Yes, you can store a car in a storage unit. The short version: get the right size, prep the car properly, and pick the spot that matches your budget and how long your car will sit.
What Size Storage Unit Do You Need for a Car?
Most cars can fit in a 10×20 storage unit, but here’s a fuller picture:
- 10×15 (150 sq ft): This fits subcompact and compact cars. These average 14–15 feet. But there’s not much room to walk around your car once it’s parked.
- 10×20 (200 sq ft): Most people pick this for a car. It’s about the size of a one-car garage, so there’s room to spare.
- 10×25 (250 sq ft): This size is better for larger SUVs, extended-cab trucks, or smaller cars stored alongside other belongings.
- 10×30 (300 sq ft): You’ll need this for full-size trucks, cargo vans, or lots of extra storage space.
Before you commit to a size, measure your car’s length, width, and height, and remember to factor in the side mirrors.
Height is the spec you should remember to ask about. Storage unit doors are around 7 feet 8 inches high, which works for most cars and SUVs. But a lifted truck or a van with a roof rack might not clear it.
Types of Car Storage: Which One Is Right for You?
Car storage pricing comes down to two things: what kind of space you’re renting and where it is.
Indoor unit (drive-up)
Here you’ve got protection against weather, dust, and theft.
Storage facilities usually advertise vehicle storage and drive-up access specifically, but confirm the door’s height and length before you book. Expect to pay $150 to $270 a month for a standard unit.
For longer-term storage or to protect a classic car, you’ll need one with continual HVAC cooling. Budget for an extra $25–$150 a month, depending on the size and the location of your storage spot.
Covered outdoor parking
This is an open-air space with a canopy or roof. It shields your car from direct sun and falling rain or snow, but not from wind or temperature swings.
It’s a solid middle ground when indoor storage isn’t available or in the budget. It’ll cost you $50 to $200 a month, depending on the lot.
Uncovered outdoor parking
This is an open spot, usually in a fenced parking lot. It’s the cheapest option, but it comes with the least protection. The price range runs pretty wide, from $17 to $100 a month, depending on where you live.
You’re probably fine with this for short stints in mild weather, but if you need something long-term or live somewhere with brutal heat and cold, indoor storage is the way to go.
A garage or driveway near you
No matter where you live, someone nearby is renting out their unused garage, driveway, or patch of land. That’s what you’ll find on Neighbor.
These local spots are listed right alongside traditional storage units, so you can see every option in one search.
Compared with traditional storage, renters save up to 50% by going with neighborhood spaces. Check photos and reviews, and message the host with any questions before you book. They then have 24 hours to approve your request.
What Affects Your Car Storage Price
Storing a car is like renting an apartment: you pay more where there’s more demand, so prices in big cities are generally higher than suburban and rural rates.
- New York: $104 to $384 a month
- Los Angeles: $164 to $356 a month
- Phoenix: $35 to $248 a month
Billing is usually month-to-month with no proration, so you pay for the full month even if you only need 3 weeks. If you know how long you’ll need to store your car, it’ll help you land in the right pricing tier from the start.
We touched on this above, but a unit with continual HVAC cooling adds $25–$150 to your monthly bill. If you’re just parking your daily drive for one season in a mild climate, a standard covered spot does the job for less.
Laws and Regulations to Know Before Storing a Car
A car in storage has a title, plate, and insurance status that the state keeps tracking, even when your wheels aren’t in motion.
Registration must stay current
Most storage facilities want to see valid registration for the whole time your car is stored, so check that yours won’t lapse mid-rental.
At sign-in, some facilities also ask for the vehicle identification number, and the name on the registration usually has to match the renter’s ID.
Insurance rules vary by state
Each state sets its own rules about insurance for stored vehicles through its DMV. Some want you to keep at least minimum coverage while the car is registered, even while it sits.
Others let you reduce or suspend coverage, but only if you formally notify the DMV and surrender your plates. But many facilities still ask for active insurance at check-in. Check the state’s and facility’s rules before you cancel anything.
Facilities have more rules
Beyond registration and insurance regulations, facilities ban mechanical repairs inside the unit and overfilled fuel tanks, both because of the risk of fire.
Read the lien section of the storage agreement before you sign, since it spells out that your car can be towed or auctioned if rent goes unpaid.
If your state licenses vehicle storage, confirm the facility holds that license, too.
What to Bring to Move-In
A facility can turn the car away if even one of these pieces is missing, and that means a second trip:
- Valid registration: It has to be current, and the name on it has to match your photo ID.
- Proof of active insurance: Even if your state lets you suspend coverage, many facilities still ask for it.
- A drivable car: It needs to roll in under its own steam or arrive on a trailer. If it won’t start, it can’t stay.
- Photo ID: Standard at sign-in.
How to Prepare Your Car for Storage
A few steps will keep your car in good shape whenever you need it again:
- Clean it inside and out: Wash and wax the outside, then vacuum and wipe down the inside. Crumbs and stains are an invitation to pests, and anything left on the surface eats into the paint job over time.
- Change the oil and top off the fluids: Used oil goes acidic when it sits, so swap it out before storage. Top off the coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. Fill the tank to 90% full and add fuel stabilizer if the car will sit for more than 1 month.
- Handle the battery: Disconnect the negative terminal, or hook up a battery maintainer (a trickle charger that kicks in by itself) if your unit has a power outlet.
- Take care of the tires: Inflate tires 5–10 PSI above the recommended pressure to help prevent flat spots where the tires touch the ground. It’ll also offset pressure drops from cold weather. For really long storage, consider using jack stands to keep the weight off your tires completely. But jacks aren’t good for all cars, so check your driver’s manual first.
- Leave the parking brake off: The pads can fuse to the rotors when they stay clamped. Chock the wheels instead, so the car can’t roll.
- Close off pest entryways: Stuff a rag in the exhaust pipe and seal any other obvious gaps. Then leave a note on the steering wheel so you remember to pull everything out before you start it up.
- Throw a breathable cover over it: A cloth cover keeps dust off the paint and lets moisture escape. Skip plastic tarps, since they trap condensation against the body and could leave you with rust spots.
These are the main points, but you’ll get more from our step-by-step guide.
How Long Can You Store a Car in a Storage Unit?
There’s no hard limit. For storage under 30 days, a basic clean and battery disconnect are usually enough. Beyond a month, add fuel stabilizer and run the prep checklist above.
Take the car for a short drive every 2 weeks if you can, especially during a long stretch. It keeps the cylinders lubricated, circulates the fluids, and stops the battery from fully draining.
Find the Right Car Storage Space on Neighbor
Now you know you can store a car in a storage unit, the next part is finding a spot. Neighbor puts traditional units at national facilities next to driveways, garages, and spare land, so you can browse everything near you without making separate calls.
Eligible spaces can come with up to $50,000 in renter property protection, and a 4.9-star rating across 689,000+ reviews tells us that renters are finding storage easier, cheaper, and closer to home.
Compare photos, prices, and reviews, or call us if you’d rather talk it over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you store a car in a storage unit?
Yes, you can store a car in a storage unit, as long as the facility or host on Neighbor allows it, and the spot has drive-up access. Measure your car, double-check the storage unit’s dimensions, and have your registration and proof of insurance ready before you book.
What size storage unit do I need for a car?
Most cars need a 10×20 storage unit, but step up to a 10×25 or 10×30 for a large SUV or if you’re storing more than your vehicle.
Do you need insurance to store a car in a storage unit?
Most likely, yes. Many storage facilities need to see proof of active insurance at check-in, regardless of state law. Check the rules at your state’s DMV and your storage space before you reduce your coverage.
Should you leave the parking brake on when storing a car?
No. Leaving the parking brake engaged for a long time can fuse the brake pads to the rotors. Use wheel chocks instead to keep the car from rolling.
Can you store a car in a storage unit long-term?
Yes. With proper prep, a car can stay in storage for months or even years. But giving it a short drive every 2 weeks helps keep the cylinders, fluids, and battery in good condition.
