Q&A: What motorists need to know during the UK lockdown
Coronavirus: What motorists need to know
Last updated 27th Mar 2020
We know how uncertain things are in the UK right now, and one of the topics on your mind may be what impact this has on driving and maintaining your vehicle.
Our friends at Parkers have pulled together a helpful Q&A to help answer your car questions.
How can I get an MOT if the UK is in lockdown?
The UK Government have announced that vehicle owners will be granted a six-month exemption from MOT testing from the 30th March. This will enable those who need to continue to travel to work or shop for necessities to be able to continue driving without visiting a garage - as long as the vehicle is in a good driving condition.
Vehicles must be kept in a roadworthy condition, and garages will remain open for essential repair work. Drivers can be prosecuted if driving unsafe vehicles.
What if I breakdown during my journey?
If you're following the advice that you can drive, but only if completely necessary, you will be covered by the major breakdown recovery companies. In a statement, the RAC has confirmed this by saying, 'We know many of our customers rely on their cars to get food or need to travel to work in critical jobs required to keep the country going. So, rest assured we’re still here for you. We’re also supporting emergency services vehicles, delivery vehicles and critical service providers that break down.'
Are petrol stations still in use during the lockdown?
Yes they are, and if there's any glimmer of light in this current situation, it's that the cost of fuel is reducing rapidly in light of falling demand and the global drop in the price of crude oil. We would check before travelling that the petrol station you're hoping to use is open, and that they're not operating reduced opening hours, though.
How to safely use petrol stations during the lockdown
Given that the virus can survive for up to 48 hours on a hard non-permeable surface, it's vitally important that you follow these important steps. When you arrive at the petrol station, grab a set of refuelling gloves by the pump (the sort you find by diesel pumps) and put them on. If there aren't any available then give the filler of your car and the pump a clean with hand wipes (we recommend carry these and a hand sanitiser in your car), and will up as normal.
When you've finished, sanitise your hands, and go in and pay, exercising careful distancing. If you can pay by contactless, this is preferable - and remember that when paying, Apple Pay doesn't have a £30 upper limit like your bank card does. Once you've paid, go to the petrol station's bathroom - if they have one and wash your hands thoroughly. When back in your car, sanitise your hands again.
How to clean and sanitise your car
Advice about Covid-19 is continuously evolving but here are some guidelines on how to keep your car sanitised.
- Wash your hands, and do no touch your face after contact with your car
- If you can wear disposable gloves then do so
- Give your car one good clean, then sanitise contact surfaces when other people have touched them, or you're concerned you may have contaminated them
- Many cars now have antimicrobial materials for steering wheels, seat fabrics and handles
- Water will not kill germs so use a disinfectant
- Let your car interior dry in sunlight if possible. Windows, sunroof or roof down - UV light isn't proven to kill Coronavirus COVID-19 specifically, but it is effective against many micro-organisms
- Most antibacterial cleaners are a form of isopropyl alcohol. 70% or less is safe for the majority of surfaces as a wipe - don't let products sit or sit or soak unless directed
- If you are concerned about passengers in your car, pay attention to their seatbelt, the seat or dashboard in front of them, inside of windows and surfaces they touch when getting into, or out of, the car
- Keep antibacterial gel in your car and paper towels/gloves for using at petrol pumps
Parkers advice for car cleaning
What to do if you can’t afford repayments on your car
Car manufacturers across the country have urged customers to contact them if they are struggling to make repayments on their vehicle due to the impact of the lockdown.
After the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a three-month payment holiday for mortgages, some car manufacturers are considering this form of financial relief for customers too. Parkers have more information on the advice from specific manufacturers.
How can I store my car if I'm not driving it during the lockdown?
The advice here is simple. If you can, connect a trickle charger to the battery (cheap and it will keep you topped up when it comes to starting it up), don't leave the handbrake on, pump the tyres up to 40psi, and make sure that the car is clean and all the fluids are topped up before it's left to stand.
Don't worry if you can't do all of these steps - and if you can't get to your car to check it's health yourself, it's worth getting a friend to start and run it up to temperature once a week, just to keep the engine in good health.
Visit Parkers for more car storage advice
How do I declare my vehicle SORN?
There's a page on the government website that you can do this on. All you need is the car's logbook, as there's a reference number on it that you will need to quote. It takes no more than five minutes and is a free service. It will also save you money as you're not paying road tax while it's registered off the road.
Do I still need insurance if my car is SORN?
It's not absolutely essential, but it's highly recommended that you keep it insured unless money is exceptionally tight. If it's insured, you're covered if any damage happens to the car while it's parked up. or you need to use it in an emergency.
How to get your car back up and running if it’s been SORN
If you’ve left your vehicle standing for a longer period of time than normal it’s worth carrying out some of these checks just to make sure everything works as it should. Parkers have pulled together a step-by-step list to follow.
Still got questions? Head over to Parkers to read the real drivers Q&A section.