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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take the car out for a drive ...

33 replies

grabble · 02/04/2020 21:27

... once a week, so that the battery doesn't go flat?

I normally only use it for work, or for ferrying the kids to various activities, but of course now we're all staying home. If I don't take the car out for a short drive every now and again, then if/when I need it for an emergency it may not start!

OP posts:
JayAlfredPrufrock · 02/04/2020 21:28

Do you not need to drive to a shop?

EggysMom · 02/04/2020 21:29

You don't drive to the supermarket to buy your essentials then?

timetest · 02/04/2020 21:32

I’m just starting the engine up and letting it run for a few minutes every couple of days. I hope that that and a ten minute drive to the shops once a week, is enough

Original poster
grabble · 02/04/2020 21:33

You don't drive to the supermarket to buy your essentials then?
No, we live round the corner from two supermarkets.

OP posts:
Almostfifty · 02/04/2020 21:46

I went to the shops today for the first time for a week. It took me quite a while to start the car. I'll be starting it regularly from now on.

Katinski · 02/04/2020 22:07

A couple of years ago I went to stay with friends abroad for 10 weeks. My garage looked after my car, ran the engine every day. Took it out for a run a couple of times.IIRC there was an extra 15 miles on the clock when I got back.

MissConductUS · 02/04/2020 22:11

I think it's fine and a safe way to get out of the house too. I'm not within walking distance of anything. DC have been taking the car out to post letters and things like that that don't require face to face interaction and it's been good for their morale to get out.

Coffeenofilter · 02/04/2020 22:15

I've just said to my husband he's going to have to drive a long way round to get to our supermarket, which is in easy walking distance, in order to keep the car ticking over. I'm 8 months pregnant and not wanting to risk a flat battery when I go into labour. I'll be dammed if I'm going in a taxi with potential virus exposure!

I'd take the car to the supermarket the long way round if I were you, then at least you can do a big stock up and avoid trips out for a while.

ragged · 02/04/2020 22:31

I've driven to further away supermarkets or to start a walk 2 miles from home to keep the batteries from going flat.

Whattodo62 · 02/04/2020 22:37

My car battery died as I hadn't driven it for a week. I don't see any harm in taking it round the block a few times to keep it ticking over now.

WelcomeToShootingStars · 03/04/2020 06:00

Nobody's battery should be dying from not driving it for a week.

But just drive to the supermarket. Go the long way.

SpudsAreLife84 · 03/04/2020 06:28

Didn't you post this exact same message the other day? So many people told you it's not ok to go for pointless drives and if your car is relatively modern and well maintained, it can go weeks without being driven and the battery will be fine. I've left mine 6 weeks before when we've been on holiday and absolutely zero issues, DH is military and he didn't drive his for 4 months, again no issues.

Drive to another supermarket if it worries you, but don't go just for a drive. Local police are stopping people here to see where they are going and you'll be fined if you are caught out. I was asked yesterday on my way to work and had to show my work ID to show I was a key worker and needed to be out. Don't risk it.

Ferfooksake · 03/04/2020 06:32

spudsarelife84

I have to go to work but I’m not a key worker so there’s nothing they can do really. It’s not just key workers at work

MsChatterbox · 03/04/2020 06:36

Rac advice is to turn it on for 30 minutes a week (stationary on driveway) and also to move backwards and forwards a bit to stop brakes seizing up.

SpudsAreLife84 · 03/04/2020 06:38

I'm just telling you what happened here, they asked for work ID to check I "needed" to be out and about.

Original poster
grabble · 03/04/2020 06:53

Didn't you post this exact same message the other day?

Nope. You must be thinking of someone else.

I don't drive to the supermarket. Between my house and the park there are 2 supermarkets, a bakery an a butcher, and we're getting some things delivered too..There's a big push towards people supporting their local high street and independent retailers, and that's what we're doing. Our local shops are well stocked, and the queues are minimal.

OP posts:
snowybean · 03/04/2020 06:56

If you want to take your car out, I'd go for a slightly longer drive. Lots of short hops aren't very good for the battery (as my parents found out two days before Christmas...).

I might do the same; haven't used my car for a while.

EstuaryBird · 03/04/2020 07:03

We’ve got a hardwired dash cam and aren’t going anywhere by car. Since 12th March we’ve had 2 ‘battery critical’ messages and taken it for a 30 minute drive to charge it up a bit. I know this probably isn’t ‘allowed’ but I don’t want a dead battery if we have an emergency.

Elephantonascooter · 03/04/2020 07:04

My battery died last weekend because I hadn't used it for just over a week. The battery was on its way out though so I expected it.
I'm now doing my shopping at the shop which is about 15 mins each way as its larger and better stocked than the ones we have nearby. Also, it makes a nice change to sitting in or walking 200yards to the local shop

Nquartz · 03/04/2020 07:05

We've just been starting ours & running the engine for 5 mins, why do you need to actually move it?

Bonniegirlie · 03/04/2020 07:11

You need to start it up and give it a run of 10 miles or so once every couple of weeks at least. Otherwise it might not start, and/or the wheel bearings and brakes could seize up. Hubby gave this advice to my brother and mum who are both self isolating. I am doing their shopping once a week and the round trip to the supermarket and their homes is enough to keep our car ticking over, which is the only time it is being used. So we're killing two birds with one stone.

Reginabambina · 03/04/2020 07:16

I would imagine that comes under an essential journey. Obviously leaving your car to idle in order to charge up the battery is another option. While doing so is normally an offence, the wording of the regulation is open to doing so for necessary purposes. I have no idea whether there is any practical benefit is driving your car around as opposed to letting the engine run. Might be better for your lungs I suppose, sitting in an idling car can’t be good.

RobynSH · 03/04/2020 07:16

We have two cars so are making sure to alternate which one is taken out if we need to go somewhere.

Trying to sort it so the small one does things like if my parents need something small dropped to them.

And then using the bigger one for the weekly food shop.

Original poster
grabble · 03/04/2020 07:24

@Nquartz We've just been starting ours & running the engine for 5 mins, why do you need to actually move it?

It is the turning wheels which charge the battery. Running the engine without moving will just drain your battery, not charge it.

OP posts:
NotNegan · 03/04/2020 07:41

I live minutes from an Aldi and a Tesco yet I drove because I was buying a weeks worth of shopping.

I'm going out to the shop today and will drive.

It's killing me as I walk most places usually.