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Tips For Storing Your Car During The COVID-19 Lockdown.

Storage Tips – COVID-19 & the motorist.

 The Irish government introduced severe measures to try and combat the spread of COVID-19, essentially putting the country into lockdown. For many people, this may mean that their car isn’t used for quite a while. The government’s guidelines state that you must only drive when it’s essential, such as shopping for food or medicine, or attending a medical appointment. The Gardaí now have the power to issue fines for non-essential travel, so some motorists may consider putting their car into temporary storage until the restrictions on travel are lifted.

If you are in this category, here are the things you should do to prepare a car before it goes into storage.

Clean and polish the car;

It may seem a little strange to spend time washing & polishing your car only to hide it away for several months, but leaving dirt, mud, moisture or road salt on your car can lead to corrosion. Applying a good car polish to your car (after washing & drying it) will provide a protective coating to the paintwork.

Top up fuel, antifreeze and other fluids;

Condensation can build up in a fuel tank, so it is recommended to fill the tank before the car is stored. Adding a fuel preservative is also a good idea if your car won’t be used for a long time. Top up the antifreeze too, and then run the engine for a few minutes to make sure the new fluids are circulated. Also recommended is to change the oil, plus the oil and air filters. If you deem it necessary, WD-40 can be sprayed on unpainted metal underneath your car to prevent rust.

Inflate your tyres;

Make sure your tyres are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommendations before you store your car. If you can, you should raise the car off the ground if it’s going to be off the road for a long time, to prevent flat spots on the tyres. However, this is recommended only if your car will be stored inside, as it could be an easy target for alloy wheel thieves if it’s on a driveway. Avoid the use of the handbrake for long-term car storage – particularly for older cars. The handbrake may fuse the brake pads to the discs, so it’s wise to invest in some tyre chocks instead.

Use a smart charger;

A smart charger will keep the battery topped up, so you won’t have to resort to jump leads when you want to drive the car again. It’s good advice to start the car every few weeks and run the engine for a few minutes, even if you’re not planning on going anywhere.

Use car storage covers;

Car covers keep dust, debris and small animals away from your car. You don’t want to find that your engine bay has become a wildlife sanctuary while the car was in storage. Just to be safe, stuff clean rags into areas where small creatures may nest, like the exhaust pipe and around the engine bay. However, make sure you remember to take them out before you start the car again. If you are storing the car outside, make sure the cover is waterproof and secure. Use a soft and stretchy cover instead of a tarpaulin, as the latter could cause paint damage. For inside storage, you should also ensure that the garage or workshop is well ventilated, and the use of a dehumidifier will stop moisture affecting your car.

Declare your car off-the-road in advance;

If you’re not going to be driving the car for a while, you should notify your local Motor Tax Office. To do this, you must complete a ‘Declaration of Non-Use of a Motor Vehicle Form’ (RF150), and submit it to your Motor Tax Office, or online at www.motortax.ie. The declaration of non-use must be made in the same month that your current motor tax disc expires. However, you cannot drive a car when you have declared it off the road, so it will need to be taxed again before taking it out on to the road.

Stay safe & well during the COVID-19 lockdown…and beyond.

 

 

 

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