Looking after Your Car While Backpacking

By Gillian Boyd Published 25 March 2026

This blog contains general tips and things to consider about looking after your car while you backpack. For specific advice, contact your garage or car dealership.

One of the issues with being a silver backpacker, is that you have assets. When you own things, they also own you, because you have a responsibility to look after them and maintain them. Cars are designed to run. They are not designed to lie idle for long periods. We learnt this the hard way so here are my tips.

Looking after the car

Option 1: Get Someone to Drive the Car

Cars are designed to be driven regularly to keep everything running smoothly. If you are away for months, you could arrange for someone to drive your car but make sure they have appropriate insurance. Most car insurance policies only provide third party insurance for you to drive another vehicle, so consider carefully if you would rather they be a named driver on your car insurance policy. But remember, if they have an accident, then your policy is affected. This could result in the loss of your no claims discount or the premiums may rise as the result of a claim. Do you want to take this risk?

Option 2: Leave the Car with a Car Dealership or Garage

This will work if you have deep pockets or a very good relationship with your local garage, otherwise….

Option 3: Leave the Car Parked

Fill the Tank with Premium Petrol

If you choose to leave the car parked while you are away, then make sure the petrol tank is completely full, preferably with premium grade petrol. The higher the quality of petrol, then the less sediment when it degrades. By leaving the tank completely full, there is less oxygen to degrade the petrol which happens naturally over time. If the car runs on diesel, then leave the tank full.

Make Sure the Car Battery is Full

The most obvious issue with leaving a car stationary for months is the battery. The first time I went away for 2 months, my car started perfectly on my return. But after the second trip, the battery was flat and I had to get the Garage to jump start it. That was when I discovered my hybrid car had 2 batteries – an electric battery to store charge for running, and a regular one to start the engine. When the car did not start after my second trip which was a shorter absence, I bought a new regular battery and it has been fine ever since.

Connect a Battery Charger upon your Return

Fine in theory. But it didn’t work for me! Some cars alarms and other electrical systems within them start to operate as soon as they have sufficient charge, meaning that they discharge the battery as quickly as you charge it, leaving insufficient charge to start the car. You may be luckier.

Know How to Jump Start the Car

If the battery is depleted upon your return, then it may be possible to jump start the car. This needs a set of black and red jump start cables and a working car to attach them to. Check your car manual for exact location and attach the cables as per the instructions. Once the car engine is running, then drive the car for a minimum of 20 minutes to recharge the battery. Remember that heating, air con, radio and crawling in slow traffic will all deplete the car battery.

Consider a Trickle Charger

As the name suggests, a trickle charge recharges the battery a small amount at a time. There are models which can be left on continuously and they stop charging when the battery is full, so there is no damage by overcharging. We left a trickle charger on a car for 3 months successfully. This was only possible because the car was parked inside a garage with an electric socket.

Jump leads to start the car

Trickle charger to keep the battery fully charged

Modern Cars Deplete Batteries More

Modern cars run electronic system checks in the background even when the car is not running. As a consequence, they can drain a battery faster than an older car. This function can be disabled on some models so check with your manufacturer.

Consider the Weather

What temperature will the car be in while you are away? Colder weather depletes the battery faster. If possible, park the car in a garage to maintain more constant temperature and protect the car from the elements. It is also safer from theft.

Oil Degradation and Tyre Pressure

Oil and other lubricants degrade when the car is unused. The weight of the car can cause flat tyres and develop temporary deformations. So always best to find a friend, neighbour or relative to start the car and let it run for 5 mins and move it a small distance to redistribute the weight on the tyres. Not so easy if it’s locked away in the garage.

UK MOT, Road Tax and Car Insurance

If your car requires an MOT (a mandatory annual inspection in the UK for cars over 3 years old) and you can’t renew it before you leave and it runs out during your travels, don’t be worried. If your car is parked on private property (like a driveway or garage) then, so long as you have your MOT pre-booked for your return, you are permitted to drive the car to the garage for that appointment…. but nothing else.

If the car is left on a public road, then you can SORN (make a Statutory Off Road Notification) the car. That also protects you if your Road Tax expires while away for a prolonged period. Even on private property, unless the vehicle is SORN’d, you must have current Road Tax, so set up a direct debit to make sure it remains current.

Finally, make sure your car insurance is current for the duration of your travels, as your car is not protected from theft by SORNing the vehicle.

If you live outside the UK, please check your equivalent local regulations.

Clean the Car

Remove any drinks or snacks left in the car and make sure the car is clean to avoid any nasty surprises.

First Drive upon Return

After being stationary for a long period, the car may make strange noises when first driven. Drive carefully if the tyres and brakes have been in the same position, they can sound rusty or screechy like they need oiled. Give yourself plenty of time to brake gently, as the brakes may be significantly less effective at first. If the noises continue after the first drive, you may need to consult a Garage.

Final Thoughts

Remember, having assets should not prevent you from missing an adventure, it just means a little more preparation and planning first.