Every festive season, millions of cars sit parked for days while their owners travel home. And in the weeks that follow, workshops fill up with chewed wiring and dead batteries. A car standing still is far more vulnerable than one being driven — so before you lock up and leave, run through this quick checklist.
1. Park clean and smart
Clear food, wrappers and leaves from the cabin and engine bay, and park on dry, higher ground away from garbage, drains and bushes.
2. Set up a rat deterrent
This is the step almost everyone forgets. A quiet, warm engine bay left for days is exactly what a rat is looking for. A deterrent running in the bay stops it becoming a nest while you are gone.
3. Inflate the tyres
Correct pressure reduces the flat spots that can form when a car rests on the same patch of rubber for a week.
4. Leave fuel in the tank
A reasonably full tank leaves less room for condensation to form inside.
5. Tend the battery for longer trips
A week is usually fine, but for anything longer, disconnect the battery or use a trickle charger so you are not greeted by a dead car.
6. Do a quick walk-around when you return
Before starting up, glance under the bonnet for droppings or nesting material, so a small visitor does not become a big surprise on the road.
For the deterrent in step 2, the EchoRepel Car Rat Repellent runs on its own while the car is parked — so you come back from the break to a car that starts, not a repair bill. See also what happens to your car when it sits parked for a week.