Reminders for vehicle safety checks between services: what to do monthly

The annual MOT and service capture a vehicle's condition on one day per year. Between those checkpoints, tyres lose pressure, oil levels drop, bulbs fail, and coolant reduces — all gradually enough that no single day feels like the moment to check. A monthly 5-minute vehicle safety check catches these issues before they become safety problems, roadside breakdowns, or expensive repairs that a small intervention would have prevented. A recurring monthly reminder turns the check from something you mean to do into something that actually happens.

The monthly checks every driver should do

Tyre pressure: check cold (before driving) with a tyre pressure gauge against the vehicle's recommended pressure (found in the door sill or handbook). Under-inflated tyres increase fuel consumption, wear unevenly, and perform worse in emergency stops. Over-inflation reduces grip. Tread depth: the legal minimum in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre; replace well before this — 3mm is the safety recommendation.

Engine oil: check with the dipstick when the engine is cold. Oil between the min and max markers is fine; below the minimum needs topping up before driving further. Coolant: visible in the overflow bottle — should be between the marked min/max levels. Windscreen washer fluid: refill with a freeze-resistant solution in winter. All lights: walk around the car with the lights on, checking front, rear, brake, and indicators.

Setting up monthly vehicle check reminders

A monthly reminder on the first Sunday — 'Monthly car checks: tyres, oil, coolant, lights, washer fluid' — anchors the task to a day when you're likely to be home and have 10 minutes before a trip rather than rushing to work. The message lists the checks so you don't have to remember what's on the list when the call arrives.

For tyre pressure specifically, a quarterly reminder 'Tyre pressure check — bring gauge or use petrol station air' catches the seasonal changes that affect inflation. Cold weather reduces tyre pressure by approximately 1 PSI for every 10°F (5.6°C) drop in temperature, so an October check is particularly valuable.

Pre-journey reminders for long trips

Before a long motorway journey or a holiday drive, set a one-time reminder the evening before: 'Pre-journey check tomorrow — tyres, oil, water, lights, fuel, screenwash. Check AA/RAC cover is current.' The hour you spend checking before a long trip is the cheapest breakdown insurance available.

If your car has a service reminder on the dashboard (usually a spanner symbol or a service mileage warning), create a reminder the moment it appears: 'Book service — dashboard warning active, do not ignore.' Modern service reminders typically appear 1,000 miles before the interval, giving you a booking window.