How to get back behind the wheel after a break

Driving is just like riding a bike; you never forget how, but after a bit of a break, you may be a little rusty. However, you don’t want that rustiness to lead to an unwelcome incident out on the road, which could cost you dearly.

It’s crucial that you’re prepared and have taken all the necessary steps to protect your safety and that of other road users after a break from behind the wheel. So, don’t just go jumping straight back in your classic car after a period of being off the road – doing so could even see you inadvertently breaking the law.

First, read our guide on how to get back behind the wheel safely, confidently and legally.

1. Check your paperwork

Before you even think about taking to the road, you need to check the legal stuff: classic car insurance, MOT and road tax.

If your classic car is 40 years old or more, chances are you will be able to seek Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and MOT exemption. VED exemption is fairly cut and dry: if your vehicle was built 40 or more years ago, it will be reclassified as ‘historic’ and you won’t have to pay for the privilege of putting your car on the road.

But before you assume your vehicle falls into the category of being MOT exempt, you need to check the fine print.

If you’ve carried out ‘substantial change’ to your classic over the years, you might not be able to opt out of the annual roadworthiness check.

Your best bet is to read the guidelines on substantial changes to ‘vehicles of historical interest’ (VHI) as provided by Gov.UK. Vehicles may not be MOT exempt if the following things have been drastically altered within the last 30 years:

• Chassis, including any sub-frames
• Axles and running gear, including the type of steering or suspension
• Engines, such as changes to the number of cylinders present.

It’s important to be fully compliant with the law so that you don’t end up committing an offence.

Any vehicle younger than 40 years old will need to have both an MOT and VED. Check your paperwork to see when they’re up for renewal and make any of the necessary arrangements.

Classic car insurance is required no matter how old your vehicle is. If you’ve had an extended break from driving, there’s a chance it will have lapsed. Speak to the team at Lancaster who will help you find classic car insurance which suits you and your individual driving needs.

2. Ready your classic for the road

If your classic hasn’t been on the road for a while, there’s a good chance it won’t even start when you try to turn the ignition – that is unless you’ve been making a point of turning the engine over for the time it’s been sitting dormant.

If you do need to jump start your classic, be sure to follow the correct procedure . In short, don’t immediately reach for the jump leads. But be prepared, you may have to replace the battery altogether.

When you bring a classic out of hibernation, you need to do much more than just ensure that it still starts.

Sweeping visual checks are a good place to start, observing for any signs of small animal activity like chew holes, food caches, or droppings.

Then it’s time for a closer inspection, getting down on your hands and knees looking for any signs of a leak and checking the tyres for loss of pressure and cracks that may have developed while it’s been sitting still.

You’ll also need to take a look under the bonnet to observe the hoses, belts, and gaskets. During periods of disuse, some of the rubber and plastic components can shrink and cease to do their jobs. Look for cracks, fluid seepage and other signs that components might have reached the end of their life.

It goes without saying that you should check the fluid levels for coolant, engine oil, brake fluid and transmission, as a matter of course. Remove any spider webs or mouse nests from the engine bay prior to starting the engine, to prevent them being sucked in and causing damage.

Once your car is up and running, look for leaks. Watch the temp gauge. Put your hand on the radiator hose to see if the thermostat is opening. Then carefully put the car in gear and check the brakes.

Finally, check everything else: the windscreen wipers, lights, turn signals… you know the rest. Leave nothing to chance or guesswork, and investigate anything which doesn’t look or feel right.

3. Make sure you’re medically fit to drive

No one likes to have to think of themselves as fallible, but we all are. And when it comes to driving, it’s important that you’re honest not only with yourself but with your doctor and the DVLA.

If your health becomes an issue, or you develop a condition that affects your driving, you must seek a professional opinion. The diagnosis will determine whether you need to inform the DVLA (and potentially your classic car insurance provider).

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you fail to tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result.

If you’re unclear on whether your condition needs to be declared, the government has a guide that will put you straight.

So, if your break in driving is due to a medical condition, don’t just assume you can get back behind the wheel once you feel better. If you’ve had to surrender your licence – which is mandatory in the event your doctor tells you to stop driving for three months or more – you’ll need to apply for it to be reinstated.

This section might seem superfluous if you are fit and healthy – but see it as a reminder to stay in tune with what your body is telling you and to speak to a doctor if you have any concerns.

4. Rebuild your confidence out on the road

Depending on the nature of your break from driving, a period of rebuilding your confidence behind the wheel might be necessary. For example, for some drivers, a nasty accident might have prompted them to take some time off the road, and getting back to it can be a daunting prospect.

A quarter of drivers who had taken a long break from driving cited a lack of confidence as the reason for doing so – second only to being priced out of motoring.

Sometimes, just having a family member or friend next to you in the passenger seat can provide the reassurance you need – especially if they are a confident driver themselves and can provide some timely reminders when they’re needed.

However, if your confidence has been shaken considerably, it’s a good idea to take a refresher course with a DVSA-approved instructor. You can guarantee that the instructor will have helped someone in a similar situation to you, and their guidance might prove just what you need to get back to enjoying driving.

PassMeFast is one such company which offers qualified drivers a number of different refresher course packages to choose from, depending on their confidence level. You can pick from five-hour, 10-hour and 15-hour courses.

If a refresher course seems excessive, you can rebuild your confidence just by taking it slowly in those first few drives back.

Don’t dive straight into an epic road trip in your classic car. Keep it local, and make sure you go in good conditions, when the roads are quiet, and don’t put any time pressure on yourself.

If the road allows, perform some manoeuvres, such as reversing, parallel parking, three-point turns and hill starts, and travel on a variety of roads including motorways and narrow country lanes.

But you don’t have to do it all on that first drive back – whenever you feel ready – what’s the rush?

5. Brush up on the Highway Code

It’s never a bad idea to re-read the Highway Code, especially after a period of time away from driving. The Code is regularly updated to capture the changes in legislation, technology and driving habits.

Here are some of the recent law changes which you need to be aware of:

Mobile phones

A loophole in the law which meant drivers were able to take photos or videos while behind the wheel without punishment has now been closed. The new rules state that drivers could face a fine of up to £200 and six penalty points for just holding a phone from now on.

Clean Air Zones

Plans for London’s ULEZ (ultra-low emission zone) system to be rolled out across more of the city’s boroughs will start later this year. This will mean millions more motorists will have to pay an additional daily charge of £12.50.

Away from London, Bath and Birmingham will also introduce Clean Air Zone charges in 2021 – the first UK cities outside of London to do so.

Brexit changes

British drivers travelling to the EU this year will need a car insurance green card to prove they have a valid policy in place. If driving in the EU, motorists must have a paper copy of this document and their vehicle’s V5C logbook with them at all times.

Green number plates

Green number plates are now available for drivers of electric and zero-emission vehicles. The government has suggested that owners of full-electric vehicles could benefit from perks including cheaper parking and access to special zero-emission zones.

End of MOT extension

During the first lockdown, the government announced a six-month MOT extension between 31st March and 31st July. These test extensions ended on 31st January 2021. From now on, drivers who do not have a valid MOT certificate could face a fine of up to £1,000.

Smart motorways

Smart motorways are also a relatively new concept which may have been introduced while you were taking a break from driving. Brought in to increase capacity and reduce congestion on particularly busy sections of motorway, smart motorways use traffic management methods such as variable speed limits to control the flow of traffic. When driving on smart motorways, ensure you’re paying attention to the overhead gantries which will provide instruction. A red ‘X’ signals that you must exit the lane/s as soon as possible.

Potential pavement parking ban

It’s already illegal to park on the pavement in Scotland, as it is in London, but the UK government is now consulting on introducing a nationwide ban on pavement parking. The argument is that it forces vulnerable pedestrians on the road – so even if pavement parking is not yet illegal where you are, consider what it might mean for others before doing so.

Protect your investment with classic car insurance

Driving is something to be enjoyed – particularly if you’re a classic car owner – but it pays to take precautions, especially if you’re coming back to the road after a hiatus. Classic car insurance provides a level of protection in case you should run into any issues.

Lancaster Insurance is trusted by classic car owners all over the UK, providing cover for over 96,000 classic and retro vehicles – even ones that are hard to insure. Whether you’ve got an MG, Audi, Lancia, Lotus or anything in between, we can find competitive insurance that will help you enjoy your classic to the full.

Like you, the team at Lancaster is passionate about classic cars and we know the kinds of benefits classic owners appreciate, including discounts for club members and limited mileage. We can also offer two-year agreed valuations, historic rally cover, salvage retention and 90 days protection when you’re travelling in the EU.

Any claims will be dealt with as quickly as possible by our 24-hour, UK-based call centre so you can get back on the road with the minimum of fuss.

Get a quote for classic car insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.