Keeping an Auto Maintenance Record

Keeping track of maintenance on your vehicle is prudent practice. Maintenance logs keep track of all maintenance done to a vehicle and may also include pricing, gas usage, and mileage each time you fill up the car. Knowing this information can help you plan for future tune-ups, oil changes, and routine work and can also aid your mechanic should your vehicle need repair work. An auto maintenance record will also help to rule out possible malfunctions and can provide more information while troubleshooting. Whether you’ve just gotten a car, or you’ve decided to take better care of the one you have, consider these options to increase the value of your property.

Maintenance Records for the Non-Techie:

Find a small notebook that can fit in your glove box. Ideally, get one with plenty of pages and dividers to help you sort and categorize different maintenance issues. At the front of the notebook, make a record of your vehicle’s stats like the make, model, VIN, and your insurance information. Keep a detailed record of when you fill up your tank and the mileage each time you refill. Also, log your oil changes and make note of what type of oil was used. Regularly test the depth of your tire treads and what kind of tires you used. Keep track of your air and fuel line filter changes and schedule times to replace them. Of course, make reports about any accidents or other major repairs that you may need. You may also choose to save your receipts from the varying maintenance jobs you’ve had with your notebook.

Auto Maintenance Records for the Techie:

There are several options to make auto maintenance recording a little bit easier and faster. Microsoft offers various types of templates you can download for free. Browse through them to find one that works for you. Also, Excel and Access lets you calculate past and future expenses and can be a handy planning tool for the upcoming year.

If you have a smartphone, there are also several Apps like Car Minder Plus, aCar, or AutoCare that can manage all of your auto maintenance record needs. They are inexpensive and easy to use.