As COVID-19 is expected to drag on for months, many people are spending more time at home and less time driving, but cars sitting idle are a recipe for battery and brake problems.

Lorne King, automotive service technician instructor at the College of the North Atlantic, offers some tips for people who will be driving their cars less often, or not at all.

“If somebody’s going to be using it once a week, or once every two weeks, I would recommend just make sure you get a nice drive in — maybe 10 or 15 minutes each time. So, instead of just starting in your driveway, and driving to the grocery store one minute away and coming back, maybe take a loop around the neighbourhood, make sure your car gets fully warmed up for 10 or 15 minutes.

“If you do a lot of starts and short drives, you tend to run your battery down. So, by driving it the extra 10 or 15 minutes around town you’ll give the alternator a chance to charge up the battery.”

King said this will ensure the battery lasts longer, and rust doesn’t build up on the brakes.

However, if a car will be parked for a month or two, King said, ideally, it should still be taken for a drive once a week.

If that’s not possible, he recommends checking to ensure the tire air pressure is OK, checking and topping up fluids, and installing a trickle charger on the battery. These can be purchased at places like Canadian Tire or Wal-Mart, he said, and will ensure the battery doesn’t die.

Vehicles that will be parked for six months or more require more pre-emptive maintenance before they’re stored, including topping up the gas, adding fuel stabilizer and changing the oil.