Car not being used.

[SMP]

I have a Volkswagen Toran 1.9 TDi, it is 3 months old (59 reg). The car has not been driven for 6 weeks as i have broken my shoulder. Should i be starting it occasionally? Hubby says no, but other people have said i should. It is a motability vehicle and i am the only one on the insurance so cannot get anyone to take it out for a run for me. It is likely to be a few more weeks before i can drive it.
TIA.

[Iggle Piggle]

A car as new as that should be fine to leave for a few weeks without bother. For peace of mind you could start it and let it run until up to temperature (maybe 20 minutes or so would be ok) but beware of security whilst doing this, a new vehicle left running is very tempting...

[Toureman]

As the battery is nearly new it will hold it's charge for a long time, if you started it and let it run for 20 minutes that would not be enough to charge the battery up to the level it was before you started it .

Also condensation would gather in the engine and exhaust pipes.

You must have a friend who is insured to drive their car, ask if he/she is insured to drive a car not belonging to them, most comprehensive insurance policies do provide that sort of cover.

If you have a friend like that he/she could take you for a drive of 30 miles or so every 6 weeks or so that would free everything up in the car.

[SMP]

Thanks for the advice.
Toureman, because the car is a motability vehicle it can only been driven by someone on the insurance arranged by Motability. If i got a friend to drive it on their policy the car would not be covered.

[StevieBB]

It'll be fine, guess how long they stay on the garage forecourt before someone buys one and takes it for a run?

[S_C]

Your only real issue with the car not being used for an extended period is the battery .
Even a new battery will only hold charge for a few weeks
" holding a decent charge with the alarm on ".
So if it is alarmed and most cars these days are i would suggest you start the car every couple of weeks and run the engine at approx 2000 rev's to give the battery power .
" at 2000 revs the alternator is outputing a decent amount of charge unlike at tickover which most people seem to do
" if you have no rev-meter on the dash to gage this listen to the engine while the choke is on and try to match that when the choke releases. 20 mins at this will put a decent amount of charge back in battery.

Alternatively if its low on fuel simply put your battery on charge overnight .
" remembering if it has opening caps on top of battery to open the caps and check fuid levels " should always be over the grates " .
also only charge in well ventilated area.
" if you take this option remember the radio code will need to be input same as if the battery had gone flat"

If the car is not alamed you will not need to do this as the car will be using no power.

hope this helps

[S_C]

P.S.
Your correct , the car cannot be driven by anyone unless prior agreement has been made with the motability people.
As your road tax is free and is classed as void if driven by an unauthorised person an offence would be commited if anyone unauthorised was to drive this vehicle.

[SMP]

Thanks S_C.
The car is not alarmed although I think it is immobilised when the engine is off. When you lock it the drivers door has a red flashing light on it.

[Toureman]

Your wrong !

The car can be driven by any insured driver as long as the person receiving the disabilty allowance is in the car.

[SMP]

No Touerman I checked with Royal Sun Alliance the car can only be driven by a person named on the Motability insurance.

[S_C]

a lot of people make the mistake of thinking of motability car as standard cars , however they are classed as lease / hire cars for the duration .

The ONLY people allowed to drive the car are the person it was intended for or their designated driver as the car is still the property of motability , Not its current keeper .

therefore noone but pre arranged drivers can drive these vehicles and the vehicle can only be used in conjuction with the person who the car is intended for.

Sorry people i dont want to upset anyone here but if you actualy check this out . anyone driving this vehicle would find they are not insured for reasons of " without concent of the Owner " .

[S_C]

designated driver = pre-arranged with motability .. sorry just making sure thats clear.

[Toureman]

I stand corrected, oop's

[S_C]

not a problem mate , always better to find out this way than the alternative .

[SMP]

Thanks everyone for your help. Used to moan about having to drive, being the only driver in the house but I have really missed it these past weeks.