Maintenance Tips For Your Unused Vehicle in Salisbury, MD
If you own a vehicle but don’t pilot it very often, you may wonder exactly how much time and effort you need to put into its maintenance. Well, you can visit any one of our Pohanka Automotive Group locations for in-depth information. But before that, check out our basic tips below to get started!
The Exterior
Many people make leaving their unused vehicle outside a habit, but we strongly advise you to avoid making this mistake due to the damage it can cause. The UV rays from sunlight can have a significant impact on the outer shell of your car by causing it to discolor after prolonged exposure. So, the best thing you can do in this situation is keep your vehicle indoors. If you don’t have access to a garage, you can also invest in a car cover as an alternative option. One other point we’d also like to mention is washing and waxing your vehicle. While you may deem it unnecessary because you’re not out on the roads of Salisbury, dirt can still build up on your car’s appearance regardless of whether it’s indoors or outdoors. Giving the exterior some love every now and again is a great way to keep it looking fresh and new in the event that you ever feel like trading it in at one of our locations!
Aging Components
Unfortunately, a car’s components don’t age depending on how much stress they endure. While usage is a key factor, taking fewer trips across Route 50 won’t prevent something like a car battery from going bad. In fact, leaving your vehicle to sit idle for long stretches of time can actually have a negative impact by causing the charge to drain more quickly. Because of this, we recommend taking your car for a quick trip to Salisbury City Park every now and then. While you might find it unnecessary, there is a risk that the battery will die faster and need to be replaced at our Service Department if it doesn’t get used regularly enough.
Maintaining Your Vehicle
To help keep your car running at its best, you should consult its Owner’s Manual and ensure you’re sticking to the proper service intervals for the various components. Whether it’s a battery inspection, replacing worn brake pads, or some other general form of maintenance, making regular service visits a habit can go a long way. If you’d like to discuss what steps you can take towards maintaining your unused vehicle for the future, feel free to use our Ask a tech form to speak with an expert, or our contact form to chat over the phone!
Is It Bad to Let a Car Sit Idle For Too Long?
- While driving your car infrequently isn't necessarily harmful, it can have negative effects if you also neglect basic maintenance practices.
Dealership Information
Testimonials
“ They answered all my questions, and kept me up to date while I was waiting for my vehicle. Friendly people. ”
“ Top notch service! ”
“ Pedro was helpful, professional, and kind. I was in and out quickly, problem solved. Highly recommend! ”
“ The Pohanka Chevrolet service department were reliable in fixing my car unknown issues. Alex and Christian were understanding and have exceptional customer service skills. Kudos to the team. ”
“ Got me in and out in 3 hours. Waiting on a part but since this is a business truck I got it back on the road quickly. Will bring it back in when the part is here. Thank God it runs. Although with no AC. It does the job. But I am sweating 😓 ”
“ I had a great experience working with Preet Patel at Pohanka Chevrolet when purchasing my 2024 GMC Sierra 1500. He was professional, helpful, and made the process smooth from start to finish. Preet answered my questions, explained everything clearly, and made sure I felt comfortable with my purchase. I truly appreciate his patience and excellent customer service. I would definitely recommend working with Preet and Pohanka Chevrolet to anyone looking for a vehicle. ”
“ Another great visit. As a corvette owner I am very picky about anywhere I take my vette. This is the only place I trust and come everytime. Fantastic service and fast, especially considering you just drive up without an appointment and they get you in and out as quick as any dealer. Also, Thanks Moses! Great service. ”
“ Worked with Michael and just went in on a whim to see what might be available to me and he was kind, informative and super knowledgeable and personable. I left and didn’t buy a car. He kept in touch not hounding just checking in and he showed me a car that I couldn’t walk away from and a Blessing that I know was for me and my daughter. Thank you Michael my daughter and I will be back when she retires my old car and is ready to purchase her first car. I will see you all soon for my first free oil change 🫶🏾I named her Pearl and she’s beautiful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart 💜. God Bless You and the Managers there that helped and make this possible for me. ”
“ My wife and I were helped by Sophie and Stephen throughout our car buying process here, they were very nice and friendly people. Sophie was very adamant about making sure we were happy with what we were getting in terms of financial terms, trade-in value, maintenance information, and the car we wanted and needed. Thank you, Sophie and Stephen, we plan on returning here when the time comes for a new vehicle because of you ”
“ Sophie waa great to work with! She was very engaging and answers all our questions. Our daughter is super excited about her "new" car. ”
“ The Pohanka Chevrolet Chantilly staff was great. Michael “MR” Reeves is an excellent salesman. He really made the process as seamless as possible without haggling. Highly recommend. ”
“ Great service ”
“ Our sales rep, Pedro, was exceptional right from the get go. Very professional and always prompt to go above and beyond to meet our needs. The reception and cash register staff was also very pleasant and eager to help answer our questions. Very happy. Will always recommend it. ”
“ Jonah Kemp is the best car sales person I have ever worked with in a car purchasing situation . So professional. Best price after shopping several dealers on same exact Tahoe product. Best service I have been exposed to. Two hours going over features of car with us. Five minutes signing papers. If you don’t go here you’re missing the boat. I have probably bought 50 to 60 vehicles in past 30 years. You should give this dealership a chance to earn your business and ask for Jonah. Call Jonah at Pohanka in Chantilly. You will not be disappointed. They worked with me to offer a better price point than my past dealer by several percent. We are extremely pleased with our purchase and the service afforded by Jonah and the dealership. Howard Holt ”
“ I returned to Pohanka Chevrolet for another vehicle purchase, and once again the customer service was outstanding. The staff continues to be friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely focused on helping customers find the right vehicle for their needs. They took the time to listen, answered every question thoroughly, and made the whole process smooth and transparent from start to finish. It's clear why I keep coming back. I highly recommend Pohanka Chevrolet to anyone in the market for a car and a stress-free buying experience. Thanks again to Stephen (finance manager) and Cameron (sales rep) for another great experience! ”
“ Solid service from a solid team of professionals!!! From sales, management, to service department…great group! ”
“ We recently bought our first-ever Chevy Equinox from Pohanka Chevrolet, and the whole experience was great from start to finish. Everyone was friendly and helpful and process felt straightforward. Definitely recommend this dealership! ”
“ I visited multiple Chevy dealerships in the DMV area—I was thoroughly impressed with the professionalism and support the Pohanka team provided before, during, and after the sales process. Jonah, Stephen, Joe, and Rob especially. Would highly recommend buying a car from them! ”
“ From initial contact via online chat through purchase process and final vehicle handover Jonah was nothing short of outstanding. He is technically expert, cheerful, and eager to ensure that everything I wanted from the car and the purchase process exceeded my expectations. I enthusiastically recommend Pohanka and Jonah to anyone looking for a dealership with which their comfort and confidence is assured. ”
“ Adam and his team were amazing, efficient, great service! ”
“ I had been searching for a Chevy Colorado and thank God Abraham zane called me. I came to check the vehicle out everything checked out and I drove home in something to be proud of I will keep them as my first priority. Steven in Financing did a great job on working to get me the best deal And explaining the process. ”
“ I had the best experience buying my new truck at Pohanka Chevy! I wish I had come here 2 trucks ago! ”
“ I had an emissions test performed and my lexus es 350 passed again. I thank pohanka chevrolet for their services. ”
“ So far, it's been service done right and swift. ”
“ Efficient, courteous service. ”
“ Very Satisfied with the service that was done. ”
“ Had an awesome experience getting my annual inspection. The service representative was very efficient and had performed the inspection promptly. Will definitely go back to see Akbar!!! ”
“ Adam was amazing helpful and did an amazing job explaining what needed to be done and how to proceed with my given situation ”
“ Stephanie, my service advisor, was professional, friendly, and more importantly, fast with my service - oil change/tire rotation. She took care of me. The tech also took care of my truck. Highly recommend and Pohanka Chevy will always service my truck. ”
“ Definitely one of the best, if not the best, car dealerships I've dealt with. First class operation. ”
“ Easy scheduling of Lexus pickup and courteous service. ”
“ After a very difficult experience purchasing an EV at another dealership, I was honestly hesitant to start the process again. Fortunately, my experience with Pohanka Chevrolet in Chantilly completely restored my faith in what a great car-buying experience can be. From my very first inquiry, the team was responsive, professional, and respectful of my time. I live in Baltimore, and when I explained that it would take some coordination to get to the dealership, they immediately worked with me to find a solution. They even arranged transportation to the dealership, which was above and beyond anything I expected. What impressed me most was how prepared they were. I completed much of the process online beforehand, and when I arrived, the vehicle was ready, the paperwork was organized, and the team was prepared to move efficiently through the purchase process. I spent less than three hours at the dealership, which may be the smoothest car-buying experience I’ve ever had. I was also traveling with my daughter after a long drive, and when I mentioned needing to grab food for her, the team insisted on ordering lunch for us instead. While that was a very thoughtful gesture, what stood out most was the genuine care and hospitality they showed throughout the entire experience. At every step, I felt valued as a customer. There were no games, no unnecessary delays, and no pressure. Just clear communication, professionalism, and exceptional service. Thank you to everyone at Pohanka Chevrolet who helped make this such a positive experience. I would gladly make the trip from Baltimore again to work with this team. ”
“ Jonah did a great job!!! We appreciate all of his help. ”
“ I recently had work done on my car and needed to take it to a Chevrolet dealership. After previously having a bad experience with the Chevrolet dealership in Manassas, I decided to give Pohanka Chevrolet a try—and I’m really glad I did. My entire experience was excellent. Derek, my service advisor, was professional, friendly, and made the process easy from start to finish. He kept me informed every step of the way, explained everything clearly, and made sure I always knew what was happening with my vehicle. Because of the outstanding service I received, I will definitely be returning to Pohanka for future maintenance and repairs, and I’ll specifically request to work with Derek again. When it’s time to purchase a new vehicle, I’ll be coming back to Pohanka for that as well. ”
“ Fast and professionals ”
“ I'm Seventy years old and have bought several new cars. Pohanka Chevrolet was the best dealership that I have ever bought from ,our salesman Caleb Lemons was very thoughtful, helpful, and easy to work with. I'm glad I didn't buy my new Corvette anywhere else ”
“ Excellent Service ”
“ Sent out some inquiries online to 4 different dealerships. Cameron from Pohanka Chevrolet reached out to me within 5 minutes. 5 minutes later, the manager snick reached out to me. Was not the cheapest vehicle I was looking at, but to someone who works in customer service, I’ll pay for that. Never heard back from 2 other dealers and the other I heard back from a few hours after the inquiry. Nick, Cam, and myself all chatted for the next few days trying to find a time for our schedules to align. Showed up drove the vehicle, and took it home just an hour or so later. Best process buying a car. Thanks again to Cam, Nick, and Stephen in the closing office. I’ll be back some day! ”
“ Very helpful im happy with there service ”
“ Shout out to Sophie for helping us get into a new to us VW Passat! When we went to trade in our previous vehicle sophie made the process seamless and helped us get our trade in completed and found a great car in our price range that drives great. We are very happy with our purchase, and had a great experience with Sophie from sales and Stephen from Financing. We just moved to the area, and are so glad to have found a reliable place to return to. ”
“ Service advisor Cristian is really helpful in getting my Chevy serviced right. Been really happy with his positive helpful attitude and communication. ”
“ Purchased a truck from out of state. Caleb Lemons facilitated the sale to make everything smooth. He sent excellent videos and pictures to ensure that even though I wouldn’t personally be able to see the truck until delivery, I knew what to expect. Don’t hesitate to ask for Caleb. Financing team was great as well. Thanks again. ”
“ Had a great experience with the sales and finance staff. They were efficient and professional, especially on a busy day. ”
“ Good, friendly and comprehensive service. ”



“ Very helpful throughout the entire dealership any questions I had they were there to help. ”