Do you have a vehicle that you only drive on a seasonal basis, or will you be placing your primary vehicle into storage while away on an extended holiday? If so, you should know that the steps you take before placing your vehicle in long-term storage can have a huge impact on the condition of your vehicle when it is taken out of storage. Below, you will find a few helpful tips to ensure that your vehicle is properly prepped for storage so that you ultimately enjoy the best possible experience when removing your vehicle from storage.

Always Wash Your Vehicle Before Putting It Into Storage

While it may seem silly to wash and wax your vehicle before putting it away where no one will see it for several weeks or months at a time, the truth is that this step can be extremely important to protecting your vehicle's paint.

This is because over time, water marks, dirt, and bird droppings can all eat away at the paint on your vehicle and result in permanent etching. In order to avoid this problem, you will want to wash, dry, and wax your vehicle as close to putting it in storage as possible.

Get An Oil Change

Contaminants may be present in your engine oil even if it has only been a month since your last oil change. While these contaminants will not be enough to damage your vehicle when it is being driven and the oil is circulating every day, they can cause serious damage to your engine if allowed to sit idle for long periods of time. This is why it is best to always get an oil change directly before placing your vehicle into long-term storage.

Use Tire Stoppers Rather Than Your Parking Brake

If you are simply parking your vehicle for a few days while away on vacation, using your parking brake to keep the vehicle from moving will not do any damage to your car. However, when placing a vehicle into long-term storage, the pressure that is applied by your parking brake can result in permanent flat spots in your tires.

In order to avoid this damage, place tire stoppers under each wheel of your car. Once the vehicle is secure, put the vehicle into neutral rather than park. Just remember to put the vehicle back in park before removing the tire stoppers or you could find yourself chasing a runaway car. For more help preparing your car long-term storage, try contacting a company such as Craig Road Mini Storage with any questions or concerns you might have.

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