As the introduction of the new ’08 plate is upon us, many of you will be thinking of trading in your old car for a brand new one – if you haven’t done so already!

But before you take your lovely new car out on the road, it’s worth spending a bit of time getting to know your new vehicle.

I would suggest that for starters, you acclimatize yourself with the following areas so you are prepared for any potential problems over the coming months:

Your Car Handbook – often ignored by many people, this is full of vital information and provides a good overview of your vehicle.

Getting Under The Bonnet – make sure you know how to open the bonnet. This way you can keep an eye on screenwash levels, brake fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid.

What Do The Lights Mean? Carefully read the section on warning lights so you understand what they all mean and that you know what to do if any come on.

Keep An Eye On Tyre Pressures – Tyre pressures are now often printed on a sticker or plate in the door opening, but check you know where that information can be found.

Don’t Lose Your Keys! Familiarise yourself with the alarm and immobiliser system and put the set of spare keys somewhere safe, but where you can easily find them. Replacement keys are expensive and it can take a long time to get them.

Book In For Regular Services – It is important that your new car is serviced in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations so the warranty isn’t lost. Make a note of the required service intervals, including cambelt change intervals. And remember that servicing is just as important for very low mileage cars.

Check Oil Levels Regularly – Some cars need a particular type of oil as they have longer intervals between servicesi and the oil needs to be durable enough to withstand the extra miles.

If you do need to top up the oil between services it’s important to use the same specification which is already in the car. Keep a bottle of this oil for top ups, but don’t overfill. Be aware that some new cars use more oil for the first few thousand miles.

Last but not least, happy and safe driving, and enjoy your new car.

For more information, visit http://www.theaa.com/motoring-advice/index.jsp

By Nick Evers