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Why does a car need a tune-up?

What is a tune-up and why is it important? I've never gotten a tune-up on my car, but I've heard it's important for performance.

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Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“A car needs a tune-up to ensure that everything’s running smoothly and nothing is in danger of causing expensive or irreparable damage.
In most cases, your owner’s manual will dictate how long you should wait between tune-ups. In older cars, this could be as short as 15,000 miles, while newer vehicles can go 50,000 to 100,000 miles without needing a tune-up.
Once you have a tune-up, you should see a noticeable difference in fuel economy and overall performance, even if your car is old. Tune-ups might be covered by a
used car warranty
, but most of the time you will have to pay for this service. It’s better to pay for preventative maintenance than to pay for expensive repairs.
While looking into tune-ups, you should also follow along with a
basic car maintenance schedule
to maintain your car and extend its life.
Since you’re looking into the best ways to care for your vehicle across seasons, you should also consider adding roadside assistance to your car insurance policy. It’s always a good idea to have a backup plan if the worst case happens.
Jerry’s
partner, Urgently, pays for an Uber if you ever need a tow. They also offer lockout services, tire changes, and jump starts. You can get this peace of mind for only $50 a year.”
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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