13 things you should do to keep your car in good running condition while coronavirus lockdowns park it indefinitely, according to experts

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• Letting a car sit while under coronavirus lockdown — or any other time — can potentially cause hefty repair bills, but you can keep your vehicle in good condition by following a few key steps. 
• The main concern with letting a car sit in the short term is a dead battery — the best way to prevent that is to drive your car at least once every two weeks. 
• Driving regularly also prevents your tires from degrading, and it keeps all the moving parts in your car lubricated. 
• Getting your car moving at regular intervals helps in the short term, but some additional precautions may be in order if you'll be driving rarely for an extended period of time.
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Given the fact that there's a pandemic going on, you'd be forgiven if car maintenance isn't top of mind these days. However, since most of the US is on some form of lockdown — and most people's daily drivers are sitting for longer than usual — proper vehicle upkeep is far more important than it might seem. 

One of the best ways to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus is, of course, to stay at home and practice proper social distancing. But the longer your car sits, the more risk there is of causing permanent damage or an unwelcome repair bill. Fortunately, drivers can take a few simple steps to ensure their car stays in good running condition over the next weeks and months of coronavirus quarantine.

Business Insider spoke with experts to learn what drivers should watch out for when parking their cars for longer than usual — but, keep in mind, there's a whole host of additional precautions to take if you're planning to tuck a car away in long-term storage.

Larry Kosilla, the founder of car detailing company Ammo NYC, Ronald Montoya, senior consumer advice editor at Edmunds, and Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council, a nonprofit that educates drivers on automotive maintenance, all shared some tips and tricks for keeping a sitting car well maintained in the near term and in the long haul.

Here's what they had to say:

1. Keep the battery charged by driving your car once per week

Car batteries discharge over time, and the easiest way to prevent a dead battery is to drive your car at regular intervals.

But there's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how often to take your vehicle for a spin. Kosilla said it instead depends heavily on the age of your car, the condition of your battery, your local climate, and whether you're parked indoors or outdoors. 

For instance, a garaged, new car — with a brand-new battery, presumably — will fare better than an older car parked on the street. Keep in mind that batteries tend to drain faster in colder climates. 

All the experts Business Insider spoke with recommended starting a car once per week to prevent a dead battery. While idling your car may be better than nothing, actually driving your car is the best way to recharge a battery in a timely manner, even if it's just around the block a few times. 

2. Do the same to keep your car's moving parts lubricated

Driving a vehicle regularly not only keeps the battery charged, but also prevents the engine and other mechanicals from drying out. If a car sits for too long, oil starts to settle, fluids begin to separate, and seals can begin to dry out, which, according to Montoya, can cause damage to your vehicle. 

Taking your car out for a brief drive helps to keep fluids circulating and ensures all the moving parts — the transmission, brakes, and so on — stay well lubricated. That's one major reason that going out for a drive is superior to simply idling your car in the driveway. 

As for how often to drive your vehicle, Kosilla said once a week "is amazing, but once every two weeks is totally fine."

"When you get into three or four weeks [without driving], there's a whole host of things that can go wrong," Kosilla added. 

3. Driving also helps you avoid flat spots

Tires lose pressure over time, and if a car sits for too long, the weight of the vehicle can cause flat spots to develop where the rubber meets the road. Tires with flat spots may need to be tossed out and swapped for new ones, so car owners should do what they can to avoid that headache. 

Fortunately, a weekly driving schedule to keep your battery charged and components moving should also help avoid potential flat spots. 

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