02/04/2020
We remain open for business to help keep key workers on the road.
Following the revised guidance issued by the government we remain OPEN we'd like to emphasise, particularly for customers who still intend on visiting us, that the safety of our customers and team members are our highest priority and we will be enforcing the following:
• Ensure a distance of two meters between customers and staff.
• Customers who enter the premises may only do so in small groups, to ensure that spaces are not crowded.
• Queue control if required will be enforced outside of the premises.
We have been following the expert advice laid out by the government and Public Health England on how businesses should prepare, react and operate in relation to any further spread of the virus. This advice includes continuing to promote good hygiene across all aspects of daily working practices and the awareness of what steps should be taken if our team members believe they’re experiencing any symptoms. We will keep this page updated as and when necessary.
Out of respect for our team and fellow customers, we ask everyone to follow the same advice, which can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance
We will await and respond appropriately to further announcements from the government.
Please stay safe & sensible.
Here is some advise:
How to maintain your car when not driving regularly
With the country in the middle of the coronavirus (COVID-19), you may not be able to get out and about in the car as much as you’re used to. Many will be wondering what to do with your car if you aren’t driving it on a regular basis.
What to do with your car, and how to maintain it, depends on how long you’re leaving your car idle. For example, you may be using it to top up on food and supplies or driving it if you work in an essential job or industry. But for many, you may not need or want to use your car for a lot longer, maybe even months.
Remember that even if you’re not using it, you’ll still have to insure your car unless you make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). You can only make a SORN if the car’s being kept off the road.
Here are some commonly asked questions and answers:
How long can you leave a car without starting?
How long you leave a car without starting can depend on the condition of your car's 12-volt battery. Most modern cars with a fairly healthy battery should last at least 2 weeks, without needing to be started up to re-charge the battery. If there’s any doubt about the condition of the battery, start it once a week just to be safe.
What happens if you don’t drive a car for a long time?
Even if you haven't driven for a while your car should be fine. If it's been regularly started and run for 15-minute periods, the battery should work. The tyre pressures should be checked and adjusted before driving. If the vehicle is left for a large amount of time inflate the tyre 15p.s.i. above manufactures recommended pressures to help prevent flat spots adjust the pressures back before driving The brakes may have some corrosion on them, especially if the car was wet when it was parked up. Drive carefully and test the brakes as soon as possible. Make sure you use your brakes for the first few miles to clean off any corrosion.
Is it bad to leave a car unused?
Cars are made to be driven but with good care it should be fine. If it's left unused follow our guidelines.
Can I leave my car parked for a month?
Yes, but it's best to follow these guidelines to keep the car ready to drive.
How long can a car sit before the battery dies?
As we've said above, there are many factors that can affect this. The age of the battery, how the car's been used and the temperature all affect the performance of a battery. If you follow our guidelines your battery shouldn’t let you down.
What if my MOT expires?
The government has announced a 6-month exemption from the MOT test, although your car must be kept in a roadworthy condition. If you have any concerns about the roadworthiness and safety of your vehicle you should have this investigated.
Here are a few simple tips on how to keep your car lasting longer and ready to use when you need it again.
Leaving your car parked for up to a month
Fuel – Before parking your car up for a long period, it’s a good idea to top up with fuel. Not only will this help with other measures, but a full tank doesn't attract condensation, which could cause issues if allowed to build up over time.
Battery maintenance – If you can, connect your car's battery to a mains-powered battery maintainer. If you can't, start the engine once a week and allow it to run for about 15 minutes. This will re-charge the battery and help keep the engine in good condition. It’s important to allow the engine to run for this long so the battery can charge properly. In the case of petrol engine cars, it also helps to prevent engines from flooding with fuel. Never leave your car unattended with the engine running.
Brakes – Sometimes when a car's parked up for a long period with the parking brake on, the brakes can seize. To prevent this it's good practice to release the parking brake and move the vehicle a short distance back and forth, at the same time as running the engine. You shouldn’t leave the parking brake off unless the vehicle is on private land with the wheels securely chocked.
Electric vehicles – EVs and hybrid vehicles have 12-volt batteries, the same as conventional cars. However, they charge differently. Pressing the start button, so the ready light comes on, will operate the charging system. Doing this for 10 minutes once a week should keep the 12-volt battery topped up. Some electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles can maintain their 12-volt batteries if they’re plugged in to the mains charger. Check your vehicle handbook for details on this.
Garages – Don’t run a car engine inside a household garage as the exhaust fumes can be toxic. If you keep your car in a garage, pull it out onto the drive to run the engine to charge the battery.
Tyres – Before driving the car after a long period parked up, check all of the tyre pressures and inflate if needed.
How to store a car for 3 months
As well as the 'one month' points above:
Clean and polish the car.
Make sure the car’s dry if you’re storing in a garage.
Consider a refund on your car tax by making a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
You may also be able to reduce your insurance cover to fire and theft only.
If the car's in a garage, make sure there's plenty of ventilation.
Over three months
As well as the one month and three month points:
Check your oil level and change if needed
Arrange for an 'oil and filter' service
Lubricate locks
Storing petrol and diesel
Petrol stays fresh in a sealed container for about a year but starts to degrade in as little as a month when exposed to the air.
Stored diesel should be OK for up to a year.
Diesel fuel specs change through the year – summer diesel will be much more susceptible to waxing in cold weather than winter diesel.
Condensation in the fuel tank is bad news and can lead to corrosion, water in the fuel and, in diesels, bacterial and fungal growth. Unless you can ensure a dry stable environment, it’s best to store your car with a full tank of fuel to reduce the space for water to condense.
Getting back on the road
Before you start a car you haven’t used for a long time:
Check that the MOT and car tax are still current.
Taxing the car will cancel any SORN.
If you need an MOT, you can only drive the car if it’s to a garage for a pre-booked MOT.
Check tyre pressures.
Check nothing’s nesting under the bonnet or has chewed through the pipes/hoses.
Check all fluid levels, before starting the engine.
Check the brakes, including the handbrake – they may have seized up if the car was left with the handbrake on. Try putting into gear and driving gently.
Arrange a full service once it’s running again if your car’s been standing for a long time.
