There's a reason April is National Car Care Month. After months of cold temperatures, road salt, potholes and freezing rain, your car has taken a beating — even if it's still running fine.  

Spring is the ideal time to catch problems before they turn into expensive repairs, and most of the work on this list is quick, affordable and easy to do yourself or hand off to a mechanic. 

The good news: AutoZone estimates that a complete spring maintenance check can often be done for under $150 — a fraction of what you'd pay for a breakdown on the highway. 

Oil and Filter Change - This one's non-negotiable. Oil lubricates and cools your engine's moving parts, but it breaks down over time and becomes less effective. Cold winter temperatures cause oil to thicken, making it work harder and wear out faster. 

Check your oil level using the dipstick, and check the color — fresh oil is amber, old oil is dark brown or black. If you're at or past your recommended change interval (check your owner's manual), spring is the time to do it. 

Tires: Pressure, Tread, and Rotation - Tires are your car's only contact with the road, so they deserve serious attention. Winter affects them in two key ways: 

Pressure: Tires lose or gain roughly 1 PSI for every 10 degrees F change in temperature. As temperatures rise, your tires may be over or under-inflated. Check pressure in the morning before driving and adjust to the manufacturer's recommended PSI (found in your owner's manual or the sticker inside your driver's door). 

Tread depth: Run the penny test — insert a penny into the tread groove with Lincoln's head pointing down. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, your tread is too shallow and the tires need replacing. 

Winter tires: If you're running dedicated snow tires, swap them out. Winter tires wear down quickly in warm weather and handle poorly in dry conditions. 

Rotation: Rotate your tires to even out wear and extend their lifespan. 

Battery Check - Cold weather is brutal on car batteries. Low temperatures slow down the chemical reactions inside the battery, forcing it to work harder just to start your engine. Most batteries last four to five years, but a winter-weakened battery can fail suddenly on the first hot day of summer.  

During spring, inspect the battery terminals for white or blue corrosion and clean them if needed. Have the battery's voltage tested — most auto parts stores will do this for free. If your battery is more than three years old, it's worth the peace of mind to get it checked.⁷ 

Brakes - Winter roads are hard on brakes. Road salt causes corrosion on pads and rotors, and repeated hard stops in icy conditions accelerate wear. Here's what to look and listen for: 

Don't wait on brake issues. This is a safety item, not a "fix it later" item. Have a certified technician inspect pads, rotors, calipers and fluid levels if you notice anything unusual. 

Fluids - Winter driving depletes and contaminates multiple fluids. Run through this list: 

Engine coolant: Check the level and condition. Old coolant loses its ability to protect against corrosion and overheating. Engine temperatures can reach 250°F in summer — you want the cooling system in good shape before that.⁶ 

Brake fluid: Check level and look for contamination (should be clear to slightly yellow, not dark brown). 

Transmission fluid: Check level and color — dark or burnt-smelling fluid may need changing. 

Power steering fluid: Check for leaks and proper level. 

Windshield washer fluid: Top off with a spring/summer formula that won't freeze.

Wiper Blades - Wiper blades take a beating from ice, snow, and freezing temperatures. If yours are leaving streaks, chattering or skipping across the windshield, they need to be replaced. You can try cleaning the rubber edge with rubbing alcohol first — sometimes that's all it takes. But blades should be replaced every 6 to 12 months regardless. 

This is one of the cheapest fixes on the list — a new set of wiper blades typically costs $20 to $40. 

Air Filters - Spring brings more pollen, dust, and debris into the air — and into your engine and cabin. There are two filters to check: 

Air Conditioning - You don't want to discover your A/C isn't working on the first 90-degree day of summer. Test it now by turning it on and making sure it blows cold. Watch out for:  

Belts and Hoses - Cold temperatures cause rubber to contract and become brittle, which can lead to cracks, fraying, or small leaks that get worse over time. Inspect the serpentine belt and all hoses — including coolant, brake, and power steering hoses — for any visible signs of wear or damage. If you spot cracks, bulging, or soft spots, replace them. A snapped belt or burst hose can leave you stranded. 

Wheel Alignment and Suspension - Potholes are everywhere in spring, and they're one of the most common causes of alignment problems. Signs your alignment is off include the car pulling to one side, an off-center steering wheel, or uneven tire wear. 

 While you're at it, listen for rattling or clunking sounds over bumps, and have a mechanic check shocks, struts, sway bar links and ball joints. These are easy to overlook but critical for handling and safety. 

Wash, Wax, and Detail - Road salt is corrosive. Even if your car looks fine on the outside, salt can quietly eat away at the undercarriage, wheel wells, and frame over time. A thorough spring wash should include: 

This is one of the best things you can do to preserve your car's long-term value, and most of it can be done at home for almost nothing.