Storing Your Car

If there comes a period when you need to leave your vehicle for any length of time without driving it, then there are several things you need to consider before you leave. Vehicles are designed to operate best when they are driven regularly, for example driving your car keeps the battery recharged which can go flat if left for a long time. What you need to do to ensure that your car is in good working order when you return depends on how long you are planning on leaving it for. If you are planning not to use the vehicle for up to a month then you should consider leaving the car fully filled with a high quality anti-freeze. Any existing anti-freeze should also be changed if it is more than one year old.

Consider where you are storing the vehicle whilst away. If you have a garage which can be locked and is secure then you could keep the windows of the car slightly lowered so that air can circulate. Good circulation of air will help to avoid problems which can be caused by condensation. To avoid corrosion you can spray any unpainted metal parts of the car, with a good water dispersant such as WD40. Water dispersant stops water droplets from resting on the metal and rusting away. If you are able to chock the wheels of the cars securely, then it is good for the handbrake to leave it off. This reduces the tension on the handbrake cable and means it should be in good working condition when you return.

If you are planning on leaving your vehicle for a longer period then you should remove the battery to stop it from going flat. Before you remove the battery check that the car’s on board computer will not be affected. You should be able to find out this information in your vehicles handbook or ask your local dealer garage. If you car has a coded radio then it is a good idea to make a note of the code before you remove you battery in case you need it, when you restart the car. Make sure that you clean the battery terminals and arrange for the battery to be slow charged every four to six weeks.

You can buy a special charger which can be left on all the time and which will slowly recharge car batteries, however if this is not a suitable option for you then you could consider arranging for someone to charge your battery whilst you are gone. If you are concerned with storing your car whilst you are away then there are a number of professional companies who will store and look after your vehicle for you. However these company’s charges can be quite high, so another option would be to arrange for another person to drive your car once or twice a month. This will give the battery chance to re-charge as well as increase the circulation in the vehicle. If you decide to go for this option then you need to ensure that your car insurance is up to date and covers this third person. It is important to plan ahead if you need to leave your car for a long period of time. Following the tips above should help you to do this.

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