It's not exactly a secret that cars need maintenance to continue running well as long as possible, and until pretty recently, most car owners had to keep track of tuneup schedules and mileage to know when to bring their vehicles to the shop for oil changes and other maintenance. However, technological advancements in recent years have led to cars that let their drivers know when it's time to visit the garage. Some models have offered this feature for many years, but now it is far more common across nearly all brands and trim levels.

"The advancements in modern maintenance reminder systems take the guesswork out of deciding when to take your vehicle in for service," said John Nielsen, AAA's Director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. "The challenge now is educating consumers to trust that their vehicle will alert them when maintenance is needed."

A recent AAA survey revealed that of the 63 percent of car owners who have a maintenance repair alert system in their vehicles, only 51 percent rely on this service to determine when to get a tuneup or other maintenance. Whether a car is a bit older and its maintenance alert system is limited to a check engine light on the dashboard or it is a newer model that offers more specific information, drivers should not ignore these warnings. Delaying service could lead to extensive problems that will cost more to repair.

Drivers who live in the New York/New Jersey area can bring their cars to the Total Car Care Center at New Jersey State Auto Auction. This auto maintenance shop is open to the public, and the car repair experts here can address maintenance issues as well as pinpoint any issues that need to be taken care of, so drivers can keep their cars on the road as long as possible.