How should I maintain my car during the pandemic?

While auto experts have advised drivers to take their neglected vehicles out for a brief spin once a week to keep the battery charged during quarantine, there are a number of other things they can do to ensure it’s in working condition when it’s time to drive it regularly again.

Kristine D’Arbelles, senior manager of public affairs for the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), said that while motorists should be taking their vehicles out once a week to prevent the battery from dying and the tires from developing flat spots, they don’t need to go out for long drives.

They can also combine check-up with running other errands, such as buying groceries or picking up medications at the pharmacy. “While it’s important to keep our vehicle in good working order, safety should really be a priority,” she told CTVNews.ca during a telephone interview from Ottawa on Tuesday.

The last thing we want is a whole bunch of cars on the road again with the potential for collisions because then we would be taxing our health-care system, which is already under pressure with the pandemic right now.”