Vehicle Maintenance While Deployed

Before you deploy, you have a lot to consider and a lot of loose ends to tie up. One of the last things on your mind may be your car maintenance. Unfortunately, if you don’t take the proper steps to ensure your vehicle is cared for in your absence, you could return home to a car that no longer runs.

Vehicle maintenance during deployment can look different for different people. If you have friends or family living near your home and vehicle, having someone look after and occasionally drive your car may be easy. If not, you may need to pay for professional storage. 

Caring for your car during deployment may sound like a headache, but it doesn’t have to be. Maintaining your vehicle while deployed overseas may be a simple process. Whether you choose long-term car storage or plan to have people you know look after your car, you have several options for car maintenance while you’re deployed. 

Remember that insuring your vehicle while overseas is also important. If you don’t have proper insurance or want to find the best military auto insurance during deployment, compare quotes from several companies in your area to determine which offers the best option. 

Why do I need to focus on vehicle maintenance during deployment?

The most important reason to focus on vehicle maintenance during deployment is to avoid breakdown issues when you get home.

Many cars will not perform well if they’re left parked in one spot for weeks or months at a time. A regular maintenance schedule is important if you want to avoid issues with vehicles not running or breaking down soon after you start them. 

One of the easiest ways to avoid vehicle breakdowns once you return from deployment is to have friends or family members check on your car while you’re away. If someone is willing and able to spend a bit of time driving and checking your vehicle every week, it will likely do a lot better for you when you get home. 

Compare quotes from the top auto insurance companies and save!

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

How can I prepare my vehicle before I deploy?

Before you deploy, take your vehicle to a mechanic to have it inspected. If there are any issues with the car that are addressed before you go, try to take care of them.

Once the vehicle is inspected, checking the tires, battery, and fluid levels is a good idea. Note these aspects of your car so that whoever looks after it while you’re overseas can compare your car’s tire pressure via a tire gauge and fluid levels. 

If no one is regularly driving your vehicle while you’re on deployment, you can unplug your battery to ensure it doesn’t drain. You can also set up a car maintenance schedule for friends or family members to utilize when checking your vehicle. 

Research deployments and auto insurance options to determine whether you have the best coverage before you leave. Doing so could help you save money during your deployment. 

What is required for maintaining your vehicle while deployed overseas?

If you grew up knowing how to maintain cars, it might seem obvious to you that cars are not meant to sit for long periods. However, if a car is parked long term and isn’t driven regularly, the fluids inside can lose their potency, and rust and corrosion will start to take their toll on the engine.

The average deployment can be anywhere from six to seven months, which is plenty of time for these forces to damage your car. You can ensure your car is okay if you enlist the help of others to look after it while you’re deployed. If you don’t have someone maintain your vehicle while you’re overseas, there’s a good chance it won’t work properly when you return. 

Remember that you have to pay auto insurance while deployed, so take time to find a company you like that will work with you while you’re out of the country. 

Common Vehicle Problems During Deployment

Some issues are more common than others regarding vehicles during deployment. Some of the more common problems to have when you return include:

• Drained car battery
• Low fluid levels
• Low tire pressure
• Bald spots on tires
• Damage from debris

To avoid these issues, enlist someone’s help to regularly assess your vehicle’s fluid levels, start your car to ensure the battery works, and drive the car so the tires don’t develop bald spots. Additionally, keep your car covered if at all possible to avoid damage from falling debris. 

Compare quotes from the top auto insurance companies and save!

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Is vehicle maintenance safe? 

While vehicle maintenance is a safe practice, there are things you can do to maintain a level of safety when looking after a vehicle. 

Always wear gloves and goggles when checking vehicle fluids. Additionally, be careful when you unplug, plug in, or jump-start a car battery. In most cases, vehicle maintenance is perfectly safe as long as you wear appropriate clothing and safety equipment and pay attention to the task. 

What’s the best way to focus on car maintenance when you’re deployed?

If you’re looking after a vehicle while someone is deployed, following a set checklist is the best way to do so. When you follow a checklist, you know what to focus on and what to do to care for the vehicle.

Proper vehicle maintenance during deployment includes:

• Start/idle the car at least once a week.
• Drive the vehicle at least once a month.
• Check the fluids regularly.
• Check tire pressure regularly.
• Unplug the battery while the car is not in use.
• Keep the car away from elements with a cover or in covered storage.
• Maintain auto insurance on the vehicle.

Maintaining auto insurance on your vehicle is important even when you’re overseas. Otherwise, you could have a coverage gap, and insurance companies may not want to cover you or your vehicle in the future. 

Vehicle Maintenance During Deployment: The Bottom Line

If you’re on deployment, you must find someone to look after your vehicle while you’re gone. In addition, regular vehicle maintenance is important to ensure your car works properly when you return, whether you plan to sell your car while deployed overseas or keep it for when you get home. 

To prepare your car for deployment, you can pay to store your vehicle, though it could get expensive if you’re gone for a while. Still, you’ll need someone to start your car, drive your car, and check the car’s tire pressure and fluid levels regularly.

The easiest way to ensure your car is properly cared for when you’re on deployment is to enlist the help of friends and family members. You can prepare a checklist so they know what needs to be done and how to keep your car running smoothly until you return. 

Compare quotes from the top auto insurance companies and save!

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption