When you take home a new vehicle, you're likely to be both happy about your new purchase and anxious about how you treat it when the mileage is so low. One sitcom summed up the situation by having a father declare, "It's a new car, son. It's not meant to be driven."

You'll want to take the vehicle out for a spin, of course, but you'll have to be careful about how you do it. Automakers typically recommend a period of breaking in the new vehicle before you drive it more casually.

Just as you need to wear a new pair of shoes before they start to feel more comfortable, you need to break in a vehicle before the engine and transmission are in their best shape. Alison Lakin, writing for the automotive site DriverSide, says the piston rings get the most benefit from a breaking in. These rings aren't perfectly situated when the vehicle first rolls off the lot, but will settle in and form a tighter seal over time. If you don't break in the vehicle properly, the piston rings might not seal well and cause oil to leak.

Breaking in a vehicle can help condition other parts as well. Mike Allen, writing for Popular Mechanics, says it can keep your bearings, transmission, and brakes in good condition.

Checking the owner's manual will show you the recommendations an automaker has for driving the vehicle after purchase. You may need to break in the vehicle over the course of only a few hundred miles, but some automakers recommend that you go easy on it for 1,000 miles or more.

In general, automakers will recommend that you drive cautiously during this period. Allen says you'll typically need to avoid hard acceleration or excessive idling. Although drivers may be advised to stay below a certain speed, such as 55 miles per hour, it is also typically recommended that they travel at a variety of speeds and throttle settings.

With more modern models, breaking in the vehicle is a less crucial process. Tom Torbjornsen, writing for the automotive site The Car Connection, says the oil and lubricants used in an engine are more effective than what was used in older vehicles. Engine parts are also more likely to be factory conditioned, making them more likely to withstand a revving engine and other hard driving. Bob Sorokanich, writing for Road and Track, says some models even come with engines that have been broken in at the factory, allowing the driver to immediately take to the road with no worries.

Still, more cautious driving can help ensure that you won't have a problem with the engine. Lakin says it is generally a good idea to avoid aggressive accelerations and keep the throttle below 4,500 revolutions per minute. Allen recommends that you avoid pushing a new vehicle to its top speed or other actions that will put more strain on the engine, such as towing heavy loads.

While vehicles can go several thousand miles before an oil change is required, it's a good idea to perform this service early on when you have a new vehicle. Sorokanich says small metal flakes will rub off as the engine's mechanical components settle into place, and these can cause trouble if they remain in the oil for too long. Automakers' recommendations will vary, but it is often a good idea to do the first oil change at about 1,000 miles.

The brakes are less picky about how you drive. Allen says the texture will grind down the brake pads to the proper texture within a few miles. However, it's still a good idea to avoid heavy braking, which is detrimental to your brakes in general.