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Buying a new car is an investment, one not to be taken lightly. A new car, whether bought new or used from a dealership, needs to be protected in order to ensure that it continues to run smoothly; should you decide to resell it down the line, is worth as much as possible. Simple upkeep can also help you to avoid costly repairs. From maintenance under the hood to protecting the exterior, there are many ways to guarantee the life of your vehicle.

Maintaining the Interior

One the biggest collectors of dirt and wear is the floor mats. When you first by a car the surface of these mats are pristine and uniform, but with rain or snow, the surface can become filled with dirt and the carpet fibers can become matted. The easiest way to prevent this is by simply flipping over the mat so that the carpeted area is against the floor of the car. This gives you a rubber surface that won't wear and can be easily rinsed off. Additionally, you can buy clear plastic mats or all-weather mats to protect the carpet. Although new car owners have strict rules and intentions when it comes to eating in the car, eventually those rules go to the wayside and snacking in the car becomes inevitable. To make it easy to clean and protect your car from hard to reach crumbs, placing a mat under the front seats of the car will act as a catch-all for food. If you have purchased a car with a leather interior, you will need to buy a leather conditioner. Especially with the sun beating down on the seats, the leather will need to be moistened by these products to prevent cracking and fading. Make sure to vacuum the car at least once a month to keep it looking fresh, as well. You also should avoid smoking in your car to keep it smelling fresh. Lastly, if you have children or pets, consider buying a cover for the entire back seat. These covers made of thick canvas will keep pet hair and food off of your costly interior, while preventing other damage. This will guarantee a higher resale value.

Things to Avoid

It is inevitable that when parking in a large lot or even on a street that another careless driver will crash a cart or door into your car. But to avoid those dents and dings there are a few preventive measures to take, which will save you a headache in the long run. The easiest way is to park away from other vehicles. This may mean not parking by the front of the store and it will increase your walking time by a minute, but it will be less likely that another car door or cart will crash into your vehicle. Avoid leaning on a car as well; metal buttons on jeans can scratch at the surface. When at home, park in a garage. If that isn't an option, avoid parking underneath trees, which can mean acidic animal droppings, cat paw prints and sap from trees. All of these work against the lifespan of your paint job, which can make the car look old and dated.

Maintenance

Your car should have a scheduled maintenance about once every three months. Call the dealership from where you purchased the car to set up an appointment. Make sure you are adamant about following the service schedule, from oil changes, fluid checks and belt maintenance; these important parts need to be taken care of to ensure the life of your vehicle. You may also want to rotate your tires if you do a lot of driving.

Exterior Preservation

You may want to make the investment of getting your car exterior sealed, which is costly, but the greatest source of protection against the elements. Make it a point to wash the exterior of your car at least once a month. Dirt, sand, rain and the combination of all three can rip at the exterior. Washing your vehicle will remove the grime from the surface. When you finish, apply wax to the surface. Use a special pad for application and a microfiber cloth to remove it. You also want to make sure it's a cloudy day when you use wax, as the sun will bake the product to the surface. If you don't have a garage, you should consider some sort of protection. Purchase a car port, made of metal poles and a tarp-like cover to keep the sun and other elements off of the surface.

About the Author: Toby B. Jackson is a contributing author who scoured used car dealerships in CT to get the best deal on his new car. By visiting 2160 Straits Turnpike in Middlebury, he found his car with a great dealership.