# How often and how far do I need to drive an old car? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 15, 2025, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977 "2025-10-15T00:10:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/21 "2025-10-15T17:01:56Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Thanks everyone! I’ll take it for a good spin every 2-4 weeks if I don’t end up using it for something in between. We got tired of having to take our car out for a spin (we normally take public transportation) and finally bought a battery maintainer earlier this year as we expect to keep our car for many more years. I really like not having to keep track of when the car last went out. I do recommend that you make a record of when you do take it out, so you don’t let too much time pass. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/22 "2025-10-15T17:14:14Z")
That’s a good idea! ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/23 "2025-10-15T17:15:40Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Jay actually drives his cars himself quite frequently, so that might be enough. Jay Leno reputedly has nearly 200 cars in his collection. To drive every one of them for 30 minutes would take close to two full work weeks (including time spent shuffling cars around to get them all out). I know Jay likes to drive, but _that much_? And in Los Angeles traffic? ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/24 "2025-10-15T17:18:54Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > including putting it up on jackstands Putting it on jacks is not a bad idea for moderately long-term storage (maybe up to six months), but not so high that the rubber is completely off the ground. If the tires lose contact with the ground, then the car’s sprung weight is hanging from the suspension, which it’s not really designed to do. It could put unintended stress on things like brake lines and bushings that could wear them prematurely. Better to get the car “on it’s tippy-toes” but with some of the weight still on the tires. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/25 "2025-10-15T17:30:02Z")
It’s certainly the case that cars can be prepped for long-term storage – disconnect the battery, raise it up, etc. So, most of those cars could be in an undriveable state, but ready to go within, what, maybe a half hour? Reconnect the battery, check the tires, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/26 "2025-10-15T17:40:31Z")
Sure - trickle chargers, pest control, fuel stabilization. Been there, done that. But that is not what the OP asked. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/27 "2025-10-15T17:42:26Z")
True enough – I have the answers that I need. I was just responding to the apparent problem with maintaining 200 cars. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/28 "2025-10-15T18:08:14Z")
When you can afford not only 200 cars, but 200 interesting, collectible cars, you can afford however many flunkies it takes to manage them. And the complex of buildings to house them all and the shops to work on them. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/29 "2025-10-15T18:49:20Z")
If I were to have to bet on it, I would bet that Jay Leno hires people to drive his cars adequately. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/30 "2025-10-15T18:52:07Z")
See, I would assume he doesn’t want unnecessary miles on a lot of those old classics. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/31 "2025-10-15T18:59:48Z")
Museum cars are different from cars you actually want to use. They’re mostly maintained as “drivable”, not as “can take a road trip in.” ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/32 "2025-10-15T19:28:43Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Does he have an employee whose job it is to drive each car around for X miles/minutes in rotation to keep them healthy? Many exotic cars that expect to be rarely driven have battery disconnect switches to prevent battery drain while the car is not being used. Considering that a battery tender is in the $30-50 price range, it seems easy enough to just put one on every car. Storing clean cars in a climate controlled environment, out of direct sunlight is also going to go a long way to extend the gap between maintenance drives. Drain the fuel out of the carburetors, and possibly the gas tanks, and you could easily go 1-2 years between driving with no ill effect for cars in a managed collection. Very, very different conditions than just parking the car next to the garage and covering it with an old paint tarp. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/33 "2025-10-15T19:36:13Z")
Public service post for anybody else whose brain kept buffering the thread title trying to get it into some kind of recognizable scansion: _“ **How. of** _ten, and _ **how. far** _, do I _ **need** _ to _ **drive** _ an _ **old. car** _?” You’re welcome! 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/34 "2025-10-15T20:01:09Z")
Yeah - I’ve seen several large collections, both public and private. IME, it is an unusual large collection in which each car is driven regularly. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/35 "2025-10-15T22:32:25Z")
Son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin if you don’t start drivin that 2007 Lincoln. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/36 "2025-10-15T22:43:53Z")
That was my first favorite song! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/37 "2025-10-16T17:53:15Z")
I have a 1999 pick up. I don’t drive it on the freeway anymore unless I absolutely positively have to because, first of all, I have some concern about breakdowns and also because the freeways around here are often a _terrible_ way to get it up to speed due to all the traffic jams reducing how fast everyone can go or even turning the highways into temporary long, skinny parking lots. I try to take it for a drive at least once a week. That way if I have to miss a week (or two) I’m still keeping some frequency. I try to run it for at least 20 minutes. Last year it had a problem where I knew I wouldn’t be able to fix it for several months. I threw some compatible fuel stabilizer into the gas tank. Several months later we were able to start it without a problem. Limping it to the mechanic was the difficult part, but fortunately that wasn’t a long trip. Oh, and my “new” car is a 2002. Most of the time I drive it seven miles to work and seven miles back, less that 20 minutes and not at “freeway speeds” so I try to take it for a longer drive once or twice a month. For the most part they haven’t given me much trouble, other than things breaking from either extensive wear (they’re old), or just plain old age (like the way tires deteriorate over time). I probably drive them more than the absolute minimum, but I’ve been told the truck is so low-time for its age as to be of some concern. Not that I expect to ever sell it to someone else. It’s pretty used up at this point. (Although if someone made me a suitable offer…) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/38 "2025-10-19T15:34:50Z")
My favorite old car song 🙂 [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DlMMe3ksfew/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLC0axz4AQv6EBQUJ5hDFTlhN3si9g "No Money Down - Humble Pie") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlMMe3ksfew) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/39 "2025-10-19T17:09:57Z")
Good one! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977/40 "2025-10-21T15:34:03Z")
This thread inspired me to take my truck to the dump… that is, drive it when I got rid of our trash and recycling. It’s a 2009 very basic pickup and these days, it’s mainly used for hauling our trash when it’s too much or too messy to put in the back of the Santa Fe. The facility is about 6 or 7 miles away along country roads, so no lights, and speed limits of 45-55, depending on which road. And just for good measure, I made a quick side trip to Aldi, so the oil got well-heated and circulated. It does get regular maintenance and our daughter occasionally borrows it for their dump runs, but it’s got less than 80K miles on it, so obviously, it doesn’t get driven a lot. Our car guy said we should take it out at least every 3 weeks or so. We’re hoping that we can keep it going for another 10 or 15 years, assuming we’re still able to drive then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-and-how-far-do-i-need-to-drive-an-old-car/1023977.md?page=3)