Lockdown has become a normal (if regrettable) part of everyday life for the United Kingdom in its entirety. With lockdown restrictions comes the inevitability of spending more time than ever indoors and making very few journeys. 

Even when getting out and about has been permitted, many have had little reason to do so. Working from home, prohibited from mixing households and so on – just some of the reasons why the UK’s motorists have chalked up little to no mileage over the past year.

In which case, the importance of showing your car the TLC it needs while off the road cannot be overstated. Contrary to popular belief, a car that’s left to its own devices for weeks or months on end isn’t always capable of taking care of itself.

Instead, there are few things you can and should be doing to keep your car in good working order in the meantime. The most important examples of which are as follows:

1. Drive it on occasion to keep the battery charged

A car that sits inactive for too long will eventually result in a dead battery. Cars need to be run on a regular basis to keep the battery topped up, so be sure to give your car a quick run around the block a few times on occasion. Even just driving your car for 10 minutes or so every week will help ensure you don’t face the prospect of a flat battery.

2. Watch Tyre pressures

This is more to keep you safe when you do set out and about, but it is nonetheless important to be mindful of. There’s a chance your car’s tyre pressures will have decreased significantly after an extended period of sitting idle, which could prove problematic or even dangerous when you next hit the road. It’s therefore a good idea to keep an eye on your car’s tyre pressures and make adjustments where necessary.

3. Interior cleaning and airing

Keeping your car’s interior clean and sanitary while it’s out of use isn’t solely about keeping up appearances. It’s also important for maintaining a hygienic cabin and preventing the formation of mould, mildew and fungus. All of which could take a toll on your comfort and your health at a later date, if not prevented in the first place.

4. Use your brakes 

When running your car periodically to keep the battery charged, choose a route that includes a fair few stops and starts to give you the opportunity to use your brakes. Brake discs and pads are prone to deterioration when not used for long periods of time, so it’s good to keep them in use to prolong their lifespan.

5. Don’t forget your MOT 

Last but not least, don’t make the mistake of forgetting to renew your MOT before its expiry date and risk a fine of up to £2,500 in the process. If your MOT has expired, the only legal journey you can make is directly to a prebooked test. Even then, it is your responsibility to ensure your car is in a safe and roadworthy condition when transporting it to the MOT test centre.