Properly maintaining your vehicle is absolutely key to avoiding costly repairs and to increasing your vehicle’s lifespan.

While advice from friends and family can be helpful when it comes to how best maintain your car, the best advice comes directly from the manufacturer. Your vehicle should come with an owner’s manual that includes exactly what maintenance needs to take place and exactly how often it needs to occur.

Following the information published in your owner’s manual is the best way to keep your car in top shape. However, if you’ve lost it, or simply prefer an online version, many manufacturers publish maintenance schedules online.

Here are some maintenance guides from many of the major manufacturers:

Toyota – http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/

Ford – http://www.ford.com/owner-services/maintaining-vehicle

Honda – https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/SEO/HondaMaintenance.asp

GM – http://www.goodwrench.com/Services/SimplifyMaintenance.jsp

Chrysler – http://www.chrysler.com/en/owners/

Nissan – http://www.nissanusa.com/owning/vehicle-care/maintenance.html

Volkswagen – http://www.vw.com/myvw/yourcar/maintenance/findschedules/en/us/

Find your car’s maintenance guide to see if you need a Phoenix car tune up or a Tucson brake check.