips, on cold tires before you set off.
Uneven tire wear: what the pattern says about the car
Uneven or unusual tire wear is often the first visible clue of a steering or suspension issue.
Buying a used car
Go through the car in order: the paperwork, a cold start, a walkaround in daylight, then a test drive at both low and highway speed. Any car you are seriously considering is worth a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic.
Used car paperwork: history report, title and service records
Get the VIN before you arrange to meet and run a vehicle history report. At the viewing, check that the name on the title matches the seller's ID, and that the VIN on the title matches the VIN on the dashboard and the door jamb sticker.
Used car cold start: why you should see the engine start cold
A cold start tells you more than a warm one. Several faults show themselves in the first minutes after a cold start and fade once the engine has warmed up, so a car that is already running when you arrive can hide them.
Used car inspection checklist: under the hood and underneath
Walk around the car in daylight before you get in for a test drive. Check panel gaps and paint texture, look under the car for rust, fresh undercoating and fluid drips, then open the hood and check the oil, coolant, battery terminals, belts and hoses.
Used car test drive checklist: what to check on the road
Start the car from cold if you can, then drive it at both low and highway speed. Listen for unusual noises while accelerating, braking and turning, feel for vibration or pulling to one side, and test the brakes firmly in a safe, controlled area.
Electric cars and hybrids
Winter range loss is mostly cabin heating drawn from the battery, not the cold itself. A hybrid is not a car with less maintenance, and anything involving the orange high-voltage cables is for a qualified technician only.
Electric car maintenance: what it still needs, and what it skips
An electric car needs less routine maintenance than a petrol car, and less is the accurate word, not none.
Charging an EV at home: the habits that help the battery
Home charging is AC charging: a wallbox or a domestic socket feeds the car's own onboard charger, which converts the power for the battery.
EV fast charging: why it slows down, and what actually wears
DC rapid charging is normal, intended use. It slows down as the pack fills because the battery management system lowers the current to keep every cell below its voltage limit, and the last few percent wait for the weakest cells to balance.
EV range in cold weather: why it drops, and what helps
An electric car loses range in winter mainly because the cabin heat has to come from the battery.
Used EV battery health: how to check it before you buy
On a used electric car, battery state of health matters more than mileage, age and equipment put together, and few sellers quote it.
Hybrid car maintenance: what differs from a petrol car
A hybrid is not a car with less maintenance. Some items last longer, some are additional, and the petrol engine still needs everything a petrol engine needs.