Smart tips for long-term vehicle storage

Tips for long-term vehicle storage

There may be a time when you'll need to store your car. Deployments, overseas tours, long vacations or splitting time in different parts of the country are a few reasons USAA members may go months or even years without using their personal vehicle.

If you won't need your vehicle for an extended period, educate yourself on the financial and physical aspects of storing your car or truck.

An opportunity to trim your insurance cost

When you put your vehicle in storage, you might be able to reduce your insurance premiums by suspending the collision and liability portions of your coverage. To avoid suspension of your registration for lack of insurance, you may need to file an affidavit of non-use with your state's department of motor vehicles.

Keep in mind, if you're still making car payments, the terms of your loan may prohibit you from paring your protection. If you're financing your vehicle, lenders may require you to have collision and comprehensive coverage.

As you look to trim your insurance bill, just make sure you're not deleting something you may need. If you get rid of the "comprehensive" part of your policy, you won't have protection from hazards your vehicle could face while standing still, such as hail, fire, trees and theft.

How to prepare your vehicle for storage

Rather than simply parking an idle vehicle and walking away, protect it from a long period of disuse with a careful, deliberate approach to preparing it for storage.

Also if you're planning to deploy soon, check out Money management tips for deployment.

Clean it up

Sure, nobody's going to be seeing your vehicle for a long time, but it's still important to give your car or truck a thorough cleaning, inside and out. You'll help the longevity of your paint and avoid the buildup of odors from decaying messes in the carpet, upholstery, cup holders and under the seats.

Oil it up

To prevent harm to your engine from contaminants left alone and unfiltered for long periods, consider changing the oil before storing your vehicle.

Fill it up

Top off your fuel tank to prevent condensation or ice from forming. Since ethanol-blended gas can deteriorate after a few months, it's also a good idea to add fuel stabilizer, which prevents corrosion.

Jack it up

Over time, constant pressure on the sections of your tires in contact with the ground creates flat patches that can become irreversible. It takes extra effort, but the best practice for long-term storage is to elevate your vehicle on jack stands.

Pump it up

If you don't use jacks, the next best thing is to put a little extra air in your tires to give them more strength and a head start against gradual deflation. Shoot for pressure of 10 PSI over the normal inflation level, but don't exceed the maximum level indicated by the manufacturer.

Chock it up

If you leave your vehicle on the ground, it's best not to use the parking brake. Over time, the brake pads could fuse to the rotors. Instead, keep it stationary with chock blocks.

Charge it up

To prevent a slow death of your battery, connect it to a trickle charger, a device that connects your battery to an electrical outlet. A simpler approach that won't last as long is to disconnect the negative battery cable.

Seal it up

To prevent insects, rodents and critters from turning your car into their home, block off potential entry points. Cover the exhaust pipe with aluminum foil or stuff it with steel wool. To make sure you don't start the engine with a blocked exhaust, leave yourself a prominent reminder that you've plugged it up.