Most are trying to stay home to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Although this is a great thing to practice, it is important to remember to take your car for a weekly drive. When many of us are working from home and cutting down on running our normal errands, driving your car is something easy to forget to do.
Benefits of Taking Your Car For a Weekly Drive
Driving your car for just 20 minutes a week will help keep it in the best state possible.
- Driving your car weekly is healthy for the battery. Car batteries need to continuously be recharged in order to keep running. A good amount of car batteries die due to underuse. Driving your car for as little as 15-20 minutes a week at normal speed will help keep your battery running.
- Have you ever noticed a car in your neighborhood that’s always in the same spot? It also probably has a few flat tires. When a car isn’t moved for a while tires start to create flat spots. If you take your car on a weekly drive you’re avoiding the possibility of flat spots forming in your tires.
- Rodents and insects often make themselves at home in and under your car. Damage from rodents can become significant, resulting in an expensive bill. Driving your car weekly will help eliminate this problem.
- Taking your car for a small drive will help keep all fluids circulating. It ensures that all parts including the transmission, engine, brakes, and more, stay well lubricated.
- It’s important to switch up your parking spot. Permeable surfaces like grass and dirt allow for moisture to get into the car’s undercarriage, resulting in rust. Parking under a tree puts means your car might get sap and bird feces on it. Both of these are extremely damaging to your car’s paint.
- We recommend leaving the parking brake off completely. But if you have to put it on be sure to drive your car from time to time. If a parking brake is left on for an extended period of time it can cause the brake pads and rotor to stick together.
- Lastly, getting out and driving your car is good for your mental health. Being stuck at home all day every day can take a toll on your mental health. Driving through scenic routes with the windows down will help clear your mind and give you a breath of fresh air.