Self-storage facilities offer a great place to store a car, whether it's a vintage car you don't want to keep in your garage or you simply don't have enough room for all of your vehicles. Before you pull your car into a self-storage facility, take the following points into consideration to keep your car safe and secure.

Check With The Storage Facility First Not all storage facilities will allow you to store a car in their units. This may be true if the storage facility is an enclosed building. Be sure to ask before renting a unit so you aren't stuck with a lease you can't use.

Protect The Floor You will be responsible for any damage done to the storage unit, so protect the floor from any potential leaks that might come from your car. You can lay down a tarp to protect the floor, or you can place cardboard on the floor to absorb potential leaks.

Replace Your Fluids If your car will be sitting idle for an extended period of time, consider having your fluids changed before putting it into storage. This should include your antifreeze, motor oil, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid. You should also put fresh gasoline in the tank prior to storage.

Lift The Vehicle Your tires can become flat if your car isn't moved for long periods of time. Consider investing in a lift kit or individual floor jacks to raise your vehicle off the ground. The car needs only to be lifted high enough so your tires aren't touching the ground. Don't forget to add air to your tires prior to storage as well, and check the tire pressure before taking the vehicle out of storage.

Remove The Battery Car batteries can leak battery acid over time, so it's a good idea to disconnect your battery before putting your car into storage. Place the battery in a storage container to protect it from dust and dirt, or use a tarp to cover the battery.

Keep Emergency Supplies In The Unit To ensure your car is ready to drive when you want to take it out of storage, consider storing some emergency gear in the unit. Have jumper cables, a car tire pump, and a spare tire in the unit. If your self-storage unit allows the storage of chemicals, you may also want to keep motor oil, windshield wiper fluid, and antifreeze in the unit as well. You'll have plenty of gear ready to repair minor issues so you can get your car back on the road. With just a bit of preparation, you can store your car securely until you are ready to take it out on the road.

For more information, contact local professionals like Colfax West Self Storage