Outdoor & Seasonal Car Storage Maintenance

As the season's change, so do our vehicle requirements. This often leaves families with trucks, SUVs or sports cars sitting out in the driveway, or taking up space in a garage during the periods when they aren't needed any longer. This isn't the optimal way to store your ride, and there are better seasonal car storage options you can use instead.

Below we'll touch on the major concerns when storing a vehicle for a season or two, and how you should store your ride and how to maintain it so it keeps running properly.

Whether you decide to use a facility offering outdoor car storage near me, or you look for an indoor solution, you can house your vehicle safely and at a reasonable cost if you know how to maintain it properly. 

Why the Garage isn't Ideal for Seasonal Car Storage

The most natural storage location most people consider first is their home's garage. A garage is essentially free and is readily accessible as well. It isn't the most practical seasonal storage solution though.

If you plan to use your garage for seasonal storage, you often can't house all of your other vehicles away from the elements as a result. That means one or more of your other vehicles is now sitting out in the elements completely, which isn't good either.

Not only that, but you'll likely be opening and closing your garage regularly, which exposes your stored vehicle to the elements more than necessary. Instead of the garage, a self-storage unit makes more sense for seasonal storage.

This type of storage offers an affordable location to house your vehicle that can stay shut, and there are units that are conveniently accessible if you do end up needing that vehicle. By using the right self-storage tips along with a good unit, you can house your car for a season very effectively. 

Prepping Your Vehicle for Seasonal Storage

If you plan to use a self-storage unit like the ones offered by Central Coast Storage, you must prep your ride carefully before putting it away.

No matter what season you're storing your car or truck, you need to put it up on jack stands to avoid soft spots in your tires. You must top up the gas tank and put in new engine oil to protect your engine and fuel system. Add a fuel stabilizer for additional protection.

Also, wash your vehicle down and wax it to protect the outer coating. If you'll be storing your ride in winter you should remove your battery and put it in climate-controlled storage space as well. Fully climate-controlled storage units provide the ultimate protection and make an excellent choice for any luxury collectibles with large price tags.

Follow these basic steps and your vehicle will remain in good shape until you're ready for it the following season. 

Choosing Between Indoor and Outdoor Units

There are so many outdoor car storage options available today that it can be tempting to save some money and house your vehicle in a lot at your local storage facility. Central Coast Storage provides indoor storage units to keep away light, weather, and most pests.

These units are still affordable, and they can be had at large enough sizes for most standard cars and trucks. Follow these simple guidelines and choose the right self-storage unit size for your vehicle to keep it safe during the seasons you won't be driving it.