Preparing your classic car or motorcycle properly for winter storage will get you off to a flying start in the spring of 2025, says leading breakdown provider Start Rescue.
Many of the most common reasons for a breakdown call-out can be avoided by following Start Rescue’s easy tips.
“Our award-winning Classic Car Breakdown Cover is always there just in case, but a little prep now will get your classic off to a reliably great start in 2025,” says Lee Puffett, Managing Director of Start Rescue.
A third (29.7%) of breakdown call-outs are due to a flat battery. Connecting your classic vehicle’s battery to a trickle charger or simply disconnecting it can prevent this. Other common call-out issues are the engine won’t start (14.4%) or a flat tyre (6.7%).
“Breakdown cover is included as an option in the FJ+ add-ons for Footman James insurance policies, but prevention is always better than cure,” said Katie Delamain-Blunt, Head of Marketing at Footman James. “This ‘stitch in time’ approach will help make sure your car is ready to go when you are.”
Effective classic vehicle storage includes using a fuel additive in the tank to protect the system, checking the tyre pressures are correct, the engine has the right coolant, lubricating all moving parts, leaving the gearbox in neutral and chocking the wheels so the handbrake can be left off to avoid it seizing.
It’s also good practice to give your classic a thorough wash and dry before storing it, and protect it from dust and scratches with a soft cover.
“None of these jobs takes long and they make it much quicker to ‘wake up’ your classic in the spring without the worry of a breakdown,” adds Lee Puffett.
Start Rescue has a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot, a five-star Defaqto* rating and has achieved Which? Recommended Provider status for six years running. Start Rescue has also been awarded best Breakdown Cover provider in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards 2024 (www.finder.com), scoring 4.9 out of 5 for overall satisfaction with a 94% recommendation rate.
In the What Car? Survey of Best Breakdown Cover, Start Rescue came top for best response time, reaching 77% of call-outs in 30 minutes to an hour and didn’t leave anyone waiting for more than two hours. Start Rescue also won best in the survey for performing temporary repairs that let people continue with their journeys.
Launched in 2009, Start Rescue is an integral part of the nation’s fourth largest breakdown and recovery service, Call Assist, which now has more than two million UK customers.
For further breakdown advice, please visit startrescue.co.uk.
