Storing a car isn’t as simple as locking it away in a garage. By just leaving your car in a garage or outdoors for a long time, it opens it to risks such as engine damage or damage to the car’s paint finish. Whether you’re looking for car storage just for the winter or long-term, you should take the right measures to prevent damage to your vehicle. In this article, we’ll discuss some helpful tips on how to store a car.
Car Storage Tips You Should Keep in Mind
For the most part, car storage is a simple, straight-forward process. However, many vehicle owners overlook important details when putting their cars in storage. To spare you the unforeseen hassles of car storage, we have compiled the top 8 tips to follow when storing a vehicle.
Tip #1: Top Off Fluids and Change the Oil
This step is especially crucial for long-term car storage. Top off your car’s fuel and oil before storing it away. It allows extra protection for your car’s engine over time. For better results, use premium fuel as it does not contain ethanol, and offers better long-term security. Another option is adding a fuel stabilizer. We recommend this for long-term storage, as it prevents gasoline from breaking down and damaging your fuel line.
You should also check the levels of other essential car fluids. Top them off if need be.
Tip #2: Inflate Tires and Check Coolant Levels
The worst thing is to take your car out of storage to only discover it has a flat tire. Before tucking it away, always check the tire pressure. We suggest slightly over-inflating the tires, as cold air can bring the tire pressure down.
Tip #3: Cover the Car
Covering your car may seem like an obvious step, but it’s vital not to overlook it.You do not want to expose your vehicle to outdoor elements such as dust, debris, hail, or snow. To avoid this, cover your car with shrink wrap to maintain it.
Tip #4: Make Sure Your Car is Squeaky Clean
You don’t want to take a dirty vehicle out of storage. By not washing your car, the dirt and grime buildup can cause damage to your car’s finish. Give your vehicle a good wash and coat it with a layer of wax for extra long-term protection.
Tip #5: Maintain the Car’s Battery
There’s nothing worse than taking your car out of storage to only find your battery dead. To avoid this, we suggest using a battery maintainer. This device periodically turns on to charge the battery of the car when it’s not in use for a long time.
Tip #6: Protect the Wiper Blades
You don’t want the wiper blades to stick to your vehicle’s windshield. To avoid this either remove the wiper blades entirely or place some plastic wrap between the wiper blades and the windows and overtop the wipers.
Tip #7: Prevent Your Car from Rolling Away
To ensure your car stays in place when stored, apply the handbrake when you park your car. For extra protection, you can put blocks underneath the tires to prevent the car from rolling.
Tip #8: Consider Professional Auto Storage
If you don’t have the space for car storage, consider a professional storage service. Vehicle storage units provide a safe space for you to store your car long-term or short-term. So how exactly does the service work? Below we’ve listed all the things you should know about car storage units.
Here’s What You Should Know about Car Storage Units
So you’ve decided to invest in a vehicle storage unit. Great! We have provided answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about car storage solutions.
Each storage space will have different prices and ways to pay. Some units may require an upfront deposit, while others will offer a month-to-month plan. Vehicle storage costs also vary according to the size of your vehicle. If you’re storing a regular-sized car, you’re looking at about $99.99 per month. If your vehicle is oversized, the cost to store it is around $169.99 per month.
Every storage space is different, so we do suggest inquiring about 24/7 access to your vehicle while in storage. Knowing whether you can access your stored car might be a determining factor for the location of your storage unit.
Security is an essential feature to consider when selecting a car storage unit. If you want that extra protection for your car, look for a vehicle storage facility that is constantly lit at night, video-monitored 24/7, and can only be accessed with a keycode.
Should anything happen to your car while it’s in storage, you want to ensure you are covered. Contact your auto insurance provider before storing your car. Also, some vehicle storage facilities offer their own insurance plans. And that’s an idea worth considering, as well.
As you may have noticed, there are a lot of factors to consider with car storage. The best thing to do is understand which option suits your needs and fits your budget. Just know that as long as you take the proper precautions, your car is in good hands.