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Classic cars. Military deployments. Extended vacations. There are lots of reasons why you might need to store a car for an extended period of time. But if you want your car to be in the best possible shape when you bring it out of storage, there are some steps you need to take before you put it away.

Clean It

You may not realize it, but it’s important to wash your car before you store it. Bird droppings and other dirt and debris can actually stain the paint if left undisturbed for a long period of time. Washing will also remove any mud or tar on the underside of your car or inside the wheels. Be sure to give your car a protective coat of wax once it’s dry.

Change the Oil

If you’re only going to be away for a couple of weeks, don’t worry about this. But if your car will be stored for more than 30 days, you’ll want to do this. Why? The used oil just sitting in the engine contains contaminants that could actually cause damage.

Keep the Battery Charged

If possible, have someone start your car and drive it for about 15 minutes every two weeks to keep the battery charged. If that’s not an option, disconnect the negative battery cable or buy a trickle charger.

Fill the Tank

This is another thing you might not think of, but that’s important if your car will be stored a month or more. Filling the tank and adding a fuel stabilizer will keep moisture out of the tank, keep the gas from degrading, and protect the engine.

Avoid the Parking Brake

Brake pads can actually fuse to the rotors if they’re left in contact for a long period of time. So for long-term storage, leave the parking brake off and use chocks instead.

Protect your Tires

When a car sits on it’s tires for a long time without moving, flat spots can develop. If you’ve arranged for someone to drive your car periodically, you don’t have to worry about this. But if not, think about taking the tires off and placing your vehicle on jackstands.

Keep it Covered

Perhaps the most important thing you can do to protect your car when it’s stored is keep it in a garage. Garage storage keeps your car safe from the elements, and from wild temperature variations. If you don’t have a garage, a VersaTube steel garage is an affordable, efficient option. And since kits can be delivered to your building site in as little as two weeks and assembly only takes a few days, there’s plenty of time to have a new garage in place before you need to store your car.