How you store a car depends on a handful of factors. How old is the car? How long will it be in storage? What is the climate like where you live? The answers to these and more questions will help you maintain the integrity of your vehicle when it is not being driven.
If you need to store a vehicle for the short term, using a storage unit to do so might be an ideal solution. To help you with this process, we answer your car storage questions and provide you with expert advice if you plan to store a car for a year or less.
- Where Should I Store My Car?
If you only need to store a car without driving it for a month or two during a warm season, keeping your car outside with a car cover won’t do much harm. However, if you are looking to put a car away for three months or more, the best option is to store it someplace indoors and away from the elements, such as our Vancouver and Burnaby car storage or White Rock and South Surrey car storage facility.
- Do I Need Climate Control for Vehicle Self-storage?
The majority of cars are stored in a non-climate controlled environment. We do not have extreme weather in general in Greater Vancouver so the need to store a vehicle in a climate-controlled car storage is very low.
- How Much Does It Cost to Store a Car?
For information about the fees of storing your vehicle at our Vancouver and Burnaby car storage or White Rock and South Surrey car storage facility, please contact us for rates.
- How Safe Is Car Storage?
Keep in mind that you are responsible for the contents of your self-storage unit, and you will need to lock it up tight to be certain that you will be the only person with access. You can rest assured, though, that our Vancouver and Burnaby car storage or White Rock and South Surrey car storage facilities are secure and well-maintained. We take the security of our customers’ property very seriously.
- Is Working on a Car in a Storage Unit Allowed?
No; unfortunately working on a car in a storage unit is prohibited. Working on cars on site creates issues with oil and fluid spills. Besides the lack of electric power, noise, smoke, and odors are all factors that affect other customers. You should get all engine maintenance done off-site before storing your vehicle in a storage unit.
- How Do I Prepare a Car for Storage?
There are a few things you should do before storing your car in a storage unit. For storage under a year in length, review our recommended steps to prepare your vehicle below.
- Perform Basic Car Storage Maintenance
Before you put your vehicle into storage, do some basic maintenance to protect your investment.
- Fill the tank with premium high-octane gasoline to help prevent condensation. With a full tank of gas, the chances of moisture forming in the tank or lines are greatly reduced.
- Add a fuel stabilizer to increase the longevity of the fuel in your tank for up to 12 months. Be sure to read any manufacturer specifications before adding.
- Remove the vehicle’s battery to prevent acids from escaping and damaging the car. Most batteries do not store well during the winter and all batteries discharge over time.
- Change or top off the oil, brake fluid and antifreeze before storing.
- Protect Your Car’s Finish and Avoid Pests
Many people underestimate the importance of this next step. Placing a dirty, unkempt car into storage is risky in that you could damage the car’s finish or attract unwanted critters. Take the time to do the following to your car before storage.
- Wash and wax your vehicle. Do not forget door jambs and under the hood.
- Vacuum and dust the interior and apply a conditioner to any vinyl surfaces. This will not only protect your vinyl from drying out, but it can also help prevent any foul odors from developing and thus deter rodents and pests from taking up residence. If you plan on steam cleaning, do so far enough in advance for the interior to completely dry.
- Give the car’s exterior a final wipe down once it reaches its storage location. This step eliminates any final traces of dust, debris or salt.
- Use a car cover to further protect the car’s exterior finish while in storage.
- Prevent Tires From Flat Spotting
Tires can be the first thing to cause issues when storing a car for an extended period. Flat spotting occurs when a tire flattens over time due to contact with the ground. If you plan to store a car for more than a month, consider resting the vehicle on blocks or jack stands.
If you are looking for a Vancouver and Burnaby car storage or White Rock and South Surrey car storage facility, please call or visit U-Lock Mini Storage and inquire about our car storage facilities and rates!