Seasonal Maintenance Checklists Your Customers Will Love

Seasonal vehicle maintenance is one of the easiest ways to drive repeat visits, demonstrate expertise, and build lasting customer relationships. By offering seasonal check campaigns, you position your garage as a proactive, caring business rather than one that only sees customers when something breaks.

These checklists are ready to use in your workshop or adapt for your digital inspection process.

After a harsh winter, vehicles need attention. A spring check targets the damage done by cold, salt, and wet conditions:

• Tyre condition and pressures — Winter conditions cause faster wear and pressure loss. Check for damage from potholes.
• Wiper blades — Winter use wears wipers quickly. Replace if they are streaking or chattering.
• Wheel alignment — Pothole damage is at its peak after winter. Offer a free alignment check with every spring service.
• Brake inspection — Salt and moisture accelerate corrosion. Check discs, pads, and caliper slide pins.
• Underbody wash and inspection — Road salt corrodes exhaust systems, brake pipes, and subframes. A visual inspection underneath catches developing problems.
• Air conditioning check — Before the summer heat arrives, test the A/C system. Regas services are a great spring revenue booster.
• Fluid levels — Top up washer fluid, check coolant strength (winter antifreeze concentration may be too high for summer).

Market this as a "Spring Health Check" — a fixed-price package that customers can book easily.

Summer holidays mean long journeys. Position your garage as the pre-holiday preparation stop:

• Cooling system — Check coolant level, hose condition, thermostat operation, and radiator condition. Overheating is the number one summer breakdown cause.
• Air conditioning performance — Test vent temperatures. A/C regas is in high demand during summer.
• Tyre condition and pressures — Hot roads and heavy loads increase tyre stress. Check for legal tread depth and correct pressures for loaded conditions.
• Battery test — Heat is actually harder on batteries than cold. A battery health test prevents holiday breakdowns.
• Brake fluid moisture content — High temperatures plus moisture-contaminated brake fluid increases the risk of brake fade.
• Lights and wipers — Long evening drives and sudden summer storms require working lights and effective wipers.

A "Holiday Ready Check" at £29-£39 is an easy sell for customers planning a summer trip.

Autumn is about preparing for the challenges of winter:

• Lighting — With shorter days, all lights must be working. Check headlamp alignment, bulb condition, and lens clarity.
• Wiper blades and washers — Replace worn wipers before the first heavy rain. Top up washer fluid with screen wash, not water.
• Battery health — Cold mornings are coming. Test the battery and charging system. Batteries over four years old are high-risk.
• Antifreeze strength — Test coolant concentration and adjust for winter protection to at least -15 degrees Celsius.
• Heater and demister — Test cabin heating, rear demister, and heated screens. Replace cabin filters for effective demisting.
• Tyre tread depth — While the legal minimum is 1.6mm, recommend 3mm+ for winter safety. Offer winter or all-season tyres.

The final check of the year focuses on safety and reliability:

• Winter emergency kit — Advise customers to carry a torch, blanket, ice scraper, de-icer, jump leads, and a phone charger.
• Tyre condition — Re-emphasise winter tyre options. Check pressures monthly in cold weather as cold air contracts.
• Battery condition — If the battery tested marginal in autumn, recommend replacement before the first freeze.
• Door lock and seal lubrication — Prevent frozen locks and torn seals with silicone lubricant.
• Brake system — Ensure brakes are in excellent condition for wet and icy roads.
• Screen wash concentration — Ensure the screen wash mixture is rated for the expected temperatures.

Use ashdub's campaign tools to send seasonal check reminders to your customer base. A simple SMS with a booking link can fill your diary for the week. The automated reminders feature makes seasonal campaigns effortless to run year after year.