Maintenance and damage prevention for your car
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Car and vehicle maintenance
There is a lot of recommended maintenance you can do yourself to take care of your car. Regular maintenance ensures a safer car that retains its value better – it is economically smart car ownership.
Quick maintenance tips for your car ownership:
- Check the oil level regularly
- Check the tyre pressure and tread depth regularly
- Repair paint damage when it occurs
- Keep the car clean, both outside and inside
- Be quick to fix stone chip damage
- Ensure that the windscreen wipers function optimally
- Make sure you have enough windscreen washer fluid
- Avoid rust formation on brakes by regularly performing safe, hard braking
- Follow the car's recommended service programme
As a customer of DNB, you receive discounts on much of what you need for your car and maintenance. See your fixed discounts.
Repair vehicle damage
Had an insurance event on your car? With insurance from DNB, you get a discount on repairs of minor damage such as scratches in the paintwork, dents, kerbed alloy wheels and worn headlights at MPS Bilskade. Find out more and see all your customer benefits.
Treat your car to a garage
If you want to take extra care of your car beyond necessary maintenance, a garage can be a good investment. That way it does not have to stand outside in all weathers. It can extend the life of your car, and perhaps also increase the value of your home? Apply for a Loan for a garage, and don't forget to extend home insurance to also cover your new garage.
Follow service intervals
Maintain your car's performance and safety
Faults and wear can lead to dangerous situations on the road.
Extend the life of your car
Keep the engine in good condition and extend your car's useful life.
Better performance makes for a more economical car
A well-maintained car provides better engine and fuel efficiency.
Less pollution and emissions
An efficient car pollutes less and keeps emissions down
Servicing costs money, but reduces the risk of more expensive repairs
Small faults can be repaired before they develop into more expensive problems.
Maintain warranties
Warranties often require that recommended service intervals are followed
Increased value when you sell your car
A well-maintained car may have a higher resale value.
Easier car sale
A good service history may make selling your car easier
Considering selling your car?
It can pay off to take on the job of selling the car yourself. Whether you are experienced or selling your first car, it is important to be well prepared.
Did you know, by the way, that you can search by registration number and Calculate the value of the car in the mobile bank? It is one of many smart features.
Change tyres in good time, and ensure correct tread depth and tyre pressure
When should I change my tyres?
When you should change your tyres depends on where in the country you live and what the conditions are like where you are.
Between 1 November and the first Sunday after Easter Monday, you should change from summer tyres to winter tyres. During this period, there is also a requirement to have a minimum tread depth of three millimetres on your tyres. For Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, the requirement applies from 16 October to 30 April.
However, always remember to assess the weather and road conditions. Summer tyres must never be used in winter conditions, regardless of the season.
Reduce the spread of microplastics
Car tyres are one of the largest sources of microplastics in Norwegian nature. When car tyres wear down, microplastics are released as small particles and pollute the air, water and soil.
Reduce the spread of microplastics from driving:
- Buy tyres made from recycled plastic – they are less likely to break down into microplastics.
- Check your tyres regularly for wear and damage – worn or damaged tyres release more microplastics.
- Consider walking when you can? The less we drive, the less we pollute.
Tread depth
Tread depth is the distance from the highest point of the tread pattern to the bottom of the tyre's grooves. Correct tread depth on tyres is important for maintaining good grip and safety on the road.
You should change tyres when the tread depth is less than 1.6 mm. The tread depth on summer tyres should be at least 3 mm to maintain good grip and safety in wet conditions. The tread depth on winter tyres should be at least 4 mm to maintain good grip and safety on snow and ice.
Tyre pressure
Correct air pressure in the tyres provides a safer journey. Tyre pressure affects many things, including the car's efficiency, driving characteristics, grip and wear. Having the correct air pressure in your car tyres is therefore important: it is more economical, safer and better for the environment.
Modern cars will often alert you to incorrect air pressure in the tyres. It can still be wise to make it a habit to check the pressure regularly, for example when you visit a petrol station, before long journeys and always after changing tyres.
Very many petrol stations have equipment for inflating tyres and checking tyre pressure. You will find the correct pressure in the car's instruction manual, or often in the door frame, on the inside of the fuel cap or in the engine compartment. Once you know the correct pressure, you can check and inflate your tyres at the petrol station.
Changing tyres: How to change wheels on your car
You should change tyres if the tread depth is incorrect. In addition, age, wear and condition, and of course the season, affect when you should change tyres. It is important to follow the manufacturers' recommendations and check the tyres carefully. Tyres over five years old should be changed.
Most people have two sets of wheels for their car – one for each season, as we must in Norway. When you need to change wheels, you need a jack and a suitable wheel wrench.
Tyre change: How to change a wheel
- Find a flat surface to place the car on.
- Ensure the handbrake is on.
- Use a proper jack and position it correctly as described in the instruction manual. Never move underneath a car that is jacked up.
- Loosen the wheel nuts before jacking up the car.
- Remove the wheel nuts with the wheel wrench and lift off the wheel.
- Fit the new wheel and tighten the wheel nuts by hand. Ensure the new wheel is positioned correctly with regard to the direction of rotation.
- Lower the car with the jack and then tighten the wheel nuts properly.
- Check the tyre pressure and ensure it is correct according to the car's manual.
- After driving a few miles, you should check that the wheel nuts are secure and retighten if necessary.
Discount on tyre hotel, tyre change and service
Why wash your car?
Washing your car regularly is important for maintaining both the appearance and condition of the vehicle, and thus its value. When you wash your car at regular intervals, you remove dirt, dust, salt and other chemicals that over time can damage the car's paintwork and lead to discolouration, wear, rust and corrosion.
Dirty windows and mirrors can reduce visibility and increase the risk of accidents. By keeping the windows and mirrors clean, you get better visibility and increase safety for both yourself and other road users.
Inside the car, dust, dirt and bacteria accumulate. If you wash the interior regularly, you keep the car clean.
It is recommended to wash the car thoroughly at least once a month, but the frequency can vary depending on weather conditions, driving patterns and personal preferences.
Many petrol stations have car washes you can use. You can also take advantage of the benefit in your credit card, which gives a discount on everything you buy at petrol stations.
How to wash your car
6 resultis
1. Prepare the equipment you need and find a shaded spot
You will need a bucket, washing sponge, car shampoo, degreasing spray, access to water and a pressure washer, microfibre cloth or chamois leather, and possibly wax or polish if you are planning to go thoroughly and polish the car.
You should avoid direct sunlight when washing the exterior of your car. Find a shaded spot instead, so you avoid streaks and a poor result.
2. Degreasing
Degreasing agent must be sprayed onto a dry car, but must not dry on the paintwork. Spray the agent around the entire vehicle, below the windows and downwards. Follow the instructions for the product you are using: allow the agent to work for the recommended time before rinsing the car with a pressure washer. A tip is to use the pressure washer to apply a layer of soap on top of the degreaser after it has worked for a few minutes, before rinsing off.
In winter you should generally always degrease the car. In other seasons, when the car is not very dirty, it is not always necessary to be as thorough.
3. Rinse the car
Rinse the car thoroughly, from the roof downwards. Do not forget to rinse the wheel arches, rims and towards the brakes. There is a lot of dirt and road salt that can cause damage if it remains on the brakes for too long. Be careful with the pressure washer. It has a lot of power and can cause damage to fragile car parts.
4. Hand wash with soap, bucket and sponge before rinsing off
Fill a bucket with water and car shampoo or soap. Wash the car from top to bottom. It pays to change the water and rinse the sponge regularly. If a lot of sand and grit collects in the sponge, you should replace it to avoid scratches. Do not let the soap dry on the paintwork – this will give a patchy result. It may therefore be wise to do one side of the car at a time, so you have time to rinse off the soap before it dries. Finish by washing the wheels.
5. Dry the car
Set aside time to dry the car for a better result; this reduces the risk of patches from water droplets that attract dust and pollen. Use a slightly damp, clean microfibre cloth or a chamois leather when drying the car.
6. Polishing
If you have done a thorough wash and want to keep the car clean for as long as possible and protect the paintwork by sealing it with polish.
Polishing will give the paintwork a smoother, protective surface, where dirt, sand and dust do not adhere as easily.
Always follow the instructions on the polish you choose. There are different types of polish with different methods, both polish and wax. Some are best suited for hand application, whilst others give a better result with a polishing machine.
1. Clear out and throw away rubbish
Rubbish and other debris accumulate quickly. Do a proper clear-out: go through the glove compartment, cup holders, door pockets and other places where clutter gathers. Throw away everything you do not need.
You can also consider clearing the car of things you do not have to throw away, but which perhaps do not need to live in the car. The fewer loose items, the easier it is to keep the car tidy.
2. Remove and wash the mats
Remove all floor mats and rinse them with a pressure washer or garden hose. Then scrub them with soap and a brush or sponge, before rinsing them again. When you are finished, leave the mats to dry.
3. Vacuum
When all loose items and floor mats are out of the car, it is a good time to vacuum it. Vacuum all nooks and crannies and places where debris and dust accumulate. Be especially thorough when vacuuming in, around and under the seats. Use a suitable nozzle to vacuum the seat cushions and in the gaps between them. It is a good idea to move the seats forwards and backwards to reach more easily. Do not forget to vacuum the boot of the car.
4. Wash door frames
A lot of dirt accumulates on the inside of all doors. Open the doors and wash in and around the door frames. Remember to wipe down with a cloth to remove all moisture when you are finished.
5. Wash the windscreen and other windows
Good visibility is important when you drive. Wash the inside of the windscreen and other windows regularly. Do as you usually do in your home, use ordinary window cleaner and microfibre cloths; one for washing and one for drying.
When you wash, it is also wise to check for damage and scratches on the windows, which should be fixed.
6. Wash the rest: dashboard, screens, steering wheel and seats
Around buttons, on screens and on the steering wheel, and all other places you touch become dirty and need a wash. Use a slightly damp cloth, and possibly a suitable cleaning agent, and wipe carefully.
On leather interiors you should use a suitable leather cleaner and possibly cream. There are products specially made for car interiors, whether leather or textile, which may be worth investing in.
Another tip is to always have disposable interior wipes available, in case you are unlucky enough to spill something whilst on the road.
Secure parking
Avoid parking in vulnerable areas
Choose a safe and well-lit parking space when you park your car. If possible, park in a space that is visible from a window or a camera-monitored area.
It can also be wise to choose your parking space with care. Perhaps it is better to park a little further away from where you need to be, rather than parking closer but in a tighter and more damage-prone spot?
Parking damage without loss of no-claims bonus
Did you know that with our car insurance you avoid losing your no-claims bonus for parking damage? This applies when the car is less than 6 years old and is insured with comprehensive cover. You must know when and where the damage occurred.
Lock the car
It may sound simple, but many people actually forget to lock car doors and close all windows and sunroofs when they park the car.
Do not leave valuables behind
Many thieves take advantage when there is easy access to valuables. Make it harder for thieves: Do not leave valuable items, such as laptops, mobile phones, sunglasses, house and car keys, and wallets, visible in a parked car.
Take precautions
Be careful about entering your exact home address in the car's GPS. This makes it easier for car thieves to first steal your car and then drive to an empty house and steal valuables from your home.
You should also be careful about leaving house and car keys in a parked car – this makes a potential car theft quicker to carry out and makes it easier to break into your home.
Use the handbrake
You should always use the handbrake, or parking brake, when you park, especially on slopes and uneven surfaces so that the car does not start moving.
Park with the "nose" out
Car parks can often be difficult to navigate, with a great many elements that contribute to increased stress. This is a poor combination when you are driving.
Therefore, it is recommended to generally reverse into the parking space when parking. This is a simple measure that gives you better visibility and control when driving out. It reduces the risk of accidents.
When you charge your electric car?
Remember that it is illegal to charge your electric car using an ordinary socket, unless it is emergency charging or you installed a fixed charging point or industrial socket before 2023 that met the requirements from the DSB. Charging a car using an ordinary socket, without following statutory requirements, can in the worst case lead to fire and a reduction in your insurance cover. Ordinary sockets are not designed to withstand electric car charging, and should a fire occur it is not uncommon for it to happen in your fuse box – not in the car itself or the charger.
For fixed charging of your electric car now, you must have a charging box with a Type 2 connector for new installations. The rules apply both at home and at your cabin, for both electric and hybrid cars.
Looking for a new electric car? Check out Green car loan.
Safe parking during flooding or severe weather
A wilder, wetter and warmer climate leads to more extreme weather, which means we should take extra care to protect what we own.
How to park more safely during severe weather:
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast. This makes it easier to be prepared for upcoming weather.
- Choose a safe parking spot. Avoid parking under trees, poles or other objects that could fall and damage your car.
- If the weather is extremely poor, you should consider whether you need to avoid driving until conditions improve.
- Avoid driving through deep puddles. This can lead to water damage to the car.
- During lightning and thunder, avoid parking or staying under trees and other tall objects.
Use a stone chip patch
It is important to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front to avoid stone chips. If you do get a stone chip, you should stop and apply a stone chip patch to prevent the damage from worsening. It is therefore recommended to keep stone chip patches in your car.
You can order stone chip patches from our partners Cary and Hurtigruta Carglass.
The plaster is easy to use. All you need to do is place the plaster on the stone chip damage as soon as it has occurred.
Remember, however, that stone chip plasters are a temporary 'plaster on the wound', not a permanent solution. You should book an appointment for repair as soon as possible.
All our motor insurance policies with comprehensive cover include damage to the windscreen.
Turn on your mobile's driving mode
Using your mobile phone whilst driving increases the risk of traffic accidents. It takes your attention away from the road and the traffic around you. If you must use your mobile phone whilst driving, hands-free is required. If you break the ban on using a handheld mobile whilst driving, you will receive both a fine and penalty points on your driving licence. A tip is to use your mobile's 'driving mode' whilst driving. When it is activated, the phone will be less distracting.
Set iPhone to driving mode
- Go to Settings and select 'Focus'
- Tap the plus sign, then 'Driving'.
- Select 'Next', follow the on-screen instructions and configure the options you want to use.
- Tap 'Done'.
Set Android phone to driving mode
- Go to 'Settings'.
- Select 'Safety and emergency'.
- Select 'Silence notifications while driving'.
- Activate mode and customise.
Applies to Samsung. Setup on other Android devices may vary
Take a break if you are tired or fatigued
It is easy to become tired and lose concentration on long journeys. That is why it is sensible to take breaks along the way. This gives you the opportunity to rest and recover, so that you can sharpen your concentration in traffic.
Fatigue is a common cause of road accidents. You react more slowly and your ability to assess situations is reduced when you are tired. In the worst case, you may fall asleep at the wheel.
There are no rules for when you should take a break, but a recommendation is to take a break every two hours when driving long distances, or to take a break when you feel tired.
You can, for example, stop at a rest area or petrol station, relax or have something to eat and drink.
Stay updated on traffic rules and driving techniques
Avoid distractions in the car
Avoid distractions such as mobile phone use, adjusting the radio and GPS
Follow speed limits
They are based on the relationship between speed, risk and accidents.
Maintain sufficient distance to cars in front of you
You should have at least two seconds' distance to react.
Adapt your driving to weather conditions
Take into account conditions such as rain, snow, temperature or fog
Adapt your driving to the surrounding environment
Take into account roadworks, schools, built-up areas and type of road
Always use the car's safety equipment
Use seat belts, child locks, headrests and more.
Ensure that the car is in order
Do lights, indicators, brakes and other features work as they should?
Be careful to follow traffic rules
Respect signs, signals, other road users and pedestrians.
