Is your car due for maintenance or replacement?

Whether it’s for your work, going to the shops or a weekend getaway, your car gets you where you need to be. To make sure your car keeps running smoothly and safely, it requires regular maintenance. With age, though, maintenance costs can quickly mount up. If you’re unsure whether to invest in your car’s maintenance or if it might be better to consider buying a new one, our tips below can help you decide which choice is best for you.  

By properly maintaining your car, you can use it for longer, drive more safely and avoid unexpected costs. When small, hidden defects are identified early on, you can avoid costly repairs later on. Benefits include: 

• Extending your car’s lifespan 
• Ensuring reliability and safety on the road 
• Reducing the risk of costly repairs (for instance, engine damage or worn-out brakes)  

Minor maintenance 

When you take your car in for a minor service – usually once a year or every 15 000 kilometres – a number of basic procedures are performed, including an oil change, oil filter replacement, brake and light inspection and tyre pressure check. These checks ensure that your car keeps running smoothly and that minor defects are detected early on.  

Major maintenance

 The more thorough major service – approximately every 30 000 to 40 000 kilometres – also involves air and pollen filter replacement, spark plug inspection (for petrol cars), and a thorough exhaust, shock absorber and tyre inspection. This helps you prevent hidden wear and tear from developing into a breakdown situation.  

If you’re not sure what your car needs, don’t worry – the mechanics at your garage can check your car’s kilometre reading and age and give you honest advice. 

Every car needs more upkeep as it gets older. Minor procedures become major repairs and things can quickly add up when, for instance, the clutch has had its day, the electronics start acting up or the engine is on its last legs. Sometimes investing in your car is still worthwhile, especially if it’s still in good working order. But at some point you need to decide whether its still wise to invest in your car’s maintenance or if it might be better to buy a new one.    

At what point is maintaining your car no longer financially viable?  

The older your car, the higher the risk of costly repairs (for instance, when the clutch is worn out, the electronics malfunction or the engine needs replacing). When these costs exceed your car’s current market value, putting more money into it might not be the best choice.   

The benefits of a new car 

Buying a new car is a big decision, but sometimes also the best one, especially when your car’s reliability starts to decline and costs keep rising. New cars are more economical, more reliable and more maintenance-friendly. On top of that, they offer greater comfort, are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and tend to have lower CO2 emissions. In the long run, a new car pays off in terms of costs and sustainability.  

Work out your costs with the TCO calculator 

Unsure about the actual cost of your car? Use our TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) calculator and find out exactly what your current car costs you in a few easy steps. This gives you a clear view of all the costs involved and whether it may be worth considering buying a new one. 

If you’re thinking about getting a new car, you naturally want everything to go as smoothly as possible. With the KBC Car Loan, you get to keep your savings buffer intact for other purposes and you won’t be in for any nasty surprises as you pay back a fixed amount every month. You can work out and apply for your loan quickly and easily online.    

If you’ve also taken out KBC Car Insurance, we’ll take care of your car’s registration and number plate application. That ensures you’ll be back on the road – enjoying your comfortable, reliable, low-maintenance car – in no time. 

KBC Car Insurance for Passenger Cars is a third-party liability insurance policy required by law. More information on this product can be found in the insurance information document, which we recommend you read carefully before taking out the product.  

KBC Car Insurance may include one or more of the following types of insurance cover: Compulsory Third-Party Liability Insurance, Legal Assistance Insurance, Comprehensive All-Risk Insurance, Semi-Comprehensive Insurance, KBC-VAB Roadside Assistance Insurance and Driver Accident Insurance.  
  - This product is governed by the laws of Belgium.  
  - Insurance cover under this policy is valid for a term of one year and tacitly renews, unless it is terminated no later than three months before the main renewal date.  
  - Your intermediary is the first point of contact for any complaints you may have. If no agreement can be reached, you can contact KBC Complaints Management by post at Brusselsesteenweg 100, 3000 Leuven, by e-mail at complaints@kbc.be, by telephone on + 32 16 43 25 94 or + 32 78 15 20 45 (paid number), or by fax on + 32 16 86 30 38. If you cannot find a suitable solution, you can contact the Belgian insurance industry’s ombudsman service: Ombudsman van de Verzekeringen, de Meeûssquare 35, 1000 Brussels, info@ombudsman-insurance.be. This does not affect your legal rights.  

Contact your Insurance Expert or visit our website to request a quote for KBC Car Insurance for Passenger Cars.  

KBC Car Insurance is a product of KBC Insurance NV – Professor Roger Van Overstraetenplein 2 – 3000 Leuven – Belgium VAT BE 0403.552.563 – RLP Leuven – IBAN BE43 7300 0420 0601 – BIC KREDBEBB Company licensed by the National Bank of Belgium, de Berlaimontlaan 14, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, for all classes of insurance under code 0014 (Royal Decree of 4 July 1979; Belgian Official Gazette, 14 July 1979). Member of the KBC group.  

* What is and isn’t covered under third-party liability insurance  

Covered   
Loss, damage or injury you cause with your vehicle to third parties, both material (e.g., exterior damage, damage to buildings, etc.) and physical (i.e. death or injuries). Injuries sustained by pedestrians, cyclists or passengers in traffic accidents in which your car is involved. Even if you are not liable, you can claim on this insurance.  
   
Not covered   
Some key exclusions are: 
  - Damage to your own vehicle  
  - Bodily injuries sustained by the driver in a traffic accident  
  - Damage caused during participation in competitions  
  - Damage you cause intentionally  
  The complete list of exclusions can be found in the General Conditions.  

* What is and isn’t covered under semi-comprehensive insurance 

Covered  
  - Damage caused by martens gnawing on your car’s cables and conduits   
  - Breakage of car window glass or sunroof glass - Break-ins, theft and vandalism during theft   
  - Hail damage or damage caused by another force of nature (storm, lightning, flood, etc.)   
  - Damage caused by fire, explosion or fire-extinguishing activities (including damage caused by melting due to a short circuit)  
  - Damage caused by collisions with wild or stray animals  
  - Crashing aircraft or falling aircraft parts  
  - Any additional vehicle features which you can no longer use after your car has been declared a total loss (e.g., a set of winter tyres or a roof box)  
   
Not covered  
  - Damage to your own car following an accident (for which you can take out our Fully Comprehensive Insurance)  
  - Your physical injuries as the driver, which you sustained in an accident (for which you can take out our Driver Accident Insurance)  
  - Theft you have facilitated by leaving your car unattended and unlocked on a public road  
  - Damage to parts caused as a result of wear and tear or by a lack of maintenance  
  - Damage you cause intentionally  
  The complete list of exclusions can be found in the General Conditions.  

* What is and isn’t covered under fully comprehensive insurance  

Covered  
  - Damage caused by a collision, fire, glass breakage, theft, vandalism, forces of nature, filling up with the wrong type of fuel, collisions with stray animals or birds, and gnawing martens  
  - The cost of replacing locks or reprogramming the locking system if your car keys are stolen  
  - Medical expenses if you’re injured during a car-jacking or home invasion  
  - Vehicle registration tax is covered free of charge if your vehicle is declared a total loss  
  - Damage to transported items  
  - We provide compensation of up to 1 500 euros for items you transport in your car which are intended for personal use if your car is also damaged, including bicycles on your bicycle rack or luggage in your roof box  
  - We also cover any additional vehicle features which you can no longer use after your car has been declared a total loss, such as your winter tyres or roof box  
   
Not covered  
  - Damage you caused under the influence of alcohol (more than 0.15%) or in a similar condition due to the use of substances other than alcohol  
  - Damage you caused while driving your car in violation of the conditions laid down in Belgian laws and regulations  
  - Damage you cause intentionally  
  - Theft you have facilitated by leaving your vehicle unattended on a public road or unlocked in another location accessible to the public  
  - Your physical injuries as the driver of your vehicle (for which you can take out our Driver Accident Insurance)  
   
The complete list of exclusions can be found in the General Conditions.  Read the product information in full before taking out insurance.