Many motorists will have gone from driving their car seven days a week to only occasionally getting behind the wheel during the coronavirus lockdown.
So it's important to ensure a vehicle is roadworthy before travel curbs are lifted and drivers eventually hit the road.
Experts at www.billplant.co.uk have compiled a checklist of essential guidelines to check if a vehicle is ready for the road.
Here are the top tips.
Avoid a flat battery
It's not necessary to go for a long drive to prevent a flat battery.
Just start the car every few days, no less than once a week, and leave it on for a few minutes. If you can, drive it around the block or to the local store when you’re doing your essential shopping.
Check your tyres
As well as checking the amount of tread left on tyres (no less than the legal limit of 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre), you also want to check the air pressure.
A quick way to check the tyre tread depth is to get a 20p coin and insert it into the grooves on your tyres. Your tyres are of legal limit if you can’t see the outer band of the coin.
You will need access to a tyre pressure gauge to check the air pressure, but under and over inflated tyres can both have negative consequences.
Under inflated tyres will wear out quicker and reduce fuel efficiency, while over inflated tyres will provide less traction on the road and offer poorer braking distances.
Check oil level
It’s important that the oil level is sufficient, to keep critical parts of your engine lubricated, clean, cool and protected, and prevent it from seizing up.
Fill up the screen wash
It’s important to have a good amount of screen wash to ensure that you always have a good level of visibility of the road, and need to clear any dirt or debris off the windscreen.
Keep lights are in good working order
Check all headlights, taillights, fog lights, brake lights, signal lights and hazard lights.
Determine fuel level
Road users are advised to keep the fuel tank at least one quarter filled.
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