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3 Things to Do Before Bringing out a Car in Storage

Written by Michele Wilmonen. Posted in Research Last Updated: 03/27/2013

Bringing out a car in storage requires a little planning to do it safely.

car in storage

Take your time bring out a car in storage.

The weather is warming up and it is time to bring that car in storage out to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air once again. Before you do though, there are a couple of things that need your attention to make sure that this is all done safely, with little mess, and legally.

Check for Critters in the Car in Storage

All kinds of critters like to make their way into a car in storage and make themselves convenient little homes. You just never know what you are going to find.

To save yourself the trouble of having to clean up a mess later, it would be a good idea to check the engine and under the car. Just take a flashlight and check these areas for uninvited guests before you turn on the vehicle.

Make Sure The Car in Storage’s Parts Still Work

Anything can happen while a car is in storage. Tires can go flat, brittle hoses may finally break when you turn the car on again, or any number of different things could have rusted if the car was not stored properly. Before you plan on taking a drive give the car a once over to make sure everything looks okay.

Check the exterior of the car for anything that looks damaged, and take a look under the hood. Even take the car for a spin around the block to make sure everything is working well before you take it too far from home. Moving the vehicle will also give you a chance to take a look at where the vehicle has been parked when it was being stored, so that you can check if there are any signs of fluids leaking.

Adding Back Insurance Coverage for a Car in Storage

Before you go anywhere, you need to call your insurance company or agent and check the insurance coverage you have on the car in storage. Most people remove everything but comprehensive coverage from vehicles that are put in storage to save money.

After all, if you aren’t driving the vehicle, you don’t have to legally carry liability coverage. There is not a very high chance that you are going to hit something with a car that you aren’t driving, so you don’t need collision coverage. And medical coverages, as well as rental car coverage just don’t make much sense to have either.

But now that you taking out this car in storage to drive it again you need to start adding coverage back so that you are driving legally and have enough protection.

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Michele Wilmonen

Michele's first introduction to insurance was working for a major insurance company as a file clerk and a mailroom supervisor in a regional office. She learned insurance directly from underwriters and claims adjusters from questions and also watching them do their job. Since then, she's earned a number of insurance certifications from the Insurance Institute of America and also a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho. She blogs at Car Insurance Guidebook.

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