What, When, and How to Store Your Car

When a vehicle is off the road and undriven for months at a time, a lot can go wrong. Here is why and what to do about it so you return to a tip-top-shape car or truck.

Cars left unused, undriven, and unmaintained for extended periods of time can develop problems from simply standing still. This is why auto storage is a bit more complicated than finding a parking spot and leaving it for weeks or months at a time.

What is the problem?

All kinds of trouble happens when a car is just parked for a long time, not driving on the road. This goes for late-model vehicles as well as vintage cars. Lubricants dry up in parts that aren’t moving. Batteries die when not used. Tires lose their pressure and deflate, sometimes developing irregularities that lead to a bumpy ride later. Moisture can get into the engine and other parts while gaskets and seals dry up, leading to leakage later. Depending on where the vehicle is stored it might become home to mice and other varmints.

When does a stored car need special attention?

Basically, any time a vehicle (gas-powered and electric) is left unattended for a month or more, it can lead to some form of deterioration. Vehicles are made to move and constructed in such a way that the movement ensures fluids, electricity (from the battery), air and rubber (tires) get regular use and circulation. This pertains to storage for antique cars as much as for late model luxury and mid-price vehicles.

For individuals who maintain two or more homes, very often a car stays behind at one of them. Or when a person accepts a work or military assignment out of town or out of the country, they might have to leave behind a beloved vehicle. Students spending a semester or year abroad might also have to abandon a car for months on end.

Making it even more necessary is when the car is left unused in harsh weather conditions. A fabric cover might keep out precipitation and sunshine, but that doesn’t do much for the battery, fuel tank, gaskets, seals, and tires.

Where professional car storage can prevent these problems

So car storage can be damaging – but there are ways to mitigate the problem. It’s best to address it on several fronts, including through a professional and discount car storage company that would ensure the following:

Change the oil, because clean oil prevents corrosion in storage.

Lubricate by applying light-grade oil before storage to trunk handles, door handles and the hood hinge.

Add a fuel stabilizer to prevent gasoline degradation add stabilizers to prevent corrosion in fuel lines and the tank itself.

Inflate your tires (to the top PSI or a little more). If you are leaving the car parked for about a month, check before you leave they are inflated at least to the recommended level of pressure. For longer periods, overinflate the tires. You could put the car on blocks or jacks, but be sure they are stable for the long haul (hydraulic jacks can fail over time).

Use battery trickle chargers to keep the battery operating (and charged) even when the car is standing still. If the car is electric (EV), it might be started and recharged remotely; an EV battery should be charged to about 50 percent before being left sitting for a month or more. EVs can also be left plugged in the entire time.

Cover the tailpipe and air intake openings with aluminum foil or fabric to block out insect invasions and nests.

Start the car every couple of weeks if you’re nearby to do so (or have a friend or paid caretaker do it for you in your absence).

So for those who travel without their car or otherwise don’t drive the vehicle for a long time, take heed. A lot can go wrong, but a lot can be done to prevent the ill effects of what otherwise happens to a stationary vehicle.