Whatever the circumstance, letting your car sit idle for too long may result in a dead or faulty battery, damaged engine, flat tires, or even rodent infestation.
Storing your car for the long term requires adequate preparation. Whether you are choosing to put your car in a public storage facility or store it in your garage, there are a few things you must do to protect your car from being damaged as a result of being stored for a long time.
Simple tasks like cleaning up your car, applying a coat of wax to your car paint, using a weather-proof car cover, and purchasing tire stoppers are tips for long-term car storage.
When next you need to be out of town for a long time, you do not need to bother about having your car at risk of damage.
This article will elaborate on how to store your car for the long term to ensure that your car is ready when you are.
- Clean Up Your Car:
This is an easy step but an important one you must not overlook as you do not want to store a dirty car. If you do not clean up your car before storage, there is a possibility of a build-up of dirt that may be destructive to your car in the long run. Clean up all stains and droppings on your car, get rid of grease, mud, or tar that may have stuck on the car wheels, dispose of food wraps and other trash that may have accumulated in the car, and clean out and sun-dry car rugs and seat covers to get rid of moisture that may cause a foul smell if left for a long time.
- Avoid Using Your Car Brakes:
When storing your car for a long time, it is not ideal to use the car brakes. When the brake pads come in contact with the rotors over a long period, they may begin to fuse. It is best to use a tire stopper, also called wheel chocks, to prevent accidental car movements.
- Inflate Car Tires:
When a car is left immobile for a long time, the tires can develop flat spots as the weight of your car impacts the tires. This process is called flat-spotting. You can also consider slightly over-inflating your car tires while your car is in storage, this will help prevent your car from flat-spotting. While storing away your car during winter, slightly over-inflating your tires will fend your tires from flat-spotting because flat-spotting occurs faster in colder temperatures.
If your car would be in storage for an extended period, consider removing your car tires and placing jack stands on all four wheels, this will keep your tires in good condition.
- Use A Weather-Proof Car Cover:
Purchase a quality breathable car cover that can keep your car safe and dry. Water-resistant covers will keep moisture off your car, and breathable covers with air vents will ensure that any trapped moisture that gets through to your car’s surface will evaporate, this can avoid corrosion, rust, and car damage.
Apart from protection from moisture, car covers protect your car from scratches, bird droppings, dust, and other hazardous elements. Avoid using a blanket, tarpaulin, or other material that is not a car cover.
- Store Your Car In A Garage:
It is ideal to store your car in a garage when storing it for the long term. This is a cost-effective means of long-term car storage. Storing your car in a garage will protect your car from extreme weather conditions and ensure a relatively stable temperature. It also prevents theft or vandalization of car components.
Conclusion
In the absence of a private garage, public car storage facilities offer both indoor and outdoor long-term car storage. These storage facilities help you keep your car safe when you are away.
Preparing and storing your car when it is not in use for a long time will ensure that your vehicle is safe and protected. It will also save you unnecessary maintenance costs in the long run.
- What time bracket qualifies as long-term car storage?
Ans: If you intend to store your car for more than 30 days, you may want to think of it as long-term car storage.
- What should I consider when choosing a car storage facility?
Ans: You should consider the price and quality of their services. Car storage costs vary and depend on the type of car storage unit you rent and the size of unit you will need.
- Where can I find long-term car storage facilities?
Several companies offer long-term storage services.
A good example is Cube Smart self-storage which offers indoor and outdoor long-term car storage, 24-hour video recordings, electronic-gated access, and well-lit premises.
