Knowing some simple home car maintenance tips is a great way to save money, gain knowledge, and keep your vehicle running smoothly, ready for any trip. 

Ultimately, anyone who already owns a car knows that maintaining one is one of life's most pleasurable experiences. However, this task can be quite laborious and costly. For example, paying for insurance, vehicle tax, potential fines, fuel, and parking.

Even so, there are ways to save money, and performing home maintenance on the car is the best way to save that money, which can be reinvested in the car itself. 

Therefore, we will now show you the main at-home car maintenance tasks that you can do yourself in your garage, such as changing the oil, checking tires, cleaning wipers, and more. Check it out!

Furthermore, knowing your car isn't just about performing DIY maintenance. Familiarity with your vehicle is important for understanding how it works and maintaining safe driving. 

Therefore, if you have a specific understanding of your car and combine that with a basic knowledge of mechanics, you will be able to avoid problems and even save money on some maintenance. 

But a word of caution is in order! It's important to know the limits of DIY car maintenance and understand that there are many cases where only a trusted mechanic can solve the problem.  

So, are you looking to save a little money on your car? Below are 11 tips you can implement yourself to reduce the number of repairs needed throughout the year!

The simple act of checking your car's fluids weekly is already a great act of home maintenance for your vehicle. It's important to remember that this check should be done with the engine cold, okay? 

Check if the coolant level is correct, according to the marking on the reservoir. If it is low, simply top it up using the fluid recommended by the manufacturer, which can be found in the owner's manual. 

As for checking the engine oil, the one always offered at gas stations is extremely simple to do at home as well. Just remove the dipstick from the engine and clean it with a cloth or paper towel.

Next, simply put it back and pull to check if the level matches the marking. But it's normal for the oil level to be a little low, okay?

To fix the problem, simply top up with the same oil that was used in the previous oil change. Remember that the oil level should be checked and topped up with the car off and the engine cold. 

Here's one of the simplest home car maintenance tasks you can do. Windshield wipers shouldn't be forgotten, as they are important safety items, whether on highways or in the city.

Because they are always exposed, this item has a fairly limited lifespan compared to other parts, about six months or until they start to dry out or scratch the glass. Furthermore, replacing the wiper blades is simple.

Just be careful not to force the wiper arm and break it. Also, you can buy them at auto parts stores or gas stations; just find a model that's compatible with your vehicle. 

It's very common for people to have their lubricating oil and filter changed at auto repair shops or even gas stations. But if you have basic mechanical knowledge and a little space, you can do it at home.

To do this, you need to turn off the engine, remove the drain plug from the oil pan, and let the oil drain into a container. After that, the reservoir should be closed again, okay?

Before adding the new solution, take the opportunity to replace the filter, removing it with a tool specifically designed for this purpose. Simply remove the old filter, install the new one, and then fill with lubricating oil. 

The specifications for which types of filters and oil to use, as well as the quantity, are also available in the owner's manual. After removing all the oil, remember to dispose of the product in an appropriate place.

This is one of the simplest home car maintenance tasks you can do at home. The check allows you to verify if the tires are flat, if there's any damage to the wheel, if there are any punctures, uneven wear, or if the tire is bald. 

Vehicle owners should check their tire pressure weekly, as well as perform regular tire inspections. Underinflated tires can cause premature wear and tear on vehicle parts.

Furthermore, they increase fuel consumption and can even reduce the effectiveness of the brakes. Therefore, checking your tires is a free, everyday maintenance task that promotes a number of future savings and provides safety. 

Battery problems usually begin after about three years of use, which is the average lifespan of the battery. The good news is that replacing it is extremely simple and doesn't require professional help.

To begin the procedure, loosen the screws using an "L" wrench. The positive and negative terminals are indicated by the + and - signs, so start by disconnecting the cable from the negative terminal.

Next, disconnect the positive terminal. Then, remove the faulty battery and install the new one. However, when connecting the cables, the procedure should be reversed: connect the positive terminal first and then the negative terminal. 

Here's another simple example of DIY car maintenance. If your car has air conditioning, did you know you can do the maintenance yourself? 

Simple videos are available online showing how this cleaning can be done. Generally, the system is opened, and with the help of cotton cloths and a new filter, you can clean and replace it. 

Furthermore, the system should be cleaned and the filter replaced once a year. However, if you live in a polluted city, this period may be shorter.  

It's very common for car headlights to fog up over time. Because they are made of plastic, the sun and weather eventually make the material opaque, but the good news is that it's possible to solve this problem using a home remedy. 

The first step in restoring dried-out headlights is to determine if the problem is internal or external. If the problem is external, it's possible to restore the part using wet sandpaper and polishing compound.

But proceed carefully and precisely so as not to damage the part further, okay? If the problem is internal, it's likely that the headlight has a crack, and in that case, the best thing to do is buy a new one and replace it.

Those who frequently face heavy traffic and need to use tight garages usually end up with some dent in their car, and the fenders are the areas most susceptible to breakage and flattening.

But what few people know is that this is one of the simplest home car maintenance tasks to perform. Replacing fenders isn't difficult, but it does require a little strength.

It only involves screws, but for that you need to loosen the bumper before starting the process. That way, you just unscrew the damaged fender and screw on the new part. 

It's possible to replace it with a screwdriver or an electric drill. It's a simple job, but we should warn you that it requires a little patience. 

Scratch removal is also part of the range of at-home car care, however, it is a very specific service, so great care must be taken with this task.

Before attempting to repair a scratch, take the time to inspect it carefully. Therefore, it is essential that this procedure be carried out in a well-lit area.

It's even possible to use a magnifying glass for a closer and more in-depth observation. For this type of care, it's important to pay attention to the depth of the scratches. 

That's because many scratches and scuffs are superficial and barely penetrate the paint coating. And those are the only types of scratches you can easily remove in your home. 

To perform this type of work, it is necessary to look for specific polishing products that can be easily found in automotive supply stores.

Some people use sandpaper even when the scratch or dent is small; in these cases, you should look for sandpaper with a grit of 2000 or higher, as coarser sandpaper can further damage the car's paint. 

For simpler cases, applying wax to the affected area followed by a polishing cloth is usually enough to solve the problem. 

However, if you see a scratch or scrape with a white coating, do not attempt to fix the problem at home. In this case, seek a trusted auto body shop. 

Regardless of the type of antenna your car has, it can break. To replace it, on newer models, simply unscrew the broken antenna and screw in a new one.

If it's an older model, the task is a bit more laborious, requiring you to loosen the screws to remove the old, broken antenna and install the new one. 

And last but not least among the at-home car care routines is the process of removing dents. After all, who hasn't made a mistake at some point? 

As is known, heat can make materials more malleable and flexible. Therefore, the suggestion is to heat a pan of water and slowly pour it over the dented part of your car.

Sometimes, the simple act of pouring hot water can instantly restore the metal to its original state due to the expansion process. 

If it's a plastic part, like a bumper or fender, the piece will be more malleable and susceptible to the dent removal process.

In this case, you can pour hot water or wipe the dent with a damp cloth and push it back into its original position. You can use your hands or a rubber mallet to do this. 

In hard-to-reach areas, where it's not possible to reach by hitting or pushing, you can use very cold water immediately after using hot water. The goal of this technique is quite simple.

Through temperature variation, the plastic molecules initially move apart due to the heat and then come together through contact with the cold water, causing the car body to return to its original position. 

Even after using hot and cold water, are you still waiting for the metal to return to its original position and think that a push on the opposite side of the dent would be a good way to straighten it out? 

To do this, simply use a household plunger. Ideally, you should use larger plungers without holes or bends, as they are more efficient for this type of repair. 

Therefore, simply position the plunger firmly over the dented area, trying to repair the entire area. Ensure that pressure is applied to the correct spot and pull gently but firmly. 

And here we have the last method among all types of at-home car care: reversing dents using CO2 spray and a hair dryer. 

To do this, you need to point the hairdryer at the highest possible temperature onto the crease and maintain circular motions in that area for about 2 minutes.

After heating, apply the CO2 spray, but be careful and check before use, as elements that cause rapid cooling, such as CO2, can create bubbles or bulge the car body.

Therefore, this technique is more effective when applied to areas of the car that are less rigid, okay? And now that you know the main DIY car care tips, it's time to get to work!

And if you want to keep up with car-related information, how about learning about this year's IPVA (Vehicle Property Tax)? Find out how to check and pay it from the comfort of your home below!