If you've ever owned a car before, you'll know that occasional repairs are inevitable. Even if you treat your car as well as it treats you, you're going to find yourself in the mechanic's garage every now and then. While nobody likes it when their car goes on the fritz, understanding what some of these more commonly performed maintenance tasks are may help to ease your mind the next time you hear a rattle or feel a bump that shouldn't be there.

Oil change
One of the most common maintenance tasks is also one of the most basic. Almost everyone knows the importance of changing your car's oil on a regular basis, but what you may is why it's so important. As Car Talk reminded, motor oil lubricates the important parts of your engine that do much of the work when it comes to moving your car. If left to sit for too long, dirty or insufficient oil leaves your engine poorly lubricated, causing it to grind against itself. In layman's terms, this is setting you up for some serious repair costs down the road, so make sure to keep your oil in check.

Fuel pump
You make sure to put gas in your car when needed, but your vehicle's fuel system requires more maintenance than that. Fuel filters can clog, especially if you use lower-grade gas, Autos.com said. Also, if you're a driver who likes to get every last gallon out of the tank before filling up, be warned. If you make a habit of driving on less than one-quarter tank of gas often enough, you can damage your fuel pump, which may need to be repaired or replaced if the clog is significant.

Brakes
When it comes to safety, there may be few more important vehicle components than your brakes. Fortunately, while you should have your brakes checked fairly regularly, repairs tend to be fairly simple. According to Autos.com, brake pad replacement constitutes the most common type of repair in this area, as the pads will commonly wear down due to regular use. The good news is, this is a fairly standard procedure, and won't shoulder you with a massive bill either. Even better, keeping on top of your brake pad replacement can help prolong the life of other, more costly brake components that you wouldn't be so happy to have to replace.

If your car needs repairs, head to the NJ State Auto Auction Total Car Care Center. The knowledgeable team of mechanics can help diagnose problems, and can perform any needed  maintenance to keep your car on the road.