Tips for getting your car back on the road after being locked out

Long-term parking of the car (at least one month) can greatly affect its condition. This is no doubt the case for many UK cars after the long period of Covid-19 lockdown. To make sure you and your car are safe when you start driving again, there are a few things you need to check on your car.

Check battery

Do you find it difficult to start your car or notice that it won't start at all after being parked for a long time? The battery may be dead. You can check the battery To make sure. If the battery is really low, read our article on How to charge a car battery. If your car still won't start despite recharging the battery, it may need to be replaced:

To prevent the situation from happening again, it is recommended to let the engine run for 15 minutes every two weeks.

dusty windshield

If your car has been parked indoors for a long time, there is a high risk that the windshield will be covered with dust. Before you get behind the wheel of a car and use the wipers, be sure to clean the windshield! If you don't, you risk scratching your windshield.

Check your tires

ALL your tires need to be checkedas they are very important for your safety. They wear out even if you don't use the car. The pressure can be bad, even if they remain stationary, the tire pressure will drop.

If the tires are under-inflated, this can lead to failure as the contact area with the road will be larger, resulting in more friction. This situation can lead to tire burst.

Check brake fluid and coolant

Make sure liquids such as brake fluid or coolant are at the correct level. If they are below the minimum mark, you can top up the fluid yourself or visit the garage to top it up.

Car needs airing

You may have kept your car doors closed for weeks. Before using the vehicle again, be sure to ventilate it by opening all windows and doors if you were unable to leave the windows partially open when the vehicle was parked. Indeed, it can cause condensation to form in your vehicle, and humid air can create bad odors as well as breathing discomfort.

Braking system

As soon as you get into the car, you should check that your braking system works as it should. First you can check the handbrake, then press the brake pedal. It is important that the brake pedal is not too hard.

If you want to make sure your car is in good condition feel free to check it out in the garage at autobutuler.co.uk.