Birmingham is beautifully placed for people who don't drive. London is just a few hours away by train, and Liverpool and Newcastle on the west and east coasts are just a train or bus ride away. You can even fly to Scotland or London, depending on your destination. But it is also good to have a car: it allows you to come and go as you like, stop whenever and wherever you choose and generally allows you a lot more freedom than when you are tied to a public transit system.

But car ownership can seem onerous if you are not mechanically minded, which is often the case, especially for women, even in these enlightened days. But you don't need to worry about being able to properly take care of your car if you follow these seven stress-free car hacks that every woman – that every car owner, come to that – should know.

1. Routine is King

Getting into a good routine with everything – your job, the children, and your car maintenance – is an excellent way to make sure everything is done in a timely fashion and without costing you too much all at once. Regular services, knowing when your MOT test is due, and having a sound system to check your radiator water, the air in your tyres, and even the general condition of your car: all of these factors can help you to quickly notice minor problems so you can fix them before they become significant issues, and will help you to see when something goes wrong.

2. Learn the Basics

Everyone can change a tyre, check and top up the car's oil, and ensure that your radiator is topped off with cool, clean water. If you are not physically strong, there are power tools that can help you, so make sure you know how to use them if you need them and ensure they are on hand every time you drive, no matter if it is a short hop commute of a few minutes or a several–hour drive—to beautiful Fife, in Scotland, for example.

3. Keep an Eye on Your Tyres

Your tyres are the only parts of your car that touch the road, so they must be in good condition. Your drive can become uncomfortable, noisy, and even disrupted if they're not. Having a spare tyre or repair kit is wise, but even better is knowing a local mobile tyre fitter. These professionals can come to you, providing a convenient tyre change by the roadside. Mobile tyre fitting ensures you can drive quickly and safely with a new set of tyres for a smoother journey.

4. The Legalities

The legalities of being a driver are simple, but they are also very strict. You must be insured to be on the road, with third-party insurance as a minimum requirement. If your car is over three years old, you must have it MOT tested by an authorised MOT inspector. It is so vital that you cannot further insure your car unless you have the MOT certificate in hand (or online; most of these processes are automated, saving you time and inconvenience!). And, of course, you must have a valid driving licence to use the UK's public road network – if you do not, you risk a hefty fine, potential imprisonment and the seizure and crushing of your vehicle.

5. A Stitch in Time…

As with many things in life, being prepared for almost any eventuality and acting upon it as fast as you reasonably can is an excellent way to ensure that problems remain small and easy to sort out. Like the old proverb holds: a stitch in time prevents nine – which means that acting quickly to remedy car problems while they are easy to deal with can save you both time and money.

6. Bookmark the MOT Checklist

Learning the MOT checklist is an excellent way to familiarise yourself with the demands of the road and your car. Don't learn it by heart, as it is regularly updated with new areas of concern or safety features. Keep it bookmarked in your favourite tabs and read through it twice a year or so to make sure you are au fait with the latest checklist items—and that your car is up to scratch, too.

7. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

If you have a good routine, keep careful track of what you need to be doing and do your best to adhere to your self-imposed schedule, you should have some wiggle room in your calendar to allow you to take an extra week before booking that service, or an additional day or two before you book your MOT – as long as you have time before the certificate's expiry date, that is, there is no grace period after the expiry date. In short, if you broadly stick to your plans, you can take a day or two here and there. This means that when you need to, you can take a day to breathe, relax, and plan to finish the next task a little later than planned, but still in good time! And knowing that you have that breathing space is excellent for relieving your car ownership stresses!

To conclude

By following these seven car hacks, you’ll be better equipped to manage car ownership quickly and confidently. Embrace these tips, and you’ll find that maintaining your car can fit seamlessly into your routine, allowing you more freedom to enjoy the road without stress. With a little planning ahead of your road trip and some basic know-how, you can drive with peace of mind, knowing you’re well-prepared for any journey.

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