Get Your Kid Ready for School (Vehicle Checklist)

Aug 23, 2023

Summertime is almost over! As summer’s warmth gradually gives way to the cool embrace of fall, parents across the country find themselves gearing up for another academic year. Before you send them back to learn trigonometry and quadratic equations, make sure that their transportation situation is up to snuff.

Here at Einspahr Auto Plaza, we understand how stressful and foreign the automobile industry can be. That’s why we decided to provide our Brookings community with a vehicle checklist for going back to school.

Car Maintenance Checklist

You don’t want to have your kids stranded on their way to school, right?

Make sure their vehicle is performing at its best. We recommend that you either bring in the vehicle for a service appointment or even check certain parts of the vehicle yourself.

Here is what we recommend to check before having your kids drive their vehicle into school.

1. Check the Vehicle’s Oil Level

- - Make sure that you engine’s oil level is not low. Also check to see the quality of it based on the mileage since your last oil change.

1. Check the Headlights
  - Always check to see if your high beams and low beams are functioning properly. It’s a major safety concern and could lead to a ticket.

1. Check the Brakes
  - See how thick the brake pads are on your vehicle. If they are looking pretty thin, it’s probably not safe for travel.

1. Check the Fluids

- - Make sure your engine oil, coolant, power steering, brake , transmission, and winsheld washer fluid levels are ok.

1. Check the Battery
  - You don’t want to deal with being stranded on the road because of a bad battery. Make sure that the voltage coming from the battery is sufficient enough to power your vehicle.

First Time Drivers

Whether you’re buying your first vehicle or you’re a parent trying to find a good first ride for a new driver, it can be a challenge to actually know what vehicle is the best fit. We’ve come up with a few questions for you to consider before deciding on your perfect vehicle.

How Safe and Reliable is The Vehicle?

We understand that first time drivers will most likely drive a car that’s more affordable but that doesn’t mean the quality of that vehicle should be terrible. Make sure that the vehicle you are looking at has a full history report on it. If they don’t have the full report, ask the dealer information about the vehicle

How Does the Vehicle Drive?

The best way to be sure the vehicle drives well on the road and feels right for the driver is to get to the lot and take a test drive for yourself. Easily schedule your test drive online and get the look and feel of the vehicle for yourself.

How Will You Use the Vehicle?

Another thing to consider when deciding on first vehicles is how the vehicle will be used. Thinking some of these through can help you narrow down your options to just what you need.

Are you planning on long road trips to college with this vehicle? You should find something with less miles on it with great MPG.

Does the vehicle need to be larger to fit more people or more cargo, or is a simple sedan all the space that’s needed? Consider this when deciding between certain body styles.

College Kid Checklists

Sending your kid to college is a little bit different than sending your kid to high school. In most cases, college is pretty far away. If they are dealing with a situation far from home, it’s unreasonable to think that you can be there to save the day. So before your kid heads off to future learning and tailgates in the fall, make sure that their vehicle is ready to go.

1. Vehicle Information

It’s important to make sure that your college student has all available information on their vehicle. Picture this, your child gets pulled over by policemen, and they say “Driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance!” If they aren’t familiar with that information, they are going to be in big trouble. Make sure they have that information available at all times when driving. We recommend keeping it in the glove compartment of your vehicle.

2. Emergency Pack Checklist

Being far away from home, it is important to make sure that they take precautions in case of an emergency. For example, on the drives back to and from home during winter and spring break and the car breaks down — what do you do?. Make sure that they pack an emergency kit with things such as:

1. Flashlight
2. Extra clothing
3. Food
4. Water
5. Jumper cables

Get Your Kid a Vehicle for School

Still looking for a vehicle for your kid? Find it right here in Brookings at Einspahr Auto Plaza. We have a great selection of used vehicles that are reliable and affordable.

Shop Used Vehicles »

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