Lost my licence - How best to store my car?

[Wheeler88]

Hi,

Over the last couple of months I have had a few seizures. Last week I attended an appointment with a neurologist to which I was diagnosed with epilepsy and told I was no longer able to drive until I can go a year without having another seizure!

I was gutted by this news as I have recently bought a Civic Type R (54 plate) which is my pride and joy! I have only been able to drive her for about 8 weeks and now have no licence

As I saved up and waited for a great example of this car, I don't want to sell her. However, I have no idea how to store a car for a year +. Could you guys give any advice on how best to store a car for a long duration without it being driven? I want to prevent anything detrimental happening to my car.

If anybody also has epilepsy and drives, could you give me an insight into your experiences? I am 25 and love cars/driving so this news has really knocked me for 6. I feel like a huge part of me has been taken away especially as I am normally fit and well with no previous history of seizures.

Thanks in advance,

Ash

[roadman]

Wheeler88 said:

Hi,

Over the last couple of months I have had a few seizures. Last week I attended an appointment with a neurologist to which I was diagnosed with epilepsy and told I was no longer able to drive until I can go a year without having another seizure!

I was gutted by this news as I have recently bought a Civic Type R (54 plate) which is my pride and joy! I have only been able to drive her for about 8 weeks and now have no licence

As I saved up and waited for a great example of this car, I don't want to sell her. However, I have no idea how to store a car for a year +. Could you guys give any advice on how best to store a car for a long duration without it being driven? I want to prevent anything detrimental happening to my car.

If anybody also has epilepsy and drives, could you give me an insight into your experiences? I am 25 and love cars/driving so this news has really knocked me for 6. I feel like a huge part of me has been taken away especially as I am normally fit and well with no previous history of seizures.

Thanks in advance,

Ash

Hi Ash

Sorry to hear about your license,im 27 and also had my licence revoked on Friday due to medical reasons,, not epilepsy though. And its also knocked me for 6. Unfortunately I don't have any advice regarding storing a car, although the rest of PH will help with this. I have decided to sell both my Corsa and 350z as im planning of buying another car towards the end of the year.

I was properly gutted so know what your feeling, in this situation i guess the only thing to do is look forward. its only 12 months and hopefully the neurologist will shed some light on the situation for you and gets you the best advice possible. I have a friend who owned a R34 with almost exactly the same thing you did, he just spent the year working on his car and before he knew it he was back up and driving.

[eybic]

My Brother was diagnosed with epilepsy a few years ago and at the beginning it was really frustrating for him as he like you was told he needed to be seizure free for 12 months before he could drive. It took a while for his medication to be right so I think in total he was without a license for about 18 months which was understandably gutting for him. One plus could be that you will be able to do any bits to the car you wanted to as you will probably be saving money until you get your license back.

Nathan

[zbc]

I was 22 when I had my first fit and lost my licence. Back then it was 2 years without a fit before you could get it back. I had another fit a year later, almostly certainly due to some pretty stupid behaviour on my part considering it was only Belgium that we beat. After the second one I was put on medication and then calmed down, served my time, got my licence back and life returned to normal. A few years later I stopped taking the medecine (under supervision) and 20 years later I'm still OK. Most of the Epilepsy associations are good resources for information about this sort of stuff and plenty have forums where you can get a lot of help. Good luck.

[eybic]

Another point is that I don't think insurers can discriminate against you (hike your premium) when you do get your license back.

[liner33]

Much as you love the car storage really isn't a good idea, you would be better off selling it and sourcing a better one when you get your licence back

But good luck

[Martin_M]

Sorry to hear this but perhaps use the petrol and tax money you'll save on modifying the car in the meantime? You'll need a trickle charger if you can store it in a garage at least - but you'd probably want it to turn a wheel now and again.

[RobM77]

I've nothing constructive to add but I wanted to just lodge my sympathy. I reacted badly to some drugs I was taking for my injured back a couple of years ago and ended up in A&E with pretty disastrous symptoms, which were pointing towards removing my driving license (amongst other things that most people would think were more serious!). I chatted about this with the consultant a few weeks later and he deemed me ok to drive. I knew exactly how you felt for about 10 minutes and it scared the life out of me - you have my complete sympathy.

ETA: the usual advice is commonplace on the web: pump the tyres up high, a teaspoon of oil down each bore, remove the battery or get it on a trickle charger etc etc. Storing a car should be no problem. I worked away from home and left my Elise for about 8 months without driving it and it was just fine when I returned home.

[RedAndy]

commiserations on your predicament - must be a crushing bore.

However,, cars have been known to sit for months/years in some cases, in airfields, in the open, exposed to all weathers due to them being registered but not sold (to inflate manufacturer willywaving claims). I'm pretty sure therefore if you keep yours in a garage, battery disconnected, but take it/get someone to take it for a half hour run every couple of months, then it'll be absolutely fine.

[Wheeler88]

RobM77 said:

I've nothing constructive to add but I wanted to just lodge my sympathy. I reacted badly to some drugs I was taking for my injured back a couple of years ago and ended up in A&E with pretty disastrous symptoms, which were pointing towards removing my driving license (amongst other things that most people would think were more serious!). I chatted about this with the consultant a few weeks later and he deemed me ok to drive. I knew exactly how you felt for about 10 minutes and it scared the life out of me - you have my complete sympathy.

ETA: the usual advice is commonplace on the web: pump the tyres up high, a teaspoon of oil down each bore, remove the battery or get it on a trickle charger etc etc. Storing a car should be no problem. I worked away from home and left my Elise for about 8 months without driving it and it was just fine when I returned home.

Thank you for your kind words. I absolutely love driving and still feel like I did when I was 17 getting behind the wheel for the first time. I am now 2 and half weeks into my ban and it is killing me! I just took for granted how dependent on my car I was!

[Wheeler88]

RedAndy said:

commiserations on your predicament - must be a crushing bore.

However,, cars have been known to sit for months/years in some cases, in airfields, in the open, exposed to all weathers due to them being registered but not sold (to inflate manufacturer willywaving claims). I'm pretty sure therefore if you keep yours in a garage, battery disconnected, but take it/get someone to take it for a half hour run every couple of months, then it'll be absolutely fine.

Thanks for this. I have decided to put mine in storage where it is in the right atmospheric conditions all year round. Will give me peace of mind and I really want to keep the car in the fantastic condition it is currently in!

[liner33]

RedAndy said:

commiserations on your predicament - must be a crushing bore.

However,, cars have been known to sit for months/years in some cases, in airfields, in the open, exposed to all weathers due to them being registered but not sold (to inflate manufacturer willywaving claims). I'm pretty sure therefore if you keep yours in a garage, battery disconnected, but take it/get someone to take it for a half hour run every couple of months, then it'll be absolutely fine.

That is true in some cases , certainly months but not years but the cars are prepared for it from the factory , sprayed in special waxes, plastic covers to protect certain parts etc etc and then a P.D.I to remove all this prior to delivery to the customer

Its not the same as storing an older car , seals may dry up , tyres flat spot , possible rodent damage etc etc

Cars need to be used on a regular basis , laying one up does it no favours

[geeks]

Surely this is a great excuise to get the engone out for a proper rebuild and upgrade and a good chance to teach youself some adavanced mechanics

Complete suspension rebuild? Brake Upgrade? All sorts really, every cloud has a silver lining, you just need to find it!

I do sympathise, I know of a couple of people who had licences removed or revoked for periods due to health issues and have all had them back in time.

[Wheeler88]

geeks said:

Surely this is a great excuise to get the engone out for a proper rebuild and upgrade and a good chance to teach youself some adavanced mechanics

Complete suspension rebuild? Brake Upgrade? All sorts really, every cloud has a silver lining, you just need to find it!

I do sympathise, I know of a couple of people who had licences removed or revoked for periods due to health issues and have all had them back in time.

Yeah that is the plan. But I have already upgraded most bits and pieces/got stuff on order that I am waiting on. Thinking of going down the supercharger route but undecided at the mo. Will see how it goes.

[cianha]

It's a tough pill to swallow, my sister was 18 mths off the road with partial complex seizures, and her meds were hit and miss for a while. She kept her Beetle at our parents, and Mum or Dad would run to the shops in it once a week or so to keep it from going idle.

Best of luck, I hope you get back to rights soon.

[RedAndy]

liner33 said:

That is true in some cases , certainly months but not years but the cars are prepared for it from the factory , sprayed in special waxes, plastic covers to protect certain parts etc etc and then a P.D.I to remove all this prior to delivery to the customer

Its not the same as storing an older car , seals may dry up , tyres flat spot , possible rodent damage etc etc

Cars need to be used on a regular basis , laying one up does it no favours

guy, I was trying to make him feel better about storing his car! The storing bit doesnt matter - it was the use it every couple of months that would keep it going!

[liner33]

The is a heart ruling head decision, the smart move is to sell the car, that way you dont have to worry about any issues with storage you don't have to keep it insured*, mot'd or taxed etc so that someone can drive it every couple of months

You can sell it , save up and buy something better when you get your licence back#

There are always at least three ways to look at it the optimist, the pessimist and the realist, I'm the latter.

If you sell it you lose nothing , you will save the standing costs and depreciation over the year and can put that money to something better , keep it and it might cost a fair bit to get up and running again, its not a rare car there are loads about.

• No licence means it might be harder to keep it insured , dont know but you'd need to look into it

1. What if you have another fit in 12 months ? Not wishing it but what if?

Either way best of luck