Why You Shouldn’t Go Weeks Without Using Your Car, The Repair Bills Pile Up

If you’re storing or not driving your vehicle for several weeks, PennyGem’s Justin Kircher has some maintenance tips to avoid repair bills.

Transcript

00:00While you might think not driving your vehicle for a few weeks will save you money, well,

00:08you will save on gas, but leaving your ride to sit for too long could result in some maintenance

00:12costs.

00:13Cars.com recommends driving your car at least every two to three weeks.

00:16This will avoid flat-spotted tires from sitting too long in one place, or a dead battery.

00:21You may have heard some people say they'll idle a stored or spare car, but the site argues

00:25that doesn't help other components and suggests getting at least 10 miles in a few times a

00:29month.

00:30If you need to store your vehicle or stop driving for longer, the Allstate blog suggests

00:34filling it up before storage so the gas tank doesn't get a buildup of moisture.

00:38Because temperature changes can affect air pressure in the tires, Business Today suggests

00:42topping those off to the recommended levels, too.

00:45The site also recommends removing the battery and storing it in a cool, dry place away from

00:49sunlight.

00:50And to prevent rusting in the car, it suggests putting a dab of grease on the battery terminals

00:54and ends of the wires.

00:56One tip Cars.com has for when you're ready to crank it back up is to check belts and

01:00other visible wiring in case rodents were making a snack out of them.