Car Storage season is in the late fall when the cold weather arrives (which is when cars go into storage) and in the spring, once the snow is gone (which is when vehicles are taken out of storage).
Whether you're a long-time pro at winter car storage, or a newbie storing your vehicle in self-storage for the first time, here's everything you need to know about car storage from start to finish, including some not-so-obvious vehicle storage tips!
Tips for Using Car Storage
To make this blog post super helpful we have organized the tips and advice into the three stages of vehicle storage:
- Before storage (aka getting it ready to store)
- During storage
- Taking out of storage
What To Do Before Your Car Is In Storage:
Before you put your car into storage, take the time to do the following:
- Check your local weather forecast and find a dry day to store.
- Contact your insurance company before you store. Cars are expensive assets, and your insurance agent is in the best position to make sure you are totally covered while your car is in storage.
- Thoroughly wash your vehicle. This will help wash off any salt and dirt which will help with rust prevention and prevent scratches.
- Do an oil and filter change.
- Check the antifreeze.
- Make sure the tires are inflated.
- Pick a dry, dark location for storage...like the self storage units at Storage Solutions - they work like a charm!
If you have never physically put your car into storage or it's been a while, check out our helpful video on how to store your car in a self-storage unit!
What To Do While Your Car Is In Storage:
When putting your car in storage, and while it is in storage, here are a few little tricks:
- Place a plastic sheet under the car and carpet pieces under the tires.
- If you are worried about flat spots on your tires, put the vehicle on a jack stand –this is pretty fancy though.
- Close all of the windows to the car.
- Unhook your car battery while it is in storage.
- Put a plastic bag over the air inlet and exhaust pipes to keep out dust and bugs.
- To keep your car from getting a stale smell, you can put baking soda in select spots (the kind you buy for your fridge with the cardboard cutouts).
- Talk to a mechanic about whether it makes sense to come by and turn on the car every now and then. Some people have told us that unless you get the engine warm and burn off the water vapours, then you are doing more damage, but it’s best to ask the professionals.
How To Take Your Car Out Of Storage:
Vrrrooooommmmmmm, time to take your car out of storage! Try these tips:
- Charge the battery.
- Make sure you remove the baking soda boxes if you put them in (don’t want them to spill while you drive).
- Check the floor for leaks.
- Check the tires for pressure.
- Check the fluid levels for safety.
- If you did put the plastic bag over the air inlet and exhaust pipe, ensure that it is also removed.
- And always check that your brakes work! Take the car out very slowly and give them a few pumps to make sure.
- Check out our helpful video on taking your vehicle out of storage.
We hope these vehicle storage tips and tricks are helpful!
Check out our blog for other helpful advice, like Tips for decluttering your car and our Car storage page for FAQs.
Storage Solutions - Your Local Car Storage Self-Storage Facility!
We hope you'll keep Storage Solutions in mind for your car storage, motorcycle storage, and really, all your self storage needs! Both our Milton self storage location & Woodstock self storage location offer drive up car storage units. Our facilities are secure, fully fenced, brightly lit, and have wide aisles.
The key reasons why customers choose us as a car storage solution is because our storage rentals are easy, affordable, and flexible! BTW - You can even rent a self-storage unit for your car right from our website and pay online too.
Still have questions? Text, call or email us! Our team of self-storage experts is always happy to help.
We also share advice, tips, and tricks (and provide a good laugh too) on social media, so make sure to like or follow us on Instagram & Facebook.
Your friend in self-storage,
Storage Solutions
