When it comes to the upkeep of a car, there's a fine line between fact and fiction. It's safe to say, anyone who owns a car has probably heard a horror story from someone about their trip to the garage. Far too often we believe the myths that we hear, and it ends up costing us a fortune, when it didn't need to.

We've all heard of people who have attempted self-maintenance on their car following a myth they've read up on and caused themselves more problems than they began with. If this is you, we suggest you do not attempt to fix it yourself, but instead, book your car to get it repaired. It's also vital that your car has a valid MOT in order to be deemed roadworthy by the government. Halfords Autocentre will cover the cost of your MOT if you buy something in store, so take advantage of an offer that runs until October 14 and get your car checked out, sooner rather than later.

Understanding car maintenance misconceptions will help you to distinguish between what's mandatory and what's optional.

Myth 1: You need to get your oil changed every 3,000 miles

This is only true if you live in a climate that's dustier than average or if you frequently drive your car on short trips with lots of stop and go traffic. The average driver can wait up to 7,500 miles to change their oil and, depending how you drive, some manufactures will say 10,000 miles between oil changes.

Myth 2: It's fine to drive on your space saver for as long as you want

Space savers are not to be used for long distance. If you get a flat tyre, you should really only use the space saver until you get to the shop and can get a new tyre. It's also worth knowing that, for front-wheel-drive cars, it's best to put the space saver on the back wheel and for rear-wheel drives you should have it on the front. Accomplishing this might mean you have to take one of your normal wheels off and move it to the front or back.

Myth 3: All insurance policies will cover any repair

Your insurance will only cover all repairs if your policy says so. What the insurance company will pay for completely depends on the type of coverage you have chosen - this is why it's important you have a full understanding of what your car insurance policy says.

Myth 4: Premium fuel is better for your car

Many drivers think that if they pay more to put premium fuel in their car it'll run better. This is not true; you shouldn't spend your money on premium high-octane fuel unless your vehicle requires it. Most vehicles will run just fine on regular octane fuel.

Myth 5: Car batteries automatically recharge with a jump start once you begin driving

This isn't correct; your car will need to be driven for several hours for a 100 per cent battery recharge, especially in cold weather. Your interior heater, music system and other car accessories consume large amounts of power, therefore the alternator will have less power to recharge your battery.

Myth 6: Cleaning a car with detergent is a good idea

It most certainly is not! We advise that you do not wash your car body with detergent or dishwashing liquid as these will remove the wax finish on your vehicle's exterior bodywork. You should use good quality car wash liquids only.

Myth 7: You have to replace the air filter every time you get an oil change

You should be getting your air filter checked every time you get an oil change; however, this doesn't mean it needs replacing that often. Air filters can last as long as 30,000 miles depending on the cleanliness of the air.

So there you have it - seven car maintenance myths that you can now ignore.

Promoted by Bethany Taylor - 17 Sep 2018