How often should i check my vehicle?
There are a number of things which determine frequency of inspections. Some of them include:
- The Age of a vehicle – license plates do not necessarily indicate the vehicle’s year of manufacture. The older a vehicle gets, the more often things like seals and gaskets deteriorate.
- The Mileage (Kilometres) the vehicle does on average – the more a vehicle has been driven, the more it needs to be checked for road worthiness.
- The Terrain the vehicle moves over – bad roads = more wear and tear.
- The number of Drivers assigned to the vehicle – if more than one driver, each driver has the responsibility of inspecting the vehicle.
- Manufacturer’s recommendations -some manufacturers give specific time frames for maintenance checks or part replacements.
In the transportation industry, it is recommended that two types of inspections should always be made:
- Frequent – This type of inspection is usually also termed the “Pre-Trip Check” and usually consists of basic checks which are often cursory, visual checks for functionality and regulatory compliance, for e.g. tyres, lights, leaks etc.
- Periodic – This type is usually more detailed and often carried out by your mechanic or dealership. It requires a more in depth assessment of the vehicle parts and is usually scheduled according to manufacturer’s recommended time or mileage (kilometres)
Therefore, the more often a vehicle is checked the more road worthy!
