Spring Car Checks Every UK Driver Should Make in April

Winter takes a toll on vehicles. These spring checks catch the damage before it causes a breakdown — and prepare your car for warmer months ahead.

Winter road salt, frost, and cold starts all accumulate damage over the months. Spring is the ideal time to run through these checks before summer puts more demands on your vehicle.

Tyres

Switch back from winter tyres if you use them — winter compound tyres wear more quickly in warm weather. Inspect for kerbing damage, sidewall cuts, and uneven wear patterns picked up over winter. Check pressures, which may have fluctuated significantly through the temperature swings.

Brakes

Winter accelerates brake corrosion. If your discs have developed a visible rust ring, a few careful brake applications usually clean this off. If the rust is deep, pitting, or the pads feel spongy, have them inspected.

Underside and Suspension

Road salt causes corrosion to exhaust systems, subframes, and brake lines. Have a garage put the car on a ramp and inspect the underside — a corroded brake line is a catastrophic failure waiting to happen.

Battery

Cold weather is hard on batteries. If your car was slow to start on cold mornings, the battery has been under stress. Get it load-tested before summer — a battery that just survived winter may fail when you most need it.

Air Conditioning

Run the air conditioning for 10 minutes to check it blows cold. If it doesn't, the refrigerant may need recharging — a straightforward and inexpensive job. AC systems also benefit from running regularly, even in winter, to lubricate the compressor seals.

Windscreen

Check for chips and cracks. Chips smaller than 40mm may be repairable for free under comprehensive insurance. A crack that spreads across the driver's field of vision requires immediate replacement.