There’s nothing quite like being able to hop in your car and take off to wherever you want. It’s a thrilling, almost adrenaline-filled, experience. It isn’t one that doesn’t come without responsibilities, though. Before you do anything, you’ll need to properly understand a few car ownership basics.

While that might be obvious to most people, it’s still an area that’s often overlooked. If you want your car to run properly and safely, you’ll need to actually take care of it. With your first car, it’s easy not to know where to start with this, but you’ll have to know about a few things.

1. Have Your Kits – Breakdowns can be a regular occurrence, despite how well-maintained your car might be. You could even just run out of gas when you’re still on the road. Having some kits makes sure you’re prepared if this ever happens. An emergency kit and roadside kit are the most important of these. Reflective warning lights, tow rope, jumper cables, and similar tools should be included in these.
2. Do Your Maintenance – Car maintenance seems expensive, but it’s worth every penny. It prevents your car from breaking down or more expensive repairs being needed later on. Use your car manual to find out what kind of servicing your car needs and when. Take it to a mechanic often to take care of everything properly.
3. Have Professionals On-Hand – Speaking of a mechanic, it’s always worth having professionals on-hand for when you need them. While you mightn’t need them often, they’re worth their weight in gold when you need them. Outside of mechanics, car accident lawyers are worth looking into. While you wouldn’t plan on having an accident, they’re always a risk. Be protected in case this happens.
4. Your Check Engine Light – Your check engine light is something you don’t have to pay attention to most of the time. That’s only when it’s off, though. Once it starts flashing, something’s wrong with your car, and you’ll have to pay attention. It’s a literal sign you need to get your car checked out. Stop driving ASAP and have your car brought to a mechanic.
5. Tire Pressure – As important as car maintenance is, it’s easy to overlook your tire pressure. It’s vital you check this regularly to make sure it’s safe. If it’s too high or too low, you risk having an accident because of it. Your tires could blow out or not have enough traction on the road, for example. Keep it in the right range, and you’ll prevent any mishaps.

Knowing your car ownership basics is vital to being a car owner. Whether it’s your first car or your tenth, you’ll have to know what you’re doing. Without it, you’ll end up needing quite a few repairs. You might even have more than your fair share of breakdowns on the road. Nobody wants that to happen.

Put the effort into the right areas, and you’ll avoid that. It’s quite easy to do, and there’s no reason to not look after your car.