AA Roadservice has responded to 15 callouts at COVID-19 testing queues around New Zealand since the beginning of lockdown to help.
General manager for Roadside Solutions Bashir Khan told Newshub on Wednesday, 13 of the calls were for battery-related failures.
"Be mindful we have very strict protocol for managing these callouts to keep our members and the public safe and this includes asking members to keep a two-metre distance from our service personnel or stay in your car."
He's urging Kiwis stuck in testing queues if they are not moving for more than 15 minutes to switch their cars off, including lights and the radio, to stop drain on your battery.
If the queue is moving gradually it's better to have your car idling, as you'll put extra wear on other parts if you continuously switch your car on and off.
There is also concern from AA Roadservice about cars left unused during the alert level four lockdown.
The service attended a record-breaking 4208 callouts nationwide in the 48 hours after lockdown restrictions lifted in April 2020 - the majority of which were battery-related. Normally, the AA attends about 2400 callouts in 48 hours.
"I think we have got to prepare for that [happening again this lockdown]," Khan said.
"Our advice to motorists would be if you are not using your car at the moment we would recommend you start your car for 30 minutes once a week."
He said cars should be reversed into the driveway or left in the garage with the door open and the car put in park.
