TIPS TO ENSURE THE CAR IS FIT FOR THE SCHOOL RUN, AFTER LOCKDOWN

Visual inspection

First, walk around the car and give it a visual inspection to ensure it hasn't received any dents or knocks, especially if it has been parked on the road. Check the wheel arches and underneath the car and bonnet to make sure no animals have nested there over the winter.

Checking fluids under the bonnet

It's important to check the oil, brake fluid and windscreen washer levels under the bonnet before you get back out on the roads. These can all be easily topped up at home if low.

Turning on the engine

Even if the car hasn't been used during the lockdown, the battery can still drain itself and it could be flat when you turn the ignition on for the first time. When you start the car, experts recommend letting the engine run for a while. For conventional petrol and diesel engines approximately 20 minutes of running time is recommended to restore the battery charge used on start up. For its hybrid vehicles, experts recommend running the engine for at least an hour once a week to keep the battery topped up.

Checking the brakes

As cars may not have been driven during lockdown or have only been used for ...