A flat car battery can be frustrating, especially when you are on holiday and need to get somewhere. Perhaps the vehicle has been parked for several days, an electrical item has been left switched on, or the battery has simply lost enough charge that it can no longer start the engine. Once the car has been successfully jump-started, there is one particularly important thing you need to remember:
Do not switch the engine off again straight away.
For Blanca Cars customers, we recommend driving the vehicle continuously for at least 45 minutes after a jump-startbefore switching off the engine.
Ideally, this should be a continuous journey on a motorway, autovía or another open road where the car can maintain a steady speed.
Sitting in heavy traffic or making several short journeys is not the same as completing a proper 45-minute drive.
Read our FAQ section for other topics
What Does a Jump-Start Actually Do?
A jump-start gets enough electrical power into the vehicle to turn the engine over and start it.
However, successfully starting the engine does not mean the battery has suddenly become fully charged.
Once the engine is running, the vehicle’s charging system begins putting energy back into the battery.
This takes time.
If you receive a jump-start, drive for five or ten minutes and then switch the engine off outside a supermarket, restaurant or your accommodation, there may not be enough power in the battery to start the vehicle again.
You could quickly find yourself with another flat battery.
How Long Should You Drive After a Jump-Start?
Blanca Cars requires customers to drive for at least 45 minutes continuously following a successful jump-start.
The key word here is continuously.
This should not be 15 minutes of driving followed by a stop, another 15 minutes later and then another short journey.
Try to complete the full 45-minute journey before switching the engine off.
Wherever possible, choose an open road such as a motorway or autovía where you can maintain a normal, steady driving speed within the legal speed limit.
Avoid heavy stop-start traffic if you have a practical alternative.
For example, driving continuously along an autovía for 45 minutes is preferable to spending 45 minutes crawling through congested town-centre traffic.
You should never exceed the speed limit in an attempt to charge the battery faster. The aim is simply to keep the engine running under normal driving conditions without unnecessary stopping.
Switch Off Unnecessary Electrical Equipment
After a jump-start, you want to reduce unnecessary electrical demand while the battery is recovering.
Before beginning your 45-minute recharge drive, switch off electrical equipment that you do not need.
This includes:
- Radio and entertainment system
- Air conditioning where safe and practical
- Mobile phone chargers
- USB devices
- Heated seats
- Rear-window heating
- Other unnecessary electrical accessories
Unplug phones and other devices from the USB or 12V sockets during the journey.
The goal is to allow as much of the vehicle’s available charging capacity as possible to go towards recovering the battery.
However, safety always comes first.
If you need air conditioning because of extreme heat, or demisting to maintain clear visibility, use it.
Likewise, never switch off headlights or other safety equipment when driving conditions require them.
Watch Our Video Guide
If your battery has gone flat, watch the following video for additional guidance:
After watching the video, remember the Blanca Cars rule:
Once the vehicle has been jump-started, drive continuously for at least 45 minutes before switching the engine off.
Don’t Just Leave the Car Idling
You might be tempted to leave the vehicle parked with the engine running for 45 minutes.
We recommend driving the car instead.
A proper continuous journey allows the vehicle to operate under normal driving conditions and gives the battery an opportunity to recover while the charging system is working.
Choose a safe route where you can keep moving.
Never leave a rental car running unattended.
Don’t Make Several Short Journeys
Short journeys are one of the biggest things to avoid immediately after a jump-start.
Imagine your vehicle has just been started with assistance.
You drive five minutes to a supermarket and turn it off.
You start it again and drive another five minutes to a café.
You then return to the car and try to start it for a third time.
The battery may not have had sufficient time to recover from the original problem.
Instead, make your first journey after the jump-start a continuous drive of at least 45 minutes.
Once this journey is complete, you will have given the battery a much better opportunity to recover.
Does Driving for 45 Minutes Fully Recharge the Battery?
Not necessarily.
The purpose of the 45-minute drive is to give the vehicle’s battery a reasonable opportunity to recover enough charge following the jump-start.
A battery that has been completely or deeply discharged may require further attention.
That is why you should contact Blanca Cars if the vehicle experiences another starting problem.
Do not assume that repeatedly jump-starting the vehicle is a permanent solution.
If the battery goes flat again, there could be another problem that needs to be investigated.
What Blanca Cars Customers Should Do After a Flat Battery
If your Blanca Cars rental vehicle has needed a jump-start, follow these steps:
- Do not switch the engine off once it has started.
- Begin driving as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Drive continuously for at least 45 minutes.
- Use an open or high-speed road such as an autovía or motorway wherever practical.
- Drive at normal legal speeds. Never speed in an attempt to charge the battery.
- Avoid congested stop-start traffic wherever possible.
- Switch off the radio and unnecessary entertainment equipment.
- Switch off the air conditioning where safe and practical.
- Disconnect mobile phones and other devices from chargers.
- Avoid stopping and restarting the vehicle during the 45-minute period.
- Contact Blanca Cars if the battery problem happens again.
Following these steps reduces the likelihood of arriving somewhere, switching off the engine and immediately discovering that the vehicle will not restart.
What If the Battery Goes Flat Again?
If you have completed the recommended 45-minute drive and the vehicle later fails to start again, contact Blanca Cars.
Do not simply continue arranging repeated jump-starts.
A battery becoming flat again may mean that the original discharge was particularly severe, the battery is no longer holding sufficient charge, or another issue needs to be checked.
Blanca Cars can advise you on the appropriate next step.
Do not purchase or fit a replacement battery yourself or arrange unauthorised repairs to a Blanca Cars rental vehicle.
What If the Battery Warning Light Stays On?
A vehicle that initially has a flat battery and a vehicle displaying a battery or charging warning while the engine is running are not necessarily experiencing the same problem.
If a battery, charging-system or other important warning light remains illuminated after the engine starts, contact Blanca Cars for advice.
Do not assume that driving for 45 minutes will solve every electrical problem.
If the vehicle displays a serious warning, behaves unusually, loses electrical power or you are concerned that continuing to drive may be unsafe, stop somewhere safe and contact us.
Why Open Roads Are Better After a Jump-Start
After the vehicle has been restarted, you should ideally choose a route that allows approximately 45 minutes of uninterrupted driving.
On the Costa Blanca, this may mean using an appropriate stretch of motorway, autovía or another main road rather than driving around busy town centres.
The important factors are:
Continuous driving.
Steady normal speeds.
Minimal stop-start traffic.
Minimal unnecessary electrical use.
You do not need to drive aggressively or at particularly high engine speeds.
Simply drive normally, safely and within the speed limit.
Plan Where You Are Going Before You Start Driving
After receiving a jump-start, it can be helpful to decide on your route before setting off.
Do not simply drive five minutes back to your accommodation because it is nearby.
Instead, plan a journey that will allow you to drive continuously for approximately 45 minutes before returning to your destination.
If necessary, take a longer route using suitable main roads.
Use your navigation system before setting off so you are not distracted while driving.
If you need your phone for navigation, make sure it has sufficient battery power before the journey. Ideally, avoid charging it from the vehicle during the initial 45-minute battery recovery drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Should I Drive After Jump-Starting a Blanca Cars Vehicle?
You should drive continuously for at least 45 minutes before switching the engine off.
Where Should I Drive?
Whenever practical, use a motorway, autovía or another open road where you can maintain a steady normal speed and avoid stop-start traffic.
Should I Turn the Radio Off?
Yes. Switch off the radio and other unnecessary entertainment equipment during the initial 45-minute drive.
Should I Turn the Air Conditioning Off?
Where it is safe and practical, switch off unnecessary air conditioning to reduce electrical demand.
However, safety comes first. Use air conditioning or demisting if needed for safe driving, visibility or extreme temperatures.
Should I Charge My Phone While Driving?
Avoid charging phones, tablets and other devices during the initial 45-minute drive where possible.
Unplug unnecessary USB and 12V accessories.
Can I Switch the Engine Off Halfway Through the 45 Minutes?
No. The journey should be continuous.
Avoid stopping and restarting the engine until you have completed at least 45 minutes of driving.
What If the Car Won’t Start Again?
Contact Blanca Cars.
If the vehicle becomes flat again after completing the recommended drive, further assistance or investigation may be required.
Remember the 45-Minute Rule
If your Blanca Cars rental vehicle has needed a jump-start, remember these four points:
KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING.
DRIVE FOR AT LEAST 45 MINUTES.
USE OPEN, FASTER-FLOWING ROADS RATHER THAN STOP-START TRAFFIC.
SWITCH OFF UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.
Do not drive above the legal speed limit, and never compromise safety simply to reduce electrical consumption.
A flat battery does not have to ruin your holiday. Following the correct procedure after a jump-start gives the vehicle the best opportunity to recover and helps reduce the risk of becoming stranded again.
If the vehicle has another battery problem or you have any concerns, contact Blanca Cars for assistance before arranging repairs yourself.