In the last couple of years, people have been driving less. If you are suddenly a low-mileage driver, you may not know how to upkeep your vehicle. Does it need the same maintenance? Is there anything special you need to do? Keep reading, for we answer those questions and more in the rest of this article.
What is low-mileage driving?
Not driving a lot may seem like a very subjective concept. You may have heard the term low-mileage driver thrown around, but not know what it means. A low-mileage driver is someone who drives less than 7,500 miles per year.
Low-mileage is a term that often comes up in insurance contexts. Some insurance companies will offer premiums or benefits to low-mileage drivers. In this case, you will need to prove that you drive less than the threshold each year.
You don’t have to track your mileage to know that you are a low-mileage driver. If you are only driving your vehicle a couple of times a week, or every week or two, you do not drive your vehicle much. Most people who do not drive much do not need to commute. They may also tend to drive locally.
What maintenance do you need for a car you don’t drive much?
If you do not drive your vehicle much, some maintenance tasks will be more important than others. Here are the top things to have your local mechanic, like Ethan’s Honest Automotive in the Cache Valley, take care of if you are a low-mileage driver.
Battery
A big problem with cars that are not driven often is their battery. You may want to unplug the battery or invest in a battery tender if your car regularly sits for more than a few weeks at a time. Unplugging the battery or a battery tender will help keep the battery from discharging and eventually dying.
If you are noticing battery problems because your car has sat for too long, contact Ethan’s Honest Automotive.
Oil change
Even if you do not drive often, you still need to have your oil changed. Oil changes should occur at least every year for lightly driven vehicles.
Tire air pressure
Make sure to keep your tires full of air. Just because you are not driving your vehicle, that doesn’t mean the air can’t seep out of your tires. You don’t want to try driving on tires that do not have the correct amount of air pressure. If you struggle to measure your tire air pressure, bring your vehicle to Ethan’s, we can help you determine if your tires need air or not.
Preventative Maintenance
Preventative maintenance is also extremely important for vehicles you do not drive often. When you don’t drive much, it’s harder to catch the little things that can go wrong in your vehicle. To keep your vehicle running in top shape, make sure to bring it to Ethan’s for regular preventative maintenance appointments.
