Can you perform some basic car maintenance? If not, it’s time to learn a few essential maintenance items to help keep your car running right.

Many people take their vehicles in for routine maintenance, which is perfectly fine. In fact, if you’re vehicle is still under warranty, this is a smart way to ensure all maintenance and care are handled properly and by professionals. Still, you should know what to look for to know when your car needs new tires, refilled fluids, or new wiper blades.

Here are a few car maintenance tips to help you cover the basics.

1. Keep your tires in good condition

Your tires are probably much more important to you and your driving experience than you think. The tires are the only item on your car that touch the road. Properly inflated tires improve fuel mileage and give you the best stopping power. You should regularly check your tires for proper air pressure to avoid a blowout. It’s also important to have your tires rotated every 5,000 to 10,000 miles.

2. Check the oil between oil changes

Oil changes are a necessary part of car maintenance, but some engines burn up oil and require a little more added to the engine between scheduled oil changes. This is one of the most important car maintenance items. Reach under the hood, pull out the dipstick, and check the oil level. If it’s in the proper range, nothing else is required. If your oil is a little low, add a quart to the engine to bring it to the right level. This could get you to your next oil change without any other issues.

3. Get familiar with the fluids and their levels

Engine oil isn’t the only fluid that helps make your car operate properly. Your vehicle also has coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. All of these fluids have specific colors and required levels. Typically, your owner’s manual will tell you when you should check these fluids and what to look for to avoid trouble. When these fluids are low, you could have a leak in that system, which is something you’ll want to tell your mechanic.

4. Check all the lights

Have you ever been pulled over for a burned-out taillight? This can happen, and it occurs suddenly when you least expect it. If you’re in the habit of checking your tire pressure at least once a month, take the time to check your lights during this inspection. This will give you a better idea of whether or not a bulb is out and when it needs to be replaced. By checking and replacing burned-out headlight or taillight bulbs, you’ll have a safer vehicle and avoid a ticket for the light being burned out.

5. Replacing windshield wipers is easy

Replacing your windshield wipers is one of the easiest car maintenance items and something you should perform yourself unless it’s covered under a service contract you have with a dealership. It’s important to replace the wiper blades twice a year, typically at the start of autumn and the start of spring. If you do this, you’ll have a fresh set of blades on your vehicle at all times and enjoy the visibility that comes with wipers clearing your windshield of water and debris.

6. Changing your air filters is another easy task

One of the most basic and simple car maintenance items is changing your air filters. Typically, you’ll find one for the engine and one behind the glove box for the cabin. Pull out the filters and inspect them for debris and items that have gotten caught in the filter fins. At least once a year, both filters should be changed. If you drive more often than normal, these filters might need to be changed more often.

7. Keep your car clean

One of the best ways to protect your car is to keep it clean. You don’t have to perform a professional detailing to get the job done and can go through a car wash and pay for this service if you desire. Of course, with a bucket of soapy water, a vacuum, and a few clean rags, you could get the job done yourself. A clean car is a happy car, and it can make you proud to drive it wherever you need to go.

Use these seven basic car maintenance tips to get to know your car a little better.