A broken down car means you’ll need to call a friend for help around town, take the bus, or call a cab. None of these options is ideal, which is why it’s important to maintain your car and keep it in good shape. When you spot warning signs, it’s time to take your car to a mechanic, like Pep Boys. Take your car to the mechanic if anything seems unusual, but the following are some of the more common or serious indications.

Never ignore smoke coming from your engine. This doesn’t always mean that you have completely demolished your engine, but it always means that something needs to be done immediately. It could be the result of a leak in your oil, transmission, or radiator fluid, or it could indicate a more serious mechanical failure that is doing serious damage to your engine. Either way, it is safest to assume the worst and tow your car to a mechanic. Trying to drive a car with a smoking engine, even just to get it to the mechanic, is not a good idea.

Another serious problem is if your car is having trouble stopping. If it makes squealing noises, vibrates, or doesn’t stop as fast as it used to, you should have your brakes checked as soon as possible. Failure to do so puts you and everybody around you at risk.

If your car is wobbling while you are on the freeway, this is usually an easy fix, but an important one nonetheless. It typically means that you haven’t changed your tires in a very long time.