Keeping up with vehicle maintenance is actually a great way to prevent big problems down the road. Back in the day, you had to keep a log in the owner’s manual or use a separate piece of paper, and hope you didn’t forget when you were supposed to do what. Fortunately, today we can manage things much easier with car maintenance apps.

You likely keep your phone, tablet, or other mobile device nearby most of the time. By installing one of these apps, there literally will be no excuse for not taking better care of your car. The old-school paper service logs were hard to use, mostly because you inevitably forgot to enter different items. With your phone or tablet pushing out alerts on a regular basis, it’s basically impossible to forget taking care of your vehicle.

Each of the car maintenance apps listed below is available for both Apple iOS and Android, which covers virtually all of the smartphones in existence today. That means there’s no feeling like you need to buy a new device just to take better care of your ride.

MyCarFax

Check out the MyCarFax app. It can help you track the maintenance needs of up to five vehicles at a time, which is great for households with multiple drivers. Adding a vehicle can be done by entering the VIN or license plate number. If you prefer an easier method, you can also scan the bar code next to the VIN. This app tracks not only upcoming maintenance items needed such as tire rotations and oil changes, but also open recalls.

When you take your vehicle to a service shop, the maintenance log is updated automatically, so there’s no having to type in all of the information manually. The big advantage of this app is that it draws on the 12 billion records available through the CarFax database. Another unique aspect is that it can recommend local service shops, showing user ratings, so if you’re in an unfamiliar region you can make a more educated decision.

AutoCare

Also available for Android and Apple users is AutoCare. Although it’s not free, the app can help you manage multiple vehicles with customizable service reminders, making it a useful auto maintenance app. The ability to customize alerts is actually a truly great feature, because say if you use synthetic oil and can stretch out oil changes further, the app will accommodate that instead of bugging you to change the oil too early.

AutoSprite

For the financially-minded, AutoSprite is an ideal car maintenance app. Like other options, it helps track when your vehicles need servicing and exactly what kind, providing easy-to-read reminders. You can use the app to even book an appointment at a compatible service center.

Where this option really shines is that it allows you to see a list of expenses you’ve paid during a defined period of time for vehicle maintenance, making it easier to track trends. It also can help with shopping for good insurance rates, something you can do periodically to save money.

RepairPal

Not only can you track vehicle maintenance records and needs with RepairPal, you can also be better prepared to fix your car. Everyone knows that accidents and unexpected thing happen in life, but this app helps you take it in stride with a one-touch option for roadside assistance. You can also use it to locate a quality local mechanic, plus it provides fair pricing for different jobs so you don’t end up paying too much.

T3 Atlanta

In case you aren’t aware, every vehicle comes with a maintenance schedule. It’s created by the manufacturer and shows when certain items need to be checked and possibly fixed. The schedule can include items such as changing the oil, swapping out an air filter, or inspecting shock boots. Vehicle manufacturers set specific times that the various items should be check over.

While it might seem like a simple thing, keeping the maintenance schedule on a car actually provides a huge benefit. Automakers know the vehicles they designed and built incredibly well. When it’s time to address the various items on the schedule at the designated times, come to T3 Atlanta. You can avoid maintenance problems down the road, saving money and grief with big repairs.