Vehicle Maintenance While Deployed: What to Know

If you are preparing for deployment, one of the last things on your mind is vehicle maintenance while deployed.

Luckily there are steps you can take to make sure your car is cared for and has basic veteran auto insurance coverage while you’re away.

You likely know how to maintain a car while you’re at home. Keep reading to learn more about how to care for your car while you’re deployed.

Or, if you already know all there is to know about vehicle maintenance while deployed, why not enter your ZIP code above. We will help you find affordable auto insurance whether you’re deployed or at home.

What vehicle maintenance is required while I’m deployed?

If you grew up with knowledge about how to maintain cars, it might seem obvious to you that cars are not meant to sit for long periods of time.

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.

According to USO.org, average deployment can be anywhere from six to seven months, which is plenty of time for these forces to damage your car.

Here’s a quick list of all the things that need to be done regularly to keep your car drive-ready:

• Start/idle the car at least once a week
• Go for drives at least once a month
• Check fluids regularly
• Check tire pressure
• Unplug the battery while the car is not in use
• Keep the car out of the elements with a cover or covered storage
• Maintain auto insurance

You need to make sure you maintain affordable auto insurance while you’re deployed to keep your car insured.

How often should I start my car in storage?

Ideally, you want to start your car once every week or once every two weeks while it’s in storage.

Unfortunately, while a car is in storage, you cannot regularly service it, which makes it a less-than-ideal option if you will be gone for a longer period of time. In the end, maintaining your vehicle while you’re deployed is easiest if you have friends or family to lean on while you’re away.

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How can I make sure my car is maintained while I’m deployed?

The easiest and most cost-effective way to maintain your car while you’re deployed is to have someone back home be in charge of that maintenance.

Having someone store, regularly drive, and perform maintenance on your vehicle is an easy and stress-free way to make sure that your car is drive-ready when you return.

Another option is placing your car in base parking. Deployed parking can be more cost-effective than paying for car storage, and it’s easy to gain access to your car once you return to base.

However, base parking does not include anyone caring for your vehicle. That means no fluid checks, tire checks, or regular driving.

Professional car storage is the third option. Car storage offers climate-controlled storage areas and 24/7 video surveillance, but it comes at a much higher cost than base parking.

There are many options available to store a car, but the only way to guarantee your vehicle is maintained while you’re depinsloyed is by having someone you trust to take care of it. If that’s not an option, it’s important to develop a plan ahead of time to ensure your car is in tip-top shape for when you return.

Now that you know more about vehicle maintenance while deployed, why not enter your ZIP code below to find affordable auto insurance rates in your area.

We’d love to help you maintain auto insurance coverage while you’re deployed at an affordable rate.

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