As a classic car owner, you’ve sunk anywhere from $15,000 to $250,000 into your vintage vehicle. For this reason, you may be reluctant to entrust a third-party storage facility with your several-thousand-dollar investment. After all, vehicle storage—without the proper precautions taken—poses risks like battery drainage, accumulated moisture in the gas tank, engine oil contamination, and even cosmetic damage. But what if these risks were avoidable? What if you knew that parking your classic car on your driveway poses more risk than long-term storage in a facility?
When parked in your driveway, your vintage vehicle is vulnerable to harsh weather (hail, wind, rain) that can tarnish your exterior, not to mention wandering gaze of thieves who may be eyeing your $80,000 Mercedes-Benz 230SL.
When stored in an enclosed storage unit, however, your classic car is weather-proofed and stowed away under lock and key. Sure, long-term classic car storage isn’t risk-free, but with adequate preparation (disconnecting the battery, using a fuel system stabilizer, investing in a car cover) and careful screenings of the different storage facilities available in your area, your vintage vehicle won’t sustain a single scratch.
Ready to learn more about classic car storage best practices? Buckle for a journey down Storage Best Practice lane.
Short Summary
- Choose the right classic car storage facility with security measures, climate control and additional amenities.
- Prepare your classic car for storage by cleaning & maintaining it, managing fluids & battery care.
- Understand the breadth of a facility’s insurance or protection plan coverage options
Choosing the Right Classic Car Storage Facility
Pre-storage, you can fill the gas tank, change the oil, fill the tires with air, and uninstall the battery, but these precautionary measures won’t matter if you abandon your high-ticket classic car at a rickety storage facility (without security cameras installed).
Selecting the appropriate classic car storage facility is vital to ensure the security and conservation of your collector car. Factors such as the age, condition, and value of your car should be taken into account when determining the best classic vehicle storage option.
Parking options available for storing classic cars include:
- Uncovered outdoor parking
- Covered outdoor parking
- Traditional indoor storage
- Climate-controlled indoor storage
*Note: Uncovered outdoor parking puts your vintage vehicle at higher risk than covered outdoor parking, much like covered outdoor parking involves a higher risk than traditional indoor storage.
Professional storage facilities offer numerous advantages, such as:
- Convenient drive-up service for easy access
- 24-7 access
- Climate and moisture control
- Drainage for washing
Furthermore, these facilities guarantee 24-hour surveillance, granting peace of mind to those classic car owners unsettled by the rampant burglaries afflicting traditional storage units.
When selecting a classic car storage facility, it is crucial to consider security measures such as:
- Gated access
- Lighting
- On-site monitoring
- Alarm-guarded units
- Video surveillance
The implementation of human security guards, surveillance systems, and access control is recommended to guarantee the safety of your classic car. Ensuring adequate security measures, whether in a garage, shed, or storage facility, is paramount to protecting your prized possession.
If the security measures instated by a traditional storage facility still don’t meet your baseline security expectations, consider Neighbor, a peer-to-peer storage marketplace that connects renters to private storage hosts. Because these private hosts rent out the garages on their permanent residence, you can rest assured, knowing there will always be a set of eyes on your prized procession.
Climate-Controlled Environment
While you could always store your Cadillac DeVille on your driveway, a climate-controlled storage unit lends additional protection from temperature fluctuations and humidity that could potentially harm your car both internally and externally.
Operating the air conditioner intermittently during classic car storage can help preserve the climate system. Climate and moisture control offer assurance that your car is protected from mold and rust, maintaining its pristine condition.
Choosing a storage facility with a climate-controlled environment may come at an additional cost, but the investment is worthwhile to protect your classic car from the detrimental effects of moisture and extreme temperatures. When it comes to preserving your valuable classic car, cutting corners on climate control could result in costly damage in the long run.
Additional Amenities
When selecting a classic car storage facility, it’s essential to consider amenities such as drive-up storage options, loft space for additional storage, and concierge services.
Transportation services, including pick-up and delivery of vehicles and long-distance transportation, are also available at many classic car storage facilities.
Preparing Your Classic Car for Storage
Before entrusting your classic car to a storage facility, it’s essential to prepare it properly. This preparation involves cleaning, maintenance, fluid management, and battery care, all of which contribute to the preservation of your classic car during the designated storage period.
For example, it’s crucial to change the oil and oil filter and drive the car for at least a dozen miles for optimal circulation through the car’s systems.
Other precautionary measures to take include the following:
Fluid Management
Managing essential fluids is vital when preparing your classic car for storage. This includes:
- Refill coolant, power-steering fluid, and windshield wiper fluid
- Fill the gas tank with premium gasoline and add a fuel stabilizer per the manufacturer’s instructions to minimize fuel contamination and the likelihood of rust.
Battery Care
Charging the battery of a classic car during storage is crucial to ensure it remains charged and doesn’t deplete. You can either remove the battery and store it in a secure, dry, elevated place or leave it inside the vehicle and connect it to a battery tender/trickle-charger.
A battery tender is a device employed to maintain the battery of a classic car charged while in storage. When utilizing a battery tender, it’s essential to adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines, inspect the battery on a regular basis, and disconnect the battery tender when the battery is fully charged.
Proper battery care will ensure that your classic car is ready to hit the road as soon as you retrieve it from storage.
Cleaning
While seemingly secondary to fluid management and battery maintenance, a pre-storage clean is actually a cornerstone of classic car storage best practices.
Before storing your vintage vehicle, complete the following cleaning tasks:
- Give it a thorough cleaning and apply a protective wax finish on the exterior.
- Vacuum the interior and remove any trash, ensuring a clean environment for your classic car during storage.
- Cleaning the car before storage is crucial to avoid paint damage caused by dried bird droppings or smashed bugs.
Maintenance
Aside from assessing the oil levels and replacing the oil if required, classic car owners should also inspect the brakes, tires, and other components to ensure they are in optimal condition.
Private storage vs. Professional Facilities
Home storage and professional facilities each yield their own advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, the choice depends on your to priorities, be it cost, convenience, protection plan comprehensiveness, or security.
Home storage solutions, like a garage or private building, offer easy access and affordable prices but may lack the climate control of professional facilities.
On the other hand, professional storage facilities are more likely to offer climatized and amenity-rich storage units in their inventory but may be more expensive and less convenient than home storage.
Insurance Considerations for Classic Car Storage
When storing your classic car, it’s essential to understand the insurance requirements and explore available facility-sponsored protection plans. That way, you can ensure your prized possession is adequately protected. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay for any and all incurred damage on your own dime.
Insurance Requirements
Classic car insurance policies may necessitate that the car be housed in a garage to reduce risk. Most likely, a comprehensive car insurance policy is required even when the car is in storage, so it’s essential to review your policy and communicate with your insurance provider to ensure compliance with their requirements.
Tips for Winter Storage
Winter storage presents unique challenges for classic car owners, as cold temperatures and moisture can wreak havoc on your vintage vehicle.
#1: Protect Against Moisture
When it comes to classic cars, moisture is enemy number one. To repel moisture during winter storage, use a moisture barrier (like a car cover), a dehumidifier, or car desiccant. These aids help prevent rust, mold, and rot by reducing humidity levels and mick moisture away from your vehicle.
#2: Perform Regular Checkups
When storing your classic car for the winter, your vintage relic shouldn’t remain out of mind, just because it’s out of sight. Regular checkups are a must and should include the following steps:
- Examining your car for any indications of damage or deterioration
- Driving it every 2-3 weeks to maintain the engine and other components in optimal functioning condition
- Assessing any damage caused by animals
- Inspecting beneath the vehicle for leakage
- Evaluating the battery charge
- Assessing wiring and hoses
- Examining fluids
- Replenishing air in tires
- Cleaning the car both internally and externally
Summary
Don’t trust just any storage facility with your investment on wheels. Storing your vintage recklessly can depreciate the overall value, translating to a lower return.
When you think of a classic car as an investment, low-grade moisture damage isn’t just a small mishap, it’s cash yanked directly out of your pockets.
