Storing a car collection requires careful consideration to protect your investment. Choose a secure, climate-controlled storage facility with adequate space for all of your vehicles. Prepare your vehicles for storage by cleaning them, changing the oil and fluids, disconnecting the battery, and inflating the tires properly. Maintain your vehicles during storage by checking the battery, starting the engine occasionally, monitoring the climate, and inspecting your vehicles regularly. Finally, ensure you have adequate insurance coverage for your car collection to protect it from theft, fire, or other unexpected events.
Best Way to Store a Car Collection
Storing a car collection is not just about finding a place to park your vehicles. It involves ensuring that your investment is protected from various elements that could cause damage or depreciation in value. Here are some tips on how to store your car collection:
1. Choose the Right Storage Facility
The first step in storing your car collection is to choose the right storage facility. You want a facility that is secure, climate-controlled, and has adequate space for your vehicles. Consider the following factors when selecting a storage facility:
- Security: Look for a facility with 24/7 surveillance, access control, and security personnel.
- Climate Control: Ensure that the facility can maintain a consistent temperature and humidity level to protect your vehicles from rust, corrosion, and other environmental damages.
- Size: Choose a facility that can accommodate all of your vehicles comfortably without overcrowding them.
2. Prepare Your Vehicles for Storage
Before storing your vehicles, you need to prepare them properly to ensure they remain in good condition during storage. Here are some steps you should take:
- Clean Your Vehicles: Wash and wax your vehicles thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris that could cause damage during storage.
- Change the Oil and Fluids: Drain the old oil and replace it with fresh oil to protect the engine during storage. Also, top up all other fluids, including coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid.
- Disconnect the Battery: Remove the battery from your vehicle to prevent it from draining and potentially causing damage to the electrical system.
- Inflate Tires Properly: Make sure your tires are inflated to the recommended pressure to prevent flat spots from forming during storage.
3. Maintain Your Vehicles During Storage
Even if you have prepared your vehicles properly for storage, you still need to maintain them regularly to ensure they remain in good condition. Here are some maintenance tasks you should perform:
- Check the Battery: If you disconnected the battery, check it periodically to ensure it hasn't lost its charge.
- Start the Engine Occasionally: Start your vehicles every few weeks to keep the engine lubricated and prevent seals from drying out.
- Monitor the Climate: Check the temperature and humidity levels in the storage facility regularly to ensure they remain consistent.
- Inspect Your Vehicles: Perform regular inspections of your vehicles to identify any potential issues early on and address them promptly.
4. Insure Your Car Collection
Finally, make sure you have adequate insurance coverage for your car collection. This will protect your investment in case of theft, fire, or other unexpected events that could cause damage or loss of your vehicles. Work with an insurance agent who specializes in collector cars to ensure you have the right coverage for your specific needs.