Starting college is an exciting adventure for almost everyone. Yet, it can be difficult for parents to ensure they’ve adequately prepared their young adult children to navigate the worldindependently. 

Most parents know that college-bound teens will need to know how to do laundry, cook simple meals, and where to go if they need medical attention.

However, if your child is planning to take their car to college, it’s also necessary to teach them the basics of car maintenance. From changing a tire and checking fluids to basic safety techniques while doing the maintenance, these skills serve them throughout their lives. 

Whether your teen is taking the hand-me-down vehicle or you did your research and bought them a new or used car through Edmunds, it’s essential to know what you should cover and what your options are if you don’t feel equipped to teach these skills?

Essential car maintenance to teach your college-bound student

Tires

Tire safety is a great place to start. Students should understand how to spot a potential tire issue (leaks, flats, etc.) and recognize when tires might need replacing.

They should also know how to use a tire pressure gauge and understand the implications of each reading. If your child will drive the car a significant amount of miles, help them find a local auto shop and know how to schedule tire rotations as well. 

For more ambitious parents and teens, teaching how to change a flat tire is a great skill to have. Or, you can also equip them with a set of roadside repair resources to contact if an issue arises. 

Dashboard Alerts

A young teen doesn’t need to understand every potential gauge and warning system trigger – that might become overwhelming. However, your young driver must understand the fundamental dashboard alerts, what they mean, and what service might be required. 

For example, teach young teens what to do if the check engine light comes on. Should they contact you? Should they take the vehicle to a local mechanic? 

Other lights and gauges like when it’s time to change the oil or check tire pressure are simple life skills every driver should know. 

What to do if you’re not equipped to teach car maintenance?

For some parents, the thought of teaching car maintenance may be overwhelming. Perhaps you’re accustomed to taking your vehicle to a local auto shop regularly, where professionals handle your car maintenance.

If this is the case, talk to your local shop and ask if they might be willing to spend an hour with your teen, teaching them the basics. Or, perhaps your child could shadow a mechanic for a day? 

This approach has a lot of value as it might double as potential career exploration. However, you should always offer to pay for this type of instruction and ensure all parties take appropriate safety measures.

Another alternative is to enroll your child in a car mechanic course before they leave for college. Many community colleges or vocational schools offer this type of course, and it’s perfect for learning the very basics of car maintenance. 

Learning car maintenance is an essential part of growing up and a skill that will stay with your child for years to come. Whether the information comes directly from their parents, a family friend, or a local professional, the goal is to equip your college-bound student with the information they need to stay safe in their car.