5 Things to Do to Make Sure Your Classic Car Is Ready For the Spring

Posted by oegema on Mar 15, 2021 in Personal Safety Tips

The warmer weather is coming, which means that you can take your classic car out of storage and hit the open road. Whether you prefer to use it for a leisurely drive or you like to take it to events and show it off, it’s important to make sure your classic car is ready before you take it out in the spring.

You’ve likely kept your classic car protected all winter, whether it’s in a heated garage, a storage unit, or under a heavy duty tarp. You do this because you love your classic car and want it to stay in good shape! To make sure that it is all ready before you take it out and show it off, you should do the following:

Check the weather forecast
Make sure the battery is charged
Do a thorough visual inspection
Check your fluid levels
Wash your car

Of course, you’ll also need to check with your auto insurance broker to make sure that your insurance is up to date.

Check the Weather Forecast

As soon as you get that first hint of spring, it may be tempting to take your classic car out of storage and get rolling with it. However, as all Canadians know, spring can be deceptive. You can get a few warm days, and then be plunged back into cold, snow, ice, and sleet again!

So, you need to check the long-term forecast and see when the weather’s going to be consistently warm before you take your classic car out of storage. In addition, it’s important that all the salt has been washed away from the roads, as salt can damage your car.

Make Sure the Battery Is Charged

In order for a battery to stay charged, it needs to stay active. This can be a problem, though, if you’ve put your classic car into storage for months. If you haven’t done so already, make sure your battery has a low amperage charging system attached to it; this will ensure that the battery maintains voltage on it, even when you’re not driving it.

If you haven’t done this, and you haven’t started your car up sporadically to make sure the battery works, you may need to arrange to have the battery charged or replaced, depending on whether it’s dead or just low.

Do a Thorough Visual Inspection

It’s important to ensure that all the essential parts of your car are working before you take it out on the road. Just because you haven’t been driving your car doesn’t mean there hasn’t been wear and tear on the parts. Check all of the following:

Your windshield wipers. Make sure they work properly
Tire pressure. Make sure they haven’t deflated or cracked.
The wiring. Mice or other rodents may have made your car their home over the winter and chewed on the wiring.
All your hoses and belts. Check to see that they haven’t cracked.
Your lights. Be certain that there are no issues with your turn signals, brake lights, or headlights.

Check Your Fluid Levels

Another essential part of getting your car ready for spring is to make sure that all fluid levels in your car are okay. You can do this yourself or have a professional do it, depending your comfort level:

Windshield wiper fluid
Power steering fluid
Brake fluid
Oil
Antifreeze
Coolant

Having all of these fluids at the proper levels is essential to ensuring that your classic car runs smoothly.

Wash Your Car

You’re almost ready to take out your car, but you need it to look its best! Washing your car isn’t just important to make it look good; dirt and grime that build up on your car can also cause issues with how well it functions. In addition, you should wax your car. Not only will it make your car look great, it will also help protect its finish.

How can Oegema, Nicholson & Associates help me with auto insurance for my classic car?

You love your classic car, and you’d be devastated if anything happened to it. That’s why it’s so important that you talk to an auto insurance broker to make sure that you’ve got the right insurance coverage for it. You’ll have peace of mind while driving it that you’re properly protected, and if anything does happen, you know you’ll be able to afford to get it repaired.

At Oegema, Nicholson & Associates we can shop around to make sure that you get the right price and the right auto insurance coverage for your classic car. By working with an auto insurance broker instead of just one insurance company at a time, you can not only save money on your auto insurance policy, but you can also save yourself a lot of time by not having to shop around.

Contact Oegema, Nicholson & Associates for Your Auto Insurance Needs

We pride ourselves on being an auto insurance broker that gets things right. We’ll work with you to customize your auto insurance to make sure it fits your needs for your classic car, whatever they may be. You can rest easy knowing that you have selected a great auto insurance broker to work with for your auto insurance policy!

To learn more about how an auto insurance broker in Ottawa can help you, call Oegema, Nicholson & Associates at 613-519-2030, or contact us online.

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