There are two types of car owners in this world.
Firstly, you’ve got the people who drive their car home and park it on the road outside their house, or maybe on a driveway. Then, you have the owners who park their cars correctly and safely. Needless to say, the owners in the second category enjoy some pretty handy financial savings. For one, insurance premiums are lower when your car is kept safe. Secondly, you reduce the chances of your car being damaged or stolen, saving money on repairs.
Keeping that in mind, what is the right way to safely store your car at home? Some of you think you’ve got this nailed down, but look at the steps below to see if you’ve truly mastered things:
Step 1: Park your car in your garage
If you have a garage, it’s really beneficial to keep your car there. It moves your car off the street and behind a locked door. Insurance providers love this, which is why cars kept in garages have lower premiums than those that aren’t. The safety risks are immediately mitigated as it’s way harder for someone to steal your car or damage it when it’s hidden behind a garage door. Anyone can walk down your street and take a baseball bat to your side mirrors. Why would they do this? Who knows, but you get the point!
Also, your car is now protected from the elements. Snow, rain, hail, and wind cannot touch your baby in here. Again, this reduces the chances of damages happening – but because of bad weather this time.
What if you don’t have a garage? Well, those of you with driveways but no garage (or you have a garage but it’s too small) can still protect your car using the future steps in this guide. It may also be a good idea to buy or build a carport on your driveway. Basically, this is a structure that puts a roof over your car, so it gets some weather protection without being in a garage.
Step 2: Cover your car
Next, you need to get your hands on a good car cover. If your car is outside because you don’t have a garage, this also provides extra weather protection.
But, it’s still important for garage-parked cars as it protects the vehicle from cold weather. Garages aren’t warm places, so your car can still fall victim to frosted windows in winter. A cover prevents this, keeping it nice and warm.
While we’re on the topic of putting things on your car, it’s also a smart idea to lay something under it. When a car is parked for hours a day, the weight goes through the wheels and can crack the floor beneath. Plus, in bad weather, a car can track water or snow into a garage, leading to safety problems. Find the best garage floor mat for snow and put it under your car. Remember, learning how to safely store your car isn’t just important for your car’s safety; it’s important for everyone else’s too.
Step 3: Add an extra lock to your car
This is the step most people neglect. You park your car and then head to your house. It’s locked away in your garage, so there’s nothing to worry about…right?
To be honest, there really shouldn’t be. The chances of someone unlocking your garage door and unlocking your car without you noticing are very slim. Still, it might happen. So, take extra precautions by adding another lock to your car. There are two options here: a steering lock or a wheel clamp.
Both options do the same thing; they stop your car from moving. In the event that someone does manage to get into your car, they won’t be able to drive away. It’s basically the same as adding a bike lock to your bicycle!
Also, this is an essential step for those of you that can’t park a car in a garage. Yes, having a garage is critical and will always make your car safe. But, adding a steering lock or wheel clamp (or both) will keep your car safe when it’s on the driveway outside your house.
You might think that all of this is trivial. However, you must store your car safely when it’s not being used. Especially if you have a high-class car that’s worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. You need to take care of this precious investment, so be sure you understand the right way to safely store your car at home.
