How to Take Care of Your Car During COVID-19

COVID-19 has put many aspects of our lives on hold as we work to establish a “new normal.” Working from home, avoiding public places, and minimizing outings might mean that you do not have any reason to drive your car. If you fall into this category, it is important that you know how to take care of your car, even when it is sitting in the driveway.

Vehicles were built to be driven, so there are certain precautions that should be taken if the car is not going to be used as frequently as anticipated. Leaving your car un-driven for too long (or only driving it very minimal distances) can threaten the safety of your vehicle in the future when you go to drive it regularly. Here are a few things you should be aware of when abstaining from driving your car:

• Brake rotors can rust. Additionally, it is not a good idea to leave the parking brake on for an extended period of time, because the brakes can get stuck to the calibers
• Flat spots can develop on the tires. Flat spots develop when a car sits in the same position for too long, causing the rubber in that area to flatten. When this happens, you will most likely experience a bumpier ride and may have to replace your tires sooner than you would have liked. Low tire pressure can also contribute to flat spots, so make sure that you regularly check your tires and make sure the pressure is up to the vehicle’s standards.
• Car battery can die. If you do not plan on driving your car for an extended period of time, you can always unplug the battery to avoid having it die when you do start your car after a while.

These are the main issues to be aware of when letting your car sit for too long. However, Wrench has put together a list of advice and tools to help you keep your car in great shape, even if it is not being driven regularly. While some routine maintenance can be postponed until when you are driving more, especially services related to total miles driven, this does not mean you can avoid maintenance altogether. Make sure you schedule an appointment with a Wrench mobile technician to stay up-to-date on your car’s maintenance plan. Here are some other precautionary actions you can take:

• Drive your car at least once a week. This is the best way to ensure that your car stays safe and drivable. A thirty minute drive should do the trick, to keep the battery healthy and avoid flat spots on the tires. This will also keep the fluids circulating and distributing properly.
• Do a walk-around inspection every couple of weeks. Pests or other unwanted creatures could have found a new hang out spot, so check under the hood and around the tires to make sure nothing has been chewed on. Avoid leaving any food in the car or anything that critters might be interested in, or think about moving the car into the garage if you have one.
• Keep your car covered, or wash it regularly. It is always a good idea to park your car under some sort of cover if it is going to be left alone for an extended period of time, because it could be victim to sap, dust, bird droppings, or other unwanted materials. If you do not keep your car covered, wash it regularly to protect the paint job. You may have more time on your hands as a result of the pandemic, giving you the perfect opportunity to shower your car with some extra love. Wash it every so often to avoid the build up of debris on the outer surface.
• Always keep the tank full of gas. It is never a good idea to have your car constantly running on low fuel, but even more important to have a full tank if the car is going to be stationary for a while, because this can help prevent moisture build up.
• Make sure tires are inflated. Properly inflated tires are critical when you start driving your car again, and can also help you avoid flat spots, so pay attention to the air levels in your tires even when the car is not being driven.
• Do not put off safety-related services! While we mentioned that it may be okay to postpone some driving-related maintenance, there are some repairs that must be done before you get back on the road. This includes brakes and steering issues or transmission problems, or anything else that may jeopardize your ability to drive properly. If your car shows any signs of these issues, be sure to schedule an appointment with a Wrench mobile technician today, because you should not even be driving to the grocery store if your safety is at risk. Your safety is our top priority, which is why we have implemented COVID-19 related measures to avoid any contamination.

If you are going to be driving your car, you probably have somewhere important to go, and therefore your car should be well taken care of. Make sure to stay up to date with your car’s maintenance plan and schedule an appointment with a Wrench mobile technician when you are in need of a repair. Whether you are driving your car or not, it deserves to be well taken care of, so educate yourself and then use these Wrench tips to keep your car in the best shape possible! If you have further questions about our services or using Wrench during a global pandemic, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email, hello@wrench.com, or by phone, at 844-997-3624.