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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but would my car engine/battery be impacted in some way if I don't drive it for the next three months or however long this lasts? If so, does anyone have tips on how to maintain car health?

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By *ficouldMan
over a year ago

a quandary, could you change my mind?

You might need to put the battery on a trickle charge. Three months is a long time for a battery, depending on how old the battery is and type of car even a month is a long time.

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By *mart55Man
over a year ago

north Devon barnstaple bideford or Exeter

Small solar panel for battery

And turn the engine on regular and move the car a little bit so your tyres don't get flat spots 3 months is a long time try and drive it if you can

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"Small solar panel for battery

And turn the engine on regular and move the car a little bit so your tyres don't get flat spots 3 months is a long time try and drive it if you can "

My insurance is up for renewal at the end of the month so I was thinking of just cancelling it for the duration of lockdown and being added as another driver on my parents' car so won't be able to drive mine at all. In any case I wouldn't want to get pulled over for a non essential journey.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Mine would need a jump start of i left it over a week.

I start it up now and again to keep the battery charged. Leave it running for a bit or go for a little drive.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It shouldn't be much of a problem if you leave your car parked up for awhile.

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By *moothman2000Man
over a year ago

Leicestershire

The alarm and car stereo remain connected to the battery so they could potentially flatten the battery eventually if it's an old battery.

As others have said, start it occasionally and give it a little move.

Be aware though, if the car is in your drive and uninsured it's legal, but if someone pinches or damages it then you've got no insurance...

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By *mart55Man
over a year ago

north Devon barnstaple bideford or Exeter

If it's off road sorn it with DVLA and you don't have to pay for tax and insurance

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"If it's off road sorn it with DVLA and you don't have to pay for tax and insurance "

Just to clarify, that to declare it as SORN in must be stored off of the public highway (i.e. on a driveway or in a garage). If it is parked on the street it must be taxed and insured.

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By *usty KnightMan
over a year ago

Istanbul

If not using it , then best get it SORN too to save on tax. Stay safe.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sorn it and disconnect the battery terminals which is very easy to do and the battery if in good condition will be just as good in 3 months time

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By *ncutgemMan
over a year ago

Bath ish

Put it in gear and take the habd brake off Not on a slope obviously

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"If not using it , then best get it SORN too to save on tax. Stay safe. "

I might just do this as it will be parked in my driveway and not on the road. But then how can I move it around as people are suggesting? For one I wouldn't want to get clocked by the DVLA if I do SORN it, but also I don't want to get accused of making non-essential journeys. It's a tricky one

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Run it for a few minutes each day

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"If not using it , then best get it SORN too to save on tax. Stay safe.

I might just do this as it will be parked in my driveway and not on the road. But then how can I move it around as people are suggesting? For one I wouldn't want to get clocked by the DVLA if I do SORN it, but also I don't want to get accused of making non-essential journeys. It's a tricky one "

Just start it up and reverse it back and forth. If doing it every day you can leave it in gear and leave the hand brake off. ( Unless it's an auto )

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"If not using it , then best get it SORN too to save on tax. Stay safe.

I might just do this as it will be parked in my driveway and not on the road. But then how can I move it around as people are suggesting? For one I wouldn't want to get clocked by the DVLA if I do SORN it, but also I don't want to get accused of making non-essential journeys. It's a tricky one

Just start it up and reverse it back and forth. If doing it every day you can leave it in gear and leave the hand brake off. ( Unless it's an auto )"

Google it

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By *arkus1812Man
over a year ago

Lifes departure lounge NN9 Northamptonshire East not West MidlandsMidlands

For a period of 3 months it is hardly worth cancelling insurance as most insurers will charge you around £50 for the cancellation, you will have to start again with new insurance which may not be as competitive as your current policy.

With regard to sorn it depends on how much excise duty you pay, on my MX5 Mazda the duty is £285 per year so sorn would be worth doing, on my Skoda Yeti duty is only £30 so for 3 months not worth bothering.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"For a period of 3 months it is hardly worth cancelling insurance as most insurers will charge you around £50 for the cancellation, you will have to start again with new insurance which may not be as competitive as your current policy.

With regard to sorn it depends on how much excise duty you pay, on my MX5 Mazda the duty is £285 per year so sorn would be worth doing, on my Skoda Yeti duty is only £30 so for 3 months not worth bothering."

Sorry I used the wrong term in my OP. I'm not cancelling, I'm just letting it run out as my policy ends this month. I pay around £90 per month for insurance and £20 per month for tax, so would definitely save me a tidy sum

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By *eeBee67Man
over a year ago

Masked and Distant

Why not just drive it to do your allowed shopping? Or are you isolating for 12 weeks.

If you start your engine, you need to run it for around 10-15 minutes to recover the battery energy used in starting it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Why not just drive it to do your allowed shopping? Or are you isolating for 12 weeks.

If you start your engine, you need to run it for around 10-15 minutes to recover the battery energy used in starting it."

And at some point will then need fuel? Also if it's diesel just doing "tick over" repeatedly will mess up your DPF.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Just leave it compleatly alone 3 months it will be fine I have a old landrover last time I drove it was September got in it yesterday went shopping in it as it was a nice sunny day, checked the oil started straight up and every thing fine. Never leave a handbrake on for long periods of time tho just leave it in gear.

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By *hilliandspiceMan
over a year ago

Wimborne

Wrt insurance, ask your insurance company if you can insure, "fire,theft and accidental damage", I used to do this every year on the motorbike for the winter. Massively reduced insurance cost but means car is still covered and there is no break in your insurance to mess up NCD. (Think it's also called laid up cover).

Battery and car, get a battery charger and depending on how healthy your battery is give it a few hours every few weeks/once a month. Rest of car, good idea to move it back and forwards on drive even if it's a foot, you are releasing the hand brake, keeping rest of brakes operational as well as running engine.

Not the most ideal but doing the above will mean car is insured and the best you can on making sure it still runs in the circumstances.

Re the insurance, I used to pay monthly on the bike insurance and when it came to the laid up cover I just rung them, and because had paid 6 months fully comp already the next six months were generally a few £ per month. (This was a few years back though so who knows with the legalised extortion known as insurance).

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By *herealdeal90Man
over a year ago

Huddersfield


"If not using it , then best get it SORN too to save on tax. Stay safe.

I might just do this as it will be parked in my driveway and not on the road. But then how can I move it around as people are suggesting? For one I wouldn't want to get clocked by the DVLA if I do SORN it, but also I don't want to get accused of making non-essential journeys. It's a tricky one "

Only sorn it if you are definitely not going to drive. If you’re gonna move it about or drive for essentials. Then don’t sorn. Simple

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By *eah BabyCouple
over a year ago

Cheshire, Windermere ,Cumbria


"For a period of 3 months it is hardly worth cancelling insurance as most insurers will charge you around £50 for the cancellation, you will have to start again with new insurance which may not be as competitive as your current policy.

With regard to sorn it depends on how much excise duty you pay, on my MX5 Mazda the duty is £285 per year so sorn would be worth doing, on my Skoda Yeti duty is only £30 so for 3 months not worth bothering.

Sorry I used the wrong term in my OP. I'm not cancelling, I'm just letting it run out as my policy ends this month. I pay around £90 per month for insurance and £20 per month for tax, so would definitely save me a tidy sum "

£90 a month wow!! We pay less than £500 a year on two cars both to drive either, have you compared the meerkat?

If you don’t renew remember you won’t be covered for theft of your vehicle

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"For a period of 3 months it is hardly worth cancelling insurance as most insurers will charge you around £50 for the cancellation, you will have to start again with new insurance which may not be as competitive as your current policy.

With regard to sorn it depends on how much excise duty you pay, on my MX5 Mazda the duty is £285 per year so sorn would be worth doing, on my Skoda Yeti duty is only £30 so for 3 months not worth bothering.

Sorry I used the wrong term in my OP. I'm not cancelling, I'm just letting it run out as my policy ends this month. I pay around £90 per month for insurance and £20 per month for tax, so would definitely save me a tidy sum

£90 a month wow!! We pay less than £500 a year on two cars both to drive either, have you compared the meerkat?

If you don’t renew remember you won’t be covered for theft of your vehicle "

Cost of being a young driver in London when I first started driving age 19 it was more than double that, and that was after a pretty hefty discount as I had a black box installed!

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By *eah BabyCouple
over a year ago

Cheshire, Windermere ,Cumbria


"For a period of 3 months it is hardly worth cancelling insurance as most insurers will charge you around £50 for the cancellation, you will have to start again with new insurance which may not be as competitive as your current policy.

With regard to sorn it depends on how much excise duty you pay, on my MX5 Mazda the duty is £285 per year so sorn would be worth doing, on my Skoda Yeti duty is only £30 so for 3 months not worth bothering.

Sorry I used the wrong term in my OP. I'm not cancelling, I'm just letting it run out as my policy ends this month. I pay around £90 per month for insurance and £20 per month for tax, so would definitely save me a tidy sum

£90 a month wow!! We pay less than £500 a year on two cars both to drive either, have you compared the meerkat?

If you don’t renew remember you won’t be covered for theft of your vehicle

Cost of being a young driver in London when I first started driving age 19 it was more than double that, and that was after a pretty hefty discount as I had a black box installed! "

Eeeek! Glad we live where we do, never had had to pay a crazy price on insurance.

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By *yn drwgMan
over a year ago

Camarthen


"Small solar panel for battery

And turn the engine on regular and move the car a little bit so your tyres don't get flat spots 3 months is a long time try and drive it if you can

My insurance is up for renewal at the end of the month so I was thinking of just cancelling it for the duration of lockdown and being added as another driver on my parents' car so won't be able to drive mine at all. In any case I wouldn't want to get pulled over for a non essential journey. "

What you have to be aware of with insurance policies is that if you have built up a few years no claims bonus is that if you cancel it you may lose this benefit just check with the company to how long they will keep this option for you.

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By *yn drwgMan
over a year ago

Camarthen


"Sorn it and disconnect the battery terminals which is very easy to do and the battery if in good condition will be just as good in 3 months time "

If you had a Morris minor yes but with new cars never disconnect power it could fuck a lot of things up. Just start the car a few times every week keep it ticking over.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I got a solar panel to keep my motorbikes batteries charged up.

also sends me a text message if levels drop below acceptable levels.

is a slow charge rate with the panel but its better than nothing

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Starting the engine for a few mins each day will eventually flatten the battery as the current drawn won’t be replaced by the alternator in a few mins. Don’t disconnect the battery. Buy a trickle charger like an Optimate 5, which will keep the battery in top condition. Pump the tyres up to maximum to avoid flat spots. If safe and off the public highway leave the hand brake off with the car left in 1st gear and chock the wheels. Liberally spray door hinges, under bonnet electrics and such like with WD40. Lots of info on YouTube which is worth looking at.

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By *lex46TV/TS
over a year ago

Near Wells


"Starting the engine for a few mins each day will eventually flatten the battery as the current drawn won’t be replaced by the alternator in a few mins. Don’t disconnect the battery. Buy a trickle charger like an Optimate 5, which will keep the battery in top condition. Pump the tyres up to maximum to avoid flat spots. If safe and off the public highway leave the hand brake off with the car left in 1st gear and chock the wheels. Liberally spray door hinges, under bonnet electrics and such like with WD40. Lots of info on YouTube which is worth looking at. "

This is the correct thing to do. If you're car is older you only need to disconnect the positive lead (the red one) on the battery and just leave it. When you reconnect it in 3 months time the battery will be fine.

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By *ch WellMan
over a year ago

Scotland


"Small solar panel for battery

And turn the engine on regular and move the car a little bit so your tyres don't get flat spots 3 months is a long time try and drive it if you can

My insurance is up for renewal at the end of the month so I was thinking of just cancelling it for the duration of lockdown and being added as another driver on my parents' car so won't be able to drive mine at all. In any case I wouldn't want to get pulled over for a non essential journey. "

And if it gets stolen or goes on fire in that time ?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Buy a trickle charger like an Optimate 5, which will keep the battery in top condition."

Or, people could just not worry too much, a £70 quid charger will be more expensive than the battery in many cars.

When I worked in the motor trade we'd have cars on the forecourt that would last a fair few months without being moved. Even those with dead batteries would be fine 9 times out of 10 after just charging the battery up. Or just disconnect the positive wire and walk away.

For flat spots on tyres, they really don't exist with modern tyres. You might notice a flat spot after a few months of not moving a car but they will work themselves out after a few miles on the road.

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By *he fab twoCouple
over a year ago

brentwood

Disconnect one of battery terminals

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Buy a trickle charger like an Optimate 5, which will keep the battery in top condition.

Or, people could just not worry too much, a £70 quid charger will be more expensive than the battery in many cars.

When I worked in the motor trade we'd have cars on the forecourt that would last a fair few months without being moved. Even those with dead batteries would be fine 9 times out of 10 after just charging the battery up. Or just disconnect the positive wire and walk away.

For flat spots on tyres, they really don't exist with modern tyres. You might notice a flat spot after a few months of not moving a car but they will work themselves out after a few miles on the road. "

An interesting post, in a nutshell the word “ motor trade” sums a few things up. Most owners are looking for long term reliability following this period, “ motor traders” maybe want reliability to last until you are out of sight, then sell you new tyres and battery a month later. A battery is wholly a chemical reaction in a plastic box, inactivity will do it no good. Tyres WILL suffer from static positioning if left for long periods, the steel in the reinforcing will settle. Obviously the whole idea of forums is everyone can input their opinion, and some will base theirs on hearsay, and others on experience, like say for example mothballing 50 year old Green Goddess fire engines in long term storage ready for use.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

Thanks everyone, lots of interesting advice! I know absolutely nothing about cars so some of this was really useful! I think I'm going to check with my insurance whether they can downgrade me for a few months so it's less expensive and then keep using my car for supermarket/pharmacy trips

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By *r Rubba LoverMan
over a year ago

Bristol

A short 30 min drive once a week is counted as maintenance. Keeps what should move moving. Stops brakes from seizing etc.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We have a small car just for town runs and the battery has died on that already from the lack of use. Having the use the big car for town wasn’t ideal. Greta Thunberg will be furious

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By *he fab twoCouple
over a year ago

brentwood


"We have a small car just for town runs and the battery has died on that already from the lack of use. Having the use the big car for town wasn’t ideal. Greta Thunberg will be furious "

Fuck Greta bigger the better we all need v8s

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By *uttyjonnMan
over a year ago

SEA

When you eventually drive again, go straight to the garage and put some air in your tyres. Mine were very low yesterday after not driving for a month

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By *moothdickMan
over a year ago

stoke


"Sorry if this is a stupid question, but would my car engine/battery be impacted in some way if I don't drive it for the next three months or however long this lasts? If so, does anyone have tips on how to maintain car health? "

Babe, give it run around the m25 once a week and start it up everyday, run it for about 10 minutes keeping everything electric turned off

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Sorry if this is a stupid question, but would my car engine/battery be impacted in some way if I don't drive it for the next three months or however long this lasts? If so, does anyone have tips on how to maintain car health? "

I was in same situation, insurance expiring.

Spoke to insurers, f&t insurance was actually more expensive for me. Motor not worth much, so I’ve left it uninsured.

I’ve put it up on axle stands as I happened to have some, but columns of bricks and a bit wood on top would same job. This let’s me take the handbrake off so it doesn’t seize, it’s a bit harder to steal and the weight is off the tyres.

I’ve left the battery as is: it’s old anyway: factor in replacing it when working out if it’s worth the bother.

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