Winter Car Storage: Stash Your Car Safely Outside Without Breaking the Bank

by AutoExpert   |  18 October, 2023

Share :

As winter's icy grasp approaches, the need to nestle your beloved car safely becomes paramount. While professional car storage services promise impeccable safety, they often come with a hefty price tag. Fret not, as with a few well-thought-out steps, you can ensure your car braves the winter chill right in your driveway, all without burning a hole in your pocket.

Choose the Right Surface

The quest for safe outdoor car storage begins with selecting an optimal surface. A paved or gravel driveway takes the lead, preventing the peril of sinking that grass or sand surfaces pose when wet and frozen. This solid foundation is your car's first line of defense against the cold.

Winter Car Storage

Elevate to Alleviate

Cold temperatures are notorious for wreaking havoc on tires. Elevating your car off the ground prevents tire deformation and alleviates the stress on your suspension, keeping your vehicle primed for spring's beckoning.

Winter Car Storage

Fortify Against Furry Foes

Your car's cozy nooks and crannies are irresistible hideouts for critters escaping the winter chill. Block off the intake and exhaust using steel wool and employ sonic repellents, mothballs, and rodent repellent sprays to keep the animal intrusion at bay.

Winter Car Storage

Shield the Shine

Winter's harsh elements are no friend to your car's gleaming finish. While a car cover is a decent shield, adding a layer of ceramic coating or a good coat of wax brings extra fortification, ensuring your car emerges from winter storage with its shine unscathed.

Winter Car Storage

Grease for Ease

Cold and stagnation are the nemesis of your car's moving parts. Before tucking your car away, lavish some fresh grease on fittings, bearings, and bushings to keep them lubricated and ready for spring's call to the open road.

Winter Car Storage

Fluids are your Friend

A fresh oil change is your car's winter storage starter pack. Top off the coolant to keep freezing woes at bay and add fuel stabilizer to a full tank to ensure a clean, smooth burn come spring.

Winter Car Storage

Your Car's Winter Sojourn

The austerity of professional car storage isn't everyone's cup of tea. With these practical tips, safely storing your car outside this winter becomes not just viable but wise. When spring's warmth beckons, your car will be ready to roll out, ushering in the joy of driving under the soft, warm sun once again.

Top News

Recomended:

Car Limp Mode vs. EV Turtle Mode: Causes & 2026 EPA Updates - Photo
Others
Car Limp Mode vs. EV Turtle Mode: Causes & 2026 EPA Updates

Over the years, car companies figured out they needed to idiot-proof engines and transmissions. Limp mode is their answer. When something breaks, the car basically hobbles itself on purpose so things

AutoExpert
The Chevy Stovebolt Six: The 72-Year Legacy of the
Others
The Chevy Stovebolt Six: The 72-Year Legacy of the "Cast-Iron Wonder"

Nobody at Chevrolet actually named it the Stovebolt. When the inline six-cylinder showed up in 1929, gearheads took one look at those slotted bolts holding the pushrod covers and oil pan together and

AutoExpert
The Heavy Truth: Why Your 2026 Car Probably Has an Aluminum Hood - Photo
Others
The Heavy Truth: Why Your 2026 Car Probably Has an Aluminum Hood

Cars are getting heavier every year, and there's no sign of it stopping. The EPA has been tracking this since the early '80s, and new vehicles just keep adding more weight. Electric batteries,

AutoExpert
Michelin vs. Uniroyal: The Tire Satisfaction Report Is Out - Photo
Others
Michelin vs. Uniroyal: The Tire Satisfaction Report Is Out

Buying tires is one of those boring grown-up chores that nobody enjoys. It costs a lot, it feels confusing, and once they’re on the car, most people are just hoping they did not make a bad cho

AutoExpert
Toyota Tundra vs. The World: Which Truck Reaches 250,000 Miles? - Photo
Others
Toyota Tundra vs. The World: Which Truck Reaches 250,000 Miles?

People love to argue Ford vs. Chevy when it comes to trucks. But if the question is “which one is most likely to still be running at 250,000 miles,” the answer is… Toyota Tundra.

AutoExpert
100-Car Michigan Pileup: How to Survive a Winter Highway Nightmare - Photo
Tips & Tricks
100-Car Michigan Pileup: How to Survive a Winter Highway Nightmare

Over 100 cars just smashed into each other in Michigan. Don't let this be you.Winter driving already sucks enough without worrying about getting caught in one of those insane multi-car pileups

AutoExpert
Stop Driving Like It’s 1995: 5 Habits You Need to Quit in 2026 - Photo
Tips & Tricks
Stop Driving Like It’s 1995: 5 Habits You Need to Quit in 2026

Modern cars have changed. Your driving habits should too.Cars today are nothing like the ones people learned to drive on 20 or 30 years ago. They've got sensors everywhere, computers handling

AutoExpert
The Physics of the Flip: What Does That Tab on Your Rearview Mirror Do - Photo
Video
The Physics of the Flip: What Does That Tab on Your Rearview Mirror Do

It's not decoration; it's saving you from getting blinded at night.Most people have driven past that little tab on their rearview mirror a thousand times without really thinking about what

AutoExpert
Green is the New Gray: The Global Car Color Report Is Out - Photo
Others
Green is the New Gray: The Global Car Color Report Is Out

The car color situation is still depressing, but there's a tiny glimmer of hope.Car colors have been boring as hell for years now. Everyone just buys white, black, or gray like we're livin

AutoExpert
90 Years of the Chevy Suburban: History, Hollywood, and Specs - Photo
Others
90 Years of the Chevy Suburban: History, Hollywood, and Specs

Seriously, what's it going to take to kill this thing? The Suburban hit 90 this year. That's insane. Your great-grandparents could've bought one new. And here we are in 2026 and Chevy

AutoExpert