coronavirus

Many vehicles won’t have been used much since Christmas and most of those that have are likely to have only been used for short trips. While it’s tempting to put maintenance checks on hold, TyreSafe is advising drivers to check their vehicle’s tyres during lockdown to potentially save themselves money in the long run and reduce the risk of a tyre-related incident when they do return to the roads.

Halfords Autocentres will now collect and drop off your car for servicing and MOT bookings. The service is available within five miles of the 215 selected Autocentres – see full list below this article. Halfords is charging £19.99 for the service. The autocentre chain explained that customers must book the service over the phone and ensure their vehicle is parked in a suitable location.

The top ten factors that would make a driver buy an electric car include trusting the technology, saving money, convenient and quick charging, and being able to travel a long distance on a single charge. The survey in January by Opinium of 2000 UK drivers, commissioned by InsuretheGap, a leading supplier of GAP (Guaranteed Asset Protection), reveals, however, that over half (57 per cent) of drivers are still too daunted by the issues around electric vehicles to buy one (men 54 per cent and women 59 per cent). Older drivers are even more likely to feel this (over 55s, 62 per cent, and 18 – 34s, 50 per cent).

Another firm has explained the importance of checking your tyres before driving in relaxed COVID-19 restrictions. Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist urges drivers to make checks before getting out on the road. This is because tyres can be affected by the conditions in which they are kept while layed up.

Pirelli technicians have offered five tyre maintenance tips to help ensure safety and performance for those returning to driving after lockdown.

With more drivers getting in their cars again after the government began to ease lockdown restrictions, more people are likely to find battery issues. Idling vehicles increases considerable the chance of damage to car batteries. This is due to the car’s electrical systems and alarms draining the battery continually, as well as the natural loss in charge that occurs over time. As a result, significant numbers of batteries could require recharging or replacement as more of us drive after a long lay-up.

Cars, motorcycles and vans won’t need an MOT from 30 March 2020 for the next 12 months to allow essential travel during the lockdown. But “vehicles must be kept in a roadworthy condition, and garages will remain open for essential repair work”. And the government adds “drivers can be prosecuted if driving unsafe vehicles.”

With many in the UK on COVID-19 lockdown, motorists will question whether getting an MOT test counts as an "essential" reason to leave their home. The government has already issued advice that "lorries, buses and trailers" needing an MOT in the next three months will receive an automatic exemption, barring a few exceptional cases.

Kwik Fit says it is carefully monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak, with centres open for business as usual “where possible” at present. It stresses that the company’s “overriding priority” is the health and well-bring of its staff and customers.