How to Store a Car Long-Term  

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Storing a car long-term

There are many reasons why vehicle owners might elect to store a vehicle, but there’s both a right and a wrong way to do it. And if you want to truly preserve the vehicle and keep the garage or storage unit where it’s being held in good condition, it’s imperative that you go about storing the vehicle in the proper manner. After all, you can’t just go out and buy a remade classic car if something were to go wrong.

In this post, we’ll cover what you need to do if you’re looking to store a car long-term. Here’s a closer look:

Fill all Necessary Fluids

Before putting your vehicle in storage, make sure all the fluids are topped off. This is especially important when it comes to fuel and engine oil. An empty gas tank is more likely to lead to rusting from moisture buildup and old engine oil may contain contaminants that could damage the engine. We also suggest adding a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank to further avoid any potential for damage or moisture buildup in the tank. If you’re uncomfortable carrying out this task yourself, we suggest working with a credible mechanic.

Don’t Put the Car in Park

Don’t apply the parking brake when storing a vehicle. If the parking brake is applied for too long of a time, it can fuse with the interior of the wheel, which can lead to some major issues. Rather than apply a parking brake, we suggest a wheel chock or preventing tire roll by placing wood or cinder blocks in front and behind them. Additionally, we suggest elevating the vehicle on jacks to ensure consistent weight on the tires and avoid premature tread wear.

Wash Your Car

This is the easiest thing you can do before storing your car for an extended period of time. Over time, the likes of dirt, grease, dust, and debris can take their toll on the vehicle’s body and impact the finish. A good wash and a wax is always good practice on a classic vehicle, especially when it comes to protecting it before placing it into storage. While you’re at it, don’t forget about the interior. A good cleaning and dusting inside of the vehicle can help ensure it is ready to go when it’s time to take it out of storage.

Put a Cover on it

There are a few other steps you should follow before you say goodbye to your vehicle for an extended period of time. For starters, we always recommend covering your vehicle with an appropriate car cover that’s soft, breathable, and wraps tightly around the vehicle. Don’t use a tarp or sheet that tends to fit loosely and offer inadequate protection.

Additionally, we always recommend placing a plastic sheet underneath your vehicle before storing it. This will prevent any drips or leaks from damaging the floor of your garage, storage unit, or wherever it is that you’re storing the vehicle.

Contact Us Today

For more information on how to store a car long-term, contact us today.

Is Restoring a Car Worth it?  

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Is Restoring a Car Worth it?

Restore or replace? When it comes to a classic automobile that you might have a deep attachment to, it always makes sense to explore its restoration before its replacement.

But is restoring a car worth it? In this post, we’ll break down some of the key considerations to weigh when making this decision. We’ll also break down the pros and cons of vehicle restoration. Here’s a look:

Should You Restore Your Car?

Whether or not you restore your vehicle or look for a new one boils down to a few key questions you need to ask yourself. For instance:

  • What’s the vehicle’s current condition? If it’s in poor condition, it could be easier to purchase a new vehicle or select a less expensive classic car to restore. Other factors to weigh include the cost of parts and materials that are necessary to bring the vehicle back from its pre-loss condition.
  • What are your intentions with the vehicle? If you don’t mind a good pet project and have plans for the vehicle after it’s fully restored, then there are some things that aren’t worth putting a price tag on.
  • Are you emotionally attached to the vehicle? Some gearheads just can’t bear giving up their classic vehicles, no matter how much time, effort, and money it’s going to take to fully restore them. Sentimental value is another thing you can’t put a price on.

What Are the Benefits of Restoring a Car?

Aside from the opportunity to retain a vehicle that you like, there are various other benefits that may come with restoring a vehicle. These include:

  • Higher resale value: Classic cars are already worth money, but putting in the time, effort, and money to restore them can only go to help their value – regardless of whether you want to hang onto them or sell them.
  • It’s often a bucket list item: You don’t have to be a gearhead to appreciate owning a classic car and want one of your own to drive and maintain one day. For many, restoring a classic car is a hobby.
  • Pride in ownership: There’s a certain level of swagger that classic car owners have – especially knowing that they were the ones who put much of the work into getting their vehicle looking the way it does.

What Are the Cons of Restoring a Car?

The biggest con of restoring a vehicle is the cost that’s involved in doing so. Parts alone could cost upwards of $10,000, and that’s not even considering labor costs, which could be upwards of $200 per hour for mechanics that specialize in classic car restoration. Then, of course, there’s the paint job. Low-end paint jobs can cost several thousand dollars and high-end ones can cost tens of thousands.

Some other cons of restoring a car involve sourcing the right parts and the lead time involved in getting the vehicle drivable again based on its condition.

Contact Wrecktify Today

For more information on restoring vehicles, contact Wrecktify Collision and Restoration today.