How to Store a Car for a Year

If you plan to travel for a long period of time, attend a school in a large city where public transportation is great and parking and traffic is horrible, or for any other reason you would need to store your car for an extended period of time, you need to take the right precautions so your car will start when you want to use it again. Remember not to just park your car and take off on an extended trip; follow a few easy steps before you leave to ensure no damage to your vehicle will occur while you're not using it.

Things You'll Need

• Car jack
• 4 jack stands
• Wrench set
• Moth balls
• Car cover
• Vacuum
• Sponge
• Hose and water supply
• Garage
• Drain pan

Instructions

Storing Your Car for a Year

1. Wash the car thoroughly to remove any salt residue that may have accumulated from the roads and to remove any dirt from the paint. Clean and vacuum the inside of the car to remove any food that might attract pests.

2. Park the vehicle in a sealed environment like a closed shop, storage unit or garage.

3. Drain the oil, gas and cooling fluids with wrenches and a drain pan. All these fluids will break down when sitting for a long time and cause rust inside crucial car components.

4. Disconnect the battery cables from the car battery with pliers.

5. Jack the car up and place jack stands under each axle. This helps keep the weight off the tires and prevents dry rot.

6. Buy a car tarp or cover and snugly fit it over the entire car.

7. Place moth balls around the outside of the vehicle to deter rodents. Since moth balls are toxic, use caution and be sure to keep them out of reach of children and pets.