Vehicle Maintenance

Due to the Government lockdown, many of us will not be driving our cars for a while, or if we are driving, only for a very small number of essential trips. Sadly, vehicles that are left parked up for a while can develop problems. With that in mind, we thought you might appreciate a few tips to help keep your car safe and legal during the lockdown.

Tyres & Brakes

When a car is left unused for a while the tyres can develop flat spots and the brake discs start to corrode. Eventually, the brakes can seize up which can only be fixed with the help of a mechanic. To help avoid this, roll your car back and forth a few meters once in a while.

Batteries

A car’s battery can drain even when it is switched off. This is because vehicles have many electrical items running in the background 24/7. Once a week, start the engine and let it run for around 15 minutes (rather than for just a few moments). Letting the engine run this long will circulate fuel and oil around the engine, give the battery time to improve its charge and it will also benefit the starter motor. If you have it, turn the air conditioning on as well. Running the air con will help maintain the quality of the seals and reduce the chances of any mold developing.

Keeping your car roadworthy

The lockdown does not remove the expectation that vehicle owners must keep their vehicles in a safe and roadworthy condition at all times. So just as you would normally, you will need to check that your car’s fluid levels are all at least at the minimum recommended levels such as the oil, screen-wash, brake fluid, and engine coolant. You will need to check that all of your lights work properly and that your tyres have no defects and are of the sufficient tread. When first setting off, try your breaks gently to ensure they’re working fine.

Parking the vehicle

If parking on the street, only do so in a safe place, use your hand break and if you are parking on a gradient, put the car in gear (if its a manual).

Repairs

Some garages are open but only for essential repairs. If you have doubts about your car’s roadworthiness you should get it checked by the experts as soon as you can.

Maintain your tax and insurance

Although car owners have been given a six-month MOT exemption, we will all need to pay our road tax and renew our motor insurance on time (unless you SORN the vehicle).

To submit a new claim, or get an update on an existing claim:

claims@motorwaydirect.co.uk.

For all other queries:

customerservice@motorwaydirect.co.uk


Motorway Direct offer a unique and flexible blend of product administration solutions. Our credentials place partners and customers at the heart of what we do by combining technical competence with effective processes and innovative technological solutions.

We differentiate ourselves through investment in support services such as IT development, Risk & Compliance, Finance and Training allowing us to deliver the complete range of services and ensuring that we satisfy all appropriate regulatory and compliance obligations.