Back-to-School Car Check for Broward Families

The school-year car

For a lot of Broward families, the school year changes how the car gets used. More short trips, drop-off lines, after-school practice, and for some families, a teenager driving to school for the first time, often in a car that used to be a parent's.

Broward County Public Schools' 2026/27 year started on Monday, August 10, 2026. If you missed the August check, the school calendar gives you two more natural moments: winter break, December 21 to 31, 2026, and spring break, March 22 to 26, 2027. Pick one and put it on the family calendar.

Why it matters more with a new driver

NHTSA's teen driving page is blunt about the risk. Teen drivers have a higher rate of fatal crashes, it says, mainly because of immaturity, lack of skills and lack of experience. NHTSA counts 2,320 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver (ages 15 to 18) in 2024.

Most of what reduces that risk is behavior: seat belts, no phone, limited passengers, and practice. NHTSA notes that graduated driver licensing can reduce a teen's crash risk by as much as 50 percent, and reminds parents that you have more influence on your teen than you may think. A car in good shape is the part you can check in an afternoon.

Step 1: Open recalls, by VIN

Find the 17-character VIN on the lower left of the windshield, or on the registration or insurance card. Enter it on NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab). Searching by VIN tells you whether that specific vehicle needs a recall repair, and NHTSA says the dealer fixes the recalled part for free.

With a hand-me-down car, recall letters may have gone to a previous owner or an old address. Tires can be recalled too; our guide to tire recalls shows how to check them by the DOT number.

Step 2: Tread depth

NHTSA says tires should be replaced when the tread is worn to 2/32 of an inch, and suggests checking tread at least once a month when you check pressure. The quick version is the penny test: put Lincoln's head into a groove upside down, and if you can see the top of his head, replace the tires.

For South Florida's wet season, aim higher. AAA recommends replacing at 4/32; its testing found tires worn to that depth took an average of 87 feet longer to stop on wet pavement at highway speed than new tires. Our post on why 4/32 matters in Florida rain explains the numbers.

Step 3: Pressure, cold

Check pressure in the morning before driving, with a gauge, against the number on the driver's door placard, not the sidewall. FLHSMV's tire page says to check monthly with a gauge and always when the tires are cold. Include the spare; FLHSMV notes that even tires that aren't driven lose air.

Our guide to checking tire pressure walks through it.

Step 4: Age and condition

A first car often comes with tires nobody has thought about in years. Read the DOT date code on each sidewall; the last four digits are the week and year the tire was made. Our DOT date code guide shows where to look.

• FLHSMV says never to operate a vehicle on tires more than six years old.
• Michelin and Bridgestone recommend yearly inspections from five years and replacement at ten.

While you're there, look for bulges, cuts and cracks. FLHSMV suggests checking for damage weekly.

Step 5: Rotation and uneven wear

A school year adds a lot of miles: the morning run, practice, weekend games, the drive to a part-time job. FLHSMV's tire page says to rotate tires every 5,000 miles or as your vehicle's manufacturer requires, and USTMA recommends every 5,000 to 8,000 miles when the owner's manual gives no interval.

While you're measuring tread, compare the inside, center and outside grooves, and the front tires with the rear. Wear on one edge usually points to alignment; wear in the center or on both edges points to pressure. Either way, fixing the cause now saves the tires. Our rotation pattern tool shows the right pattern for your car.

Step 6: The rest of the walk-around

• Lights: headlights, brake lights and turn signals. Have someone stand behind the car.
• Wipers: streaking or chattering blades won't cope with an afternoon downpour.
• Brakes: squealing, grinding or a soft pedal means a visit to a shop.
• Dashboard: any warning light that stays on, including the TPMS light; our TPMS light guide explains it.
• The spare or kit: know where it is and how it works.

Teach the 10-minute check

The most useful thing you can hand a new driver isn't the car; it's the habit. Do this check together the first time, then have them do it once a month while you watch:

Save *347 in their phone too. It reaches the Florida Highway Patrol, and our post on a flat tire on I-95 explains what to do while waiting.

If the check finds worn or old tires

Not sure? Do I Need Tires Yet? walks you through it. When it's time, shop by size or vehicle. In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach we install at our Sunrise shop, or our mobile van can come to your driveway. Shipping is free to the 48 contiguous states and DC.