There are steps you can take now at home to see your car through this period of disuse.'

1. Maintain the battery

'The best way to keep the car battery in good order is to use a mains-powered battery maintainer. If this isn't possible, start the engine once a week and allow it to run for 15 minutes to allow the battery to charge.

'The age of the battery, how the car has been used and the temperature all affect its performance. Most modern cars with a fairly healthy battery should last at least two weeks without needing to be started up, but if there's any doubt about the condition of the battery, start it once a week just to be safe.

'If you keep your car in a garage, remember to pull it out into the open first; don't run the engine inside a garage, and never leave your car unattended with the engine running.'

2. Release the brakes

'Sometimes when a car is parked up for an extended period with the parking brake on, the brakes can seize. To prevent this, release the parking brake and move the vehicle a short distance back and forth at the same time as running the engine.

'Don't leave the parking brake off unless the vehicle is on private land with the wheels securely chocked.'

3. Advice for Electric Vehicles (EVs)

'Electric and hybrid vehicles have 12-volt batteries, the same as conventional cars. However, they charge differently. Pressing the start button so the 'ready' light comes on will operate the charging system. Putting the car into 'ready' mode for 10 minutes once a week should keep the 12-volt battery topped up. Some electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles can maintain their 12-volt batteries if they're plugged in to the mains charger, so drivers should check their vehicle handbook for details.'

Source: AA