Whether you're traveling abroad for an extended time or don't have the room to store a vehicle, self-storage units can free up space and provide a safer environment for vehicles you want to preserve. However, putting your car in a self-storage unit is more difficult than simply parking it for months.
In fact, neglecting your car ahead of time can cause mechanical and body damage. Fortunately, Jumbo Storage can show you how to store your vehicle in a self-storage unit while keeping it in perfect condition.
What to Know Before Storing Your Vehicle in a Storage Unit
1. Choose the Right Storage Unit
Before you store a vehicle, you want to choose a storage facility with a gated entry and security cameras. Cars are valuable items, and an insecure or infrequently visited storage unit is at greater risk of theft. Vehicles can be stored in three ways:
- In the open
- In covered parking lots
- In enclosed units
Depending on which type of storage facility you choose, if you’re leaving the car for more than a few days, we recommend an enclosed unit for protection from weather and potential tampering. For an antique or classic car, you should consider a climate-controlled storage unit.
2. Gather Important Documentation
Depending on the storage facility, you’ll likely need to prove ownership and registration for any vehicle you want to store in a self-storage unit. Be prepared to provide the following documentation when speaking with the storage facility:
- Title
- Registration
- Proof of insurance
- Photo ID
- Plate number
3. How to Prepare Your Car for Storage
Before you store your vehicle, follow these steps to protect the body, interior, and mechanics of your car:
- Clean the interior, including dusting, vacuuming, and taking out all the trash and other items. This will reduce any smells that might attract pests and treat any vinyl with conditioner to keep it from drying out.
- Gently wash and wax the exterior to prevent damage to the body. Before storing the car and covering it with a proper car cover, it should be completely dry.
- Fill the tire to its maximum inflation pressure to prevent flat-spotting.
- Fill the gas tank to keep condensation from collecting and prevent dried-up seals and rust from forming.
- Change the oil and top off the brake fluid, antifreeze, and coolant to avoid corrosion and oxidation.
Leaving Your Car in the Storage Unit
When you leave your car in the storage unit, you should take proper measures to protect the car’s body and mechanics. The first step, you should back the car into the storage unit, so it’s easier to reinstall or jump the battery.
Then disconnect or remove the battery to keep acids from leaking onto other car parts, disengage the parking brake, and store the car on a block or jack if you're concerned about flat-spotting. Lastly, lock the car, put on the car cover, and surround the outside of the car with cedar, mothballs, or traps to keep pests out.
Car Storage at Jumbo Storage in Asheville, NC
Whether you need short-term vehicle storage or you plan to store your car for an extended period of time. Jumbo Storage is here to help. We provide a variety of self-storage units and personal storage garages in various sizes and types that can accommodate RVs, collectibles, and business vehicles.
With 24/7 access and security, we make storing your vehicle simple and easy. Contact us today or call (828) 450-1077 for more information about our storage facility and what we can offer.