Tips To Prepare Your Car For Storage

There could be many reasons why you’re thinking about putting your car into storage. Perhaps you’re looking to take an extended holiday and want to keep your car secure while you’re away. Or maybe you simply don’t have the space at home to keep an extra car that you don’t use on a regular basis.

No matter your situation, there are steps you must take to prepare your vehicle for storage, especially if you intend to store your car for 30 days or more. By undertaking a few quick and easy tasks, you’ll be able to keep your car in tip top condition and ensure it’s in full working order when the time comes to reclaim your vehicle.  Here’s 6 tips to protect and maintain your car while it’s in storage.

#1 Select an appropriate storage unit

First of all, you’ll need to hire a car storage unit that offers sufficient space to store your vehicle. Generally, a 6x3m storage unit will be suitable for most makes and models. Secondly, it’s best to choose undercover storage facilities that are contained within an enclosed environment. When your car is kept indoors, it will be protected from the elements and won’t be subjected to harsh or extreme temperatures.

 

#2 Clean your car inside and out

It’s a good idea to clean your car interior before putting it into storage. For starters, it will allow you to return to a nice and neat car, but more importantly, it will reduce the build-up of dust around fixtures and gears. Give your car a thorough vacuum and wipe down, and make sure you check all the nooks and crannies for rubbish and food scraps. The last thing you want is for mould to grow or for your car to develop an odour while it’s in storage. You can also leave the windows down a little bit to encourage ventilation and ensure the air inside your vehicle doesn’t become too stale or musty.

When it comes to the outside of your car, you will need to wash away all contaminants that could corrode the paint and turn to rust. This includes dirt, dust, water marks and any other general grime that your car could have picked up. It also pays to wax your car after washing it to provide it with an extra layer of protection while in storage.

During the process of washing your car, you may also want to lubricate the bonnet, boot and door seals to prevent them from drying out and becoming squeaky and creaky.

#3 Replace your oil and coolant

 If you’re looking at long term car storage, you should definitely replace your oil and coolant before you leave your vehicle behind. With time, the oil inside your car can become acidic and start to destroy your engine.  By filling your car with fresh oil, it will take longer for it to break down and turn acidic. You should also fill up your car with petrol to avoid moisture build up inside the fuel tank as this could lead to other mechanical problems.

 #4 Take care of your tyres

Tyres will natural lose pressure over time, but the rate of this process can be significantly increased when your car is left stationary. Under the weight of your unmoving vehicle, your tyres will be far more likely to develop flat spots. There are, however, a couple of things you can do to stop this from happening.

If you or someone you trust is able to access the car every 1-2 weeks, it’s worthwhile taking it for a short 15-minute drive to help keep the tyres in good condition. Alternatively, if this isn’t an option, you can remove the tyres and put your car up on jack stands.

Whether you decide to keep your tyres on or not, it’s recommended that you leave the handbrake off to ensure the brake pads don’t rust or seize. If you leave your tyres on, you can use a tyre stopper to prevent your car from moving while the handbrake is off.

#5 Do what’s best for your battery

Regular, short drives every couple of weeks won’t just help your tyres. It will also keep your battery charged and give you the opportunity to run the aircon to ensure the air quality in your car remains fresh.

If you’re unable to arrange for your car to be driven while it’s in storage, you can either remove the battery completely to retain the charge or you can hook it up to a trickle charger.

 #6 Notify your insurer

When putting your car into storage, you may be tempted to cancel the insurance in order to save a bit of money. But beware, if you need to reinsure the car at a later date, your insurance company may notice the gap in coverage and increase your premium. It’s best to instead notify your insurer that your car will be kept in a secure, undercover storage facility, and this will most likely lead to a decrease in price in the meantime.

Arrange Your Car Storage Unit Today

At Ezi Storage, we offer state-of-the-art, undercover storage facilities just off the freeway in Osborne Park. If you’re looking for a secure car storage solution, our friendly team are here to help. Contact us today.

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