Whether you're one of our annual breakdown cover customers who only drives in your local area, or whether you're one of our Short Term European Breakdown Cover customers, with plans to explore the highways of the continent - keeping your car well maintained is always important.

A recent survey by a UK breakdown firm suggests that basic car maintenance is becoming a thing of the past. 9 out of 10 of those surveyed were unfamiliar with basic tools like jump cables and wrenches. Simple tests such as checking a car's oil level were beyond 7 out of 10 people. More of a concern though, are the 10% of respondents who had yet to successfully open their bonnet.

Being unable to keep up basic car maintenance can have serious repercussions for your car over the long term, reducing the life of its key components. In addition, poor maintenance can lead to more frequent visits to your local garage – which can ramp up your motoring costs a good deal.

Many drivers are put off by the perceived complexity of modern day cars, but having a basic understanding of how your car works and being able to carry out simple but important checks can save a great deal of money over the long term.

For example, if you realise you have a deflated tyre, but continue to drive on it, you may put the tyre beyond repair and your vehicle will be less fuel efficient. Whereas if you have it seen to immediately, you might be able to have the tyre repaired and save a good deal of money. This is just one instance in which having a basic understanding of how your car works can keep your motoring costs down.