Storing Your Car
You’ve just spent hundreds of dollars having Number 1 Auto Transport bring in your unique classic or exotic car from the auction six states away. You spent much time finding the car, truck, or SUV you wanted. You’ve worked with our Number 1 Auto Transport team for a flawless transport experience.
You won’t ruin it by skimping on storage, are you? You won’t let it sit out in the sun or become a dusty barn found fifteen years down the road. And you sure aren’t going to slap a tarp on it to mar the paint, will you?
Here are our best tips for storing your new – or new to you – car, truck, SUV, exotic car, classic car, or even classic motorcycle!
Location is Everything
Finding the right place to store your vehicle is important. You want it to be accessible, controllable, protected, and secure. There are several options, anything from a rented garage to a storage unit to dedicated auto storage facilities with specialists on staff that can take care of your ride when stored there. It’s all a matter of budget. In some cases, you may be willing to trade it, being close so that you can store your vehicle in a superior facility. With a team from Number 1 Auto Transport by your side, that specialized long-distance facility can be as convenient as a cheap garage down the block.
Controlling the Climate
The main reason you need it controllable, as mentioned above, is to dictate the climate your vehicle sits in. Extreme heat or extreme cold can harm a vehicle and degrade cosmetic and mechanical components.
This may be a factor in choosing the appropriate facility. In comparison, a dedicated vehicle storage business is usually the most expensive option but also the safest. These are watertight storage spots with climate control systems and backups. Storage units are generally watertight but often lack climate control. Garages often have the opposite traits – climate control, but with the highest likelihood of leaking or drafts.
Storing Your Car, So it is Ready to Go.
The best way to have a car, truck, SUV, exotic, or motorcycle stay in great shape during storage and beyond is to ensure it is clean and roadworthy before putting it in. Storing the car properly reduces wear, tear, stress, and strain on the components and systems.
- Fill ‘er Up: A topped-off fuel tank prevents the inside of the gas tank from rusting during long periods of being idle. When the metal in the tanks is exposed to air, the surfaces can rust. Make sure you top off as high as possible before storing!
- Oil, too: If your oil has been in your vehicle long enough, it has collected impurities and particulates. That’s just the oil doing its job! However, if you let it sit idle, those particulates can settle and collect and damage what the oil is supposed to lubricate with the oil not circulating. Change the oil and filter within a few miles of storing your vehicle to ensure that only the cleanest oil sits in it during storage. Plus, your car, truck, SUV, or motorcycle will be ready for use the minute you want to start it back up!
- Deep Clean, Inside and Out: Empty the interior and clean it well. Ensure any trash is tossed out, give the upholstery a good vacuum, and wipe down surfaces to remove as much dust as possible. If you’ve got leather or vinyl, use a protectant. Same for the exterior – give your vehicle a good pampering! Dirt, grease, and grime can become damage and corrosion if left on paint and metal or for weeks or months. A good wash will get these off, and you should follow that with a nice coat of wax to provide a layer of protection from elements, dirt, and everything else it may have to cope with while in storage.
- Plug the Pipe: It may sound a bit weird, but plugging the tailpipe can protect your vehicle against covert damage. Moisture can rust the inside of the pipe. Even worse – especially if you are storing it in a rented garage or another less secure facility – critters, including mice, can get in there and cause some damage or build nests. Don’t let that happen to your ride!
- No Brakes: Don’t put the emergency brake on. Using the parking brake for months at a time can stress and damage the components. Instead, use purpose-made wheel chocks or even simple blocks of wood to prevent rolling.
- Don’t Let the Rubber Meet the Road: Don’t just leave your vehicle on the concrete. Put a sheet or tarp under those tires! Parking on a sheet protects tires from sticking to the concrete. It can also prevent any oils on the floor from damaging the wheels. Even better, it will help you see if a fluid leak occurs during storage – instead of being absorbed into the concrete or macadam, it will still be there when you return.
Transporting Your Car To Or From Storage
You might not want to drive your vehicle to or from the storage facility. That’s when you want to give us a call again at Number 1 Auto Transport. We don’t just make the big, long-distance hauls. We have carriers and drivers available for short, single-vehicle transport too! Single-car and enclosed or open multi-car carriers are all used to safely and securely get your vehicle to or from the storage facility! Call us today, and we can figure out the best way to get your vehicle out of storage to enjoy the months ahead or return it to storage over the cold winter months!
