How to Prepare Your Car for Storage

Thinking of allowing your car to hibernate during the upcoming winter? Or looking to let it rest while you’re away on a long vacation? When preparing your car for long-term storage, you must take the proper steps to prevent any damage that might occur during storage, as well sustain its performance.

Following these steps to store your car properly will save you money — and aggravation — later down the road:

Choose a clean, dry garage or storage facility, as damp air can cause rusting. Ideally, store your car in a climate-controlled facility.
Fill the gas tank completely full. An empty or low gas tank will lead to internal rust as condensation and moisture builds within the tank. Also add fuel stabilizer or corrosion inhibitors and then drive the car around a bit in order to distribute the additive to engine parts.
Change the car oil. Spray lubricant on all exposed metal surfaces in the engine area to protect against rusting and corrosion.
Check your car for any leaks or drops from the brakes, transmission, and engine, and repair any leaks you find.
Place your car on two jack stands to relieve long-term weight on the tires.
Wash and wax your car to prevent corrosion. Clean out the interior to prevent any rodents from making a home in your car, as well as to relieve your tires from any unnecessary weight. Using a leather or vinyl conditioner on your seats can safeguard them from cracking and drying.
Disconnect the battery to prevent battery failure, and store it in a battery box — not on a concrete floor.
Plug the tail pipe with aluminum foil or rag to deter any rodents and moist air from entering your car — but remember to remove the foil or rag before starting your car again.
Make sure the parking brake is disengaged to avoid brake corrosion.
Park your car on a plastic sheet and then cover your car with a high-quality, permeable cover.

The Benefits of Car Storage

Using a safe and secure storage facility is a great idea if you don't intend to use your car regularly. You can park a vehicle if you want to free up space in your garage/driveway when you don't intend to use your car regularly, e.g. B. when you train or go on a trip, or when your car collection has become too small for the size. Storage Options Available to You: Reputable storage facilities should give you peace of mind that your vehicle is safe and well cared for.

So why do we recommend storing your vehicle?

Provides peace of mind

Reputable vehicle storage facilities offer excellent security, are well insured and take good care of your vehicle. Your car is likely to be "trickle charged" to ensure the health of its battery.

Your car should be stored at a safe temperature, and your vehicle will likely be covered to prevent dust from getting onto the paintwork (and to prevent other customers from seeing what's underneath).

They will give your car care and a gentle workout

When you leave your beloved car in the hands of a warehouse, you want to make sure it's looking good is maintained. A reputable center will advertise and ensure that your vehicle undergoes a general physical health check every months and track this for their (and your) records. They should share any concerns with you and offer to fix the problem (or coordinate with a local shop to have it checked).

From time to time, the facility may start and run your car to ensure that all is the component work; After all, all cars are made to be driven!

A facility will need to “bring your car in” at drop off/pick up for storage, inspect the car and complete the paperwork covering the terms and conditions of your storage and what to do/don't do do for your vehicle. This should tell you how often your vehicle will be serviced, if you consent to the car being started and if a problem is found, you consent to essential work being done.

Damage/Theft Risk Reduction

When talks about it, many think we're referring to physical damage (from falling rocks or bad weather), but we also mean the lack of Damage caused by maintenance work, which usually occurs when a car sits without maintenance or use for a long period of time. Not checking and changing the oil can be very detrimental to a vehicle and, in turn, very expensive!

Another great addition to the many services a warehouse offers is that (in many facilities) their Vehicle is insured while in storage but remember they only insure the car, no personal items you leave in it so make sure you empty your car before getting in.