Finding the Perfect Long-Term Car Storage
If you're the owner of several vehicles, there is a good chance you're actively looking for a place to store some of the extras. For many vehicle owners, self-storage facilities are the best locations for keeping extra cars, trucks, or even RVs stored out of the way. These facilities are often designed with large vehicles in mind, and extra steps are taken to offer a top-level of protection.
Finding the right car storage location can be difficult, though. That's why we made this list of tips for locating the best facility to keep your vehicles at. Use them to help you choose the perfect space for your cars, and they'll stay well-protected from thieves and the elements when they're not in use.
Long-Term Car Storage Checklist
Finding an appropriate storage space is only part of the process. Your vehicle also needs to be prepared before it sits for an extended period. Before long-term storage:
- Wash and thoroughly dry the exterior
- Clean food, garbage, and unnecessary belongings out of the interior
- Check the tires and inflate them according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations
- Check fluids and address any leaks before storage
- Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the battery during extended periods of non-use
- Avoid setting the parking brake for an extended period if your vehicle manufacturer advises against it, and use appropriate wheel chocks where necessary
- Make sure registration, insurance, and storage-facility requirements are handled before leaving the vehicle
Preparation can vary significantly by vehicle, particularly for classic, luxury, electric, and specialty vehicles, so your owner’s manual should be the primary reference for model-specific long-term storage instructions.
Consider Kelowna’s Seasons When Planning Vehicle Storage
Long-term vehicle storage in Kelowna may mean leaving a car unused through very different conditions depending on the time of year. A summer vehicle, for example, might spend the colder months in storage while its owner switches to something better suited to winter driving.
That makes seasonal planning important. Decide when the vehicle will go into storage, approximately when you expect to retrieve it, and whether you’ll need to access it in between. If you’re putting away other warm-weather belongings at the same time, our guide to winter prep using storage units covers ways to rotate summer and winter belongings as the seasons change.
Decide Just How Much Protection is Enough
The first step to deciding on the right self-storage facility to keep your vehicle at is deciding just how much protection you need for your ride. Decide whether you want indoor or outdoor storage. Also, consider whether climate-controlled space is vital to you or not. Outdoor parking will be the most affordable, but indoor storage will offer a superior level of protection. Consider that if you use outdoor storage, you'll want to purchase a car cover to help protect your ride from the elements during storage. Airport Village self-storage offers outdoor parking spaces as well as indoor climate-controlled drive-up units.
Get Just the Right Space for Your Vehicle
Measure your vehicle to determine how wide and long it is so you know what spaces will work for long-term car storage for you. Most compact vehicles will fit into a 10' x 15' storage space, but longer vehicles will require a 10' x 20' space or even a 10' x 30' space when storing indoors. If you have something that's longer than 30 ', you will have to rely on an outdoor parking space for up to 54' of length overall when storing at a location like Airport Village vehicle storage. Choose a space that fits your vehicle as closely as possible, and you can reduce your storage costs somewhat.
Look for Reliable Security
When you're storing your vehicle for the off-season, you want to make sure it's held in a facility that's going to guard it well. This is another area where Airport Village storage units stand out. Many of the top options are outfitted with motion detectors to help ensure the facility is well-protected. When you have a valuable vehicle, it's best to store it somewhere it's going to be safe. Use all these simple tips to help you find the ideal car storage location for your vehicles, and they'll stay in better condition during the off-season or until you're ready to use them again.
