You are about to leave a car parked for the winter, and knowing how to store a car long term means sorting out the battery, tires, fuel, and insurance first. Skip a step and you may return to a dead battery, flat-spotted tires, or a coverage gap you did not know about.
How Do You Prepare a Car for Long-Term Storage?
Preparing a car for long-term storage means cleaning it, protecting the fuel, tires, and battery, and parking it so it can sit for 30 days or more and still start when you return. Here is how to store a car long term, step by step:
- Clean the car and remove all food. Vacuum the interior and remove food and trash. Ask the facility about food.
- Treat the fuel. Add a fuel stabilizer if the car will sit 30 days or more. Follow the product label and your owner's manual on how full to leave the tank. Guidance differs on a full tank versus a few gallons.
- Check the oil and fluids. State Farm suggests changing the oil and topping up brake, windshield, and coolant fluids. Check your owner's manual for pre-storage steps.
- Set tire pressure. Use the pressure the tire maker recommends.
- Pick a good parking surface. The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association says a firm, reasonably level, well-drained, and clean surface is best.
- Add a cover. Use a fitted, breathable cover, not plastic that traps moisture.
- Make a battery plan and call your insurer. Both are covered below.
If you own an electric vehicle, check the manual first. Chase says to charge an EV to 40 to 60 percent and use a storage mode if the car has one.
The National Pest Management Association says rodents often nest near the engine for the warmth and unused vehicles are at higher risk. It lists chewed wires there as a warning sign. If the car will sit in a unit or parking space, good storage tips start with cleaning out loose items before you park.
Indoor, Covered, or Outdoor Vehicle Storage: Which Fits a Winter?
Indoor vehicle storage, covered vehicle storage, and outdoor vehicle storage differ mainly in how much weather protection the car gets and how easily you can reach it. USSelfStorage.com is a marketplace where you can search and compare facilities.
| Type | Protection | Typical use | Ask the facility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor vehicle storage | Enclosed unit that limits exposure to wind, rain, snow, and sun; some are climate-controlled | Longer storage, such as a full winter or more | Is the unit enclosed, and is it climate-controlled? |
| Covered vehicle storage | Parking under a canopy, with partial protection | Seasonal storage | Which sides are open, and how high is the canopy? |
| Outdoor vehicle storage | Open, uncovered parking | Short stays and frequent access | Is there a gate, and is the lot lit? |
These are general definitions, and facilities label spaces differently, so ask what each space includes. The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association says indoor storage protects tires from sunlight and ozone.
For secure vehicle storage, ask about gates, cameras, and access hours. Security features do not replace your own auto policy.
Measure the car's length, width, and height before you pick a type. Car storage and vehicle storage listings on USSelfStorage.com let you search by location.
What Do Storage Facilities Ask For When You Store a Car?
Vehicle parking storage requirements vary by facility, and not every facility accepts vehicles at all. Your facility sets its own rules, so ask these questions before you reserve:
- Photo ID and plate number. Ask whether the facility requires photo ID and your plate number.
- Current registration. Ask whether the car must be registered.
- Proof of insurance. Ask whether you need an active policy on the vehicle.
- A car that runs. Ask whether it accepts only operable vehicles.
- Fluid leaks. Ask whether the car must be leak-free.
- Fuel containers and household chemicals. Ask whether they may stay in the space.
- Food and perishables. Ask what must be removed before the car is parked.
- A charger. Ask whether you may plug in a charger or battery maintainer, and whether approval is needed.
Ask about jack stands or tire ramps, too, since a facility may not permit them. Search storage units near you and ask each facility these questions.
How Do You Care for the Battery and Tires While the Car Sits?
Caring for a stored car's battery and tires means keeping the battery charged and the car's weight from flattening the tires.
Battery
Most 12-volt lead-acid batteries will self-discharge and begin to sulfate within four to six weeks if left unattended in a car, according to Midtronics, a battery-testing company. Chase says the two common approaches are a battery maintainer or disconnecting the battery and storing it away from moisture.
Disconnecting has side effects. Honda's owner's manual notes that the clock and radio can reset.
A basic trickle charger delivers constant low current, while a maintainer regulates itself, according to Battery Tender, a charger maker. The company's charger product page also says absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries are more sensitive to overcharging. Match the charger to your battery type, and ask the facility before plugging in.
Tires
The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association says weight left on tires during long parking can cause flat spots. If the weight cannot come off the tires, the association says to keep the recommended pressure in all four tires and the spare and to move the car at least every three months. A temporary flat spot usually disappears once the tires warm up on a short drive. Continental, a tire maker, says adding about 3 pounds per square inch (PSI) before parking can help but should never exceed the maximum cold pressure on the sidewall.
Some owner's manuals, such as Honda's, say to leave the parking brake off, put the transmission in Park, and block the wheels. Chase warns that brake pads can stick to the rotors.
What Insurance Does a Stored Car Need?
What insurance a stored car needs depends on your state, your insurer, and whether the car is financed. Rules vary, so treat this section as a set of questions, not legal advice.
Ask your insurer whether it offers reduced or comprehensive-only coverage while the car is stored and what it removes. State Farm says that for a car in storage 30 days or more, you may be able to suspend liability and collision coverages and keep only comprehensive coverage, and that you add them back before driving again.
New York's DMV says liability coverage must stay in place for as long as a vehicle is registered there, and that plates must be turned in even if the car is stored. California's DMV offers a planned non-operation filing. Check your own state's DMV.
Lenders add another layer. Some lenders require comprehensive and collision coverage for the life of a loan, in some cases even while the car is in storage. Read your loan agreement and ask your lender before you reduce coverage.
Storage unit insurance is a different product. A facility's plan may cover stored belongings but not a vehicle, so ask before you assume coverage.
Questions to ask your insurer and lender:
- Is reduced or comprehensive-only coverage available for a car stored this long?
- Does your insurer set a minimum storage period for reduced coverage?
- Does your lender allow reduced coverage while the car is parked?
- Will your state require you to keep liability insurance or surrender plates?
- Could canceling coverage create a gap, and how could that affect your rates later?
How Do You Get a Stored Car Road-Ready Again?
Getting a stored car road-ready means checking the battery, tires, fluids, brakes, and signs of pests before the first drive. Work through these steps in order:
- Check the battery. Reconnect it if you disconnected it, then reset the clock and radio as your manual directs.
- Check tire pressure. Bring all four tires and the spare to the pressure the tire maker recommends, and look for flat spots. A mild one usually clears once the tires warm up on a short drive.
- Look for leaks. State Farm advises checking all fluids to confirm nothing leaked while the car sat, and using a flashlight to look for drips on the ground under it.
- Test the brakes. Press the pedal before you move, then drive slowly at first, since rotors can pick up light surface rust during storage.
- Inspect for rodents. Look near the engine for nesting material and chewed wires, since damage may not show until you drive.
Frequently Asked Questions About Storing a Car Long Term
Can You Store a Car in a Storage Unit?
Yes, you can store a car in a storage unit at facilities that accept vehicles, but not every facility does. Each facility sets its own rules on registration, insurance, leaks, and fuel containers. Measure the car and check availability on USSelfStorage.com before you commit.
Should You Disconnect the Battery Before Storing a Car Long Term?
Disconnecting the battery before long-term car storage is one of two common options, and a battery maintainer is the other, according to Chase. Disconnecting can reset the clock and radio, as Honda's owner's manual notes, so check your own manual first.
Does Car Insurance Change if the Car Is in Storage?
Car insurance can change when a car is in storage, because some insurers allow reduced or comprehensive-only coverage, though state rules and lender requirements may limit it. A facility's plan may cover belongings but not a vehicle. Ask your insurer and lender before reducing coverage.
What Size Storage Unit Fits a Car?
A 10x30 storage unit is the unit size listed for vehicles on US Self Storage. Check your car's measurements against the unit size guide, and ask the facility whether it offers an enclosed unit or a parking space.
Find Storage Near You
A car stored for the winter needs a place to park as well as a plan, so the next step is choosing where it will sit. Ready to find storage near you? Search by city or ZIP code on USSelfStorage.com to compare pricing, amenities, and reviews across 20,000+ facilities, then reserve online for free.