What Car Tips and Tricks Don’t You Learn at Driving School? - AllCarIndex

Learning how to drive is one thing, but caring for your car is another area of car ownership that you may learn once you're out on the road. Driving school may teach you the right way to reverse park and merge, but your instructor may not cover or touch on the best in-car sun protection. When it comes to driving, you’ll learn plenty more behind the wheel. 

Tips and Tricks the Road Will Teach You

Driving schools teach you what road rules to follow, but ensuring your vehicle's roadworthiness requires knowledge beyond the basics. The longer you drive, the more you learn how to better care for your car and make it last longer. 

Keep your car cool in the heat 

Given how brutal summers in Australia can be, driving in comfort may feel like a dream, especially if your vehicle turns into a sauna after being out in the sun for a few minutes. 

- Use quality sunshades to protect the interior from sun damage. Direct UV exposure can obliterate upholstery and surface finish

- Choose a shaded parking spot even when it's far from your destination. A short walk is a small sacrifice compared to an interior overhaul 

- Leave car windows open just enough to let hot air from inside escape, and safe enough to prevent malicious intent from coming in

Know your tyre pressure sweet spot

Experienced drivers can feel if a tyre is underinflated or overinflated, which many beginners may miss. Considering that incorrect tyre pressure can impact fuel economy, driving safety, and performance, it's important to maintain the right pressure. 

- Start by knowing the correct PSI as indicated in the car's manual or on a sticker placed on the door jamb at the driver's side

- Make it a monthly habit to check the pressure, rather than wait for servicing to do so

- Make sure the tyre is cold before you inflate it to ensure accurate pressure readings 

Use your air conditioning smartly 

Driving without air conditioning is beyond uncomfortable, especially when it's hot out. However, excessive use of it can crank up fuel consumption and rack up driving costs.

- Keep the vehicle’s AC running at low or medium 

- Use a sunshade to help minimise the load on your cooling system

- On very hot days, avoid putting it on full blast, but switch to recirculate mode instead for more efficient interior cooling

Master the art of smooth breaking 

Braking should be as safe and efficient as possible, which means you need to be smooth when stepping on the brakes.

- When approaching a red light, start braking at least 100 metres from it and save on fuel as a result 

- Don't slam on the brakes unless it's an emergency because you're going to put the pads and discs into premature wear and tear

- Maintain a safe distance from the car in front, so you have room to brake slowly and gently

Being a good driver means knowing your car inside and out and how to operate it to ensure your well-being, your car's, and other motorists. Apart from knowing the rules of the road, knowing how to keep your car looking new despite the harsh climate in Australia puts you at a great advantage. On that note, get high-performance car window shades from Snap Shades to keep your vehicle in top shape.