Do you have a few vehicles at your household, leaving one at the bottom of ride-choice list? If you have a car or truck that seldom gets driven, you might think it needs less maintenance. But the truth is, even a barely-driven car needs routine auto care. Continue below to review a basic car maintenance guide for rarely-driven vehicles, plus how to still make the best out of a car that has driven its last mile.

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How to Care for a Car You Hardly Ever Drive

It can certainly be easy to forget about a car that you hardly ever drive. But it is important to give all your vehicles the proper routine care they need. After all, vehicles are designed to be driven. When cars are not driven for long periods of time, they can experience internal corrosion and deterioration, such as dried out gaskets and seals, tire rot, AC mold growth, and much more. So, what can you do to prevent your hardly-driven car from suffering such damage? You will need to establish a routine maintenance plan specifically for cars that are stationary for long periods of time.

Here are some of the most important elements of routine car care to focus on when creating your vehicle’s routinely maintenance plan:

Fuel

Believe it or not, gasoline can expire and go bad. Old gasoline can have many negative effects on the performance and condition of your vehicle. Not only will it cause your car to not start, but it can also gum up internal parts like the fuel filter, fuel injectors, or carburetor. To extend the life of your gasoline, add a fuel stabilizer product to the tank.

Tires

Vehicles that are stationary for long periods of time, often experience problems with the tires. Not only do sitting tires suffer from air pressure loss, but tires can also develop flat spots and dry rot. To avoid this problem, regularly inspect the air pressure in your tires and inflate them as needed. It also helps to periodically drive your car, even if just around the block.

Battery

Sitting vehicles are notorious for losing battery power. To prevent battery discharge on a rarely-driven vehicle, use a set of jumper cables to periodically recharge the battery. You can also choose to keep a trickle charger on it or simply take it for a spin every once in a while. These practices should keep the battery juiced up.

Brakes

Car brakes will rest, whether you drive your vehicle or not. For this reason, it is important to inspect your car breaks regularly for any oxidation or corrosion. To prevent rusty car brakes on a car you really drive, regularly replace the brake pads as needed.

Paint

Although contrary to most people’s understanding, car paint will rust, peel, and fade if you do not regularly take care of it. Even if you don’t drive your car very often, it is important to periodically wash and wax it using quality automotive products, plus cover it with the proper size tarp.

Did you just discover that your rarely driven car won’t start up anymore? Are there repairs way too expensive and exceed its total value? Contact Benjamin’s Junk Cars at 317-218-7133 for free junk car removal in Indianapolis, Indiana. Not only will we tow your car away for free, but we will also pay you cash on the spot if you sell it to us!