Tips for Storing Your Classic Vehicle This Winter

Winter will be here before you know it, so now is a good time to start getting ready. That means raking leaves, digging up bulbs, bringing in patio furniture, and figuring out where your collectible car will spend the winter.
All kinds of vehicles get stored for the winter, ranging from that collectible car that’s only driven a few miles a year to the car or truck that's left behind when snowbirds head south. Because cars and trucks were made to be driven regularly, winter storage -- or any prolonged period of storage -- can really take its toll, unless people take a few precautions to protect their vehicle while it's in hibernation.

The Muscle Car Club, an organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of all American muscle cars, offers these tips for the owners of collector cars and other vehicles that will be up on blocks this winter:

1. Protect your fuel system. To keep the gas fresh and the system safe, add a container of fuel stabilizer to the gas tank, and fill the tank to the top right before putting the vehicle into storage. Take the car for a brief drive before putting it in the garage so the stabilized fuel will circulate throughout the system.

2. Drain the cooling system (including the radiator) and refill it with a rust-inhibiting antifreeze.

3. Change the oil and filter. Make sure the oil contains corrosion protection.

4. Hook up a battery charger/maintainer to keep the battery alive.

5. Protect your tires. If you can’t store the vehicle up on jack stands and don’t want to remove the wheels and tires, let some air out of the tires to reduce strain on the shocks and other suspension components.

6. Protect the paint. Give the vehicle a good end-of-season washing, dry it thoroughly and apply a protective coat of wax. Cover the car with a breathable cloth cover (plastic covers will trap condensation and provide a fertile breeding ground for rust).

7. Protect vinyl, leather and rubber. If the vehicle will be stored in a dry climate, it's wise to apply a preservative to prevent seats, armrests and dash pads from cracking. Likewise, a good coat of rust inhibitor applied to unpainted metal surfaces will prevent rust.

8. Provide critter protection. All kinds of small animals find vehicle wiring, seats and carpet delectable, and they think cars and trucks make a nice den, too. To keep critters out, place mothballs inside a vehicle, including under the dash, and cover the tailpipe. Or, for total protection, store the vehicle inside a cocoon that seals it completely from the elements.

9. Store convertibles with the top up. Convertible tops can actually shrink if they are left in the down position for an extended period of time.

10. Check your insurance and be sure your car is covered. “If the car is at least 15 years old and is driven less than 2,500 miles per year, it may be eligible for a collector’s policy, which can save you a significant amount of money,” says Jill Bookman of American Collectors Insurance, one of the nation’s leading providers of collector car insurance.

All the traditional coverage that regular car insurance provides -- liability, physical damage, underinsured/uninsured motorist, and personal injury protection – can be obtained through a collector vehicle insurer, usually at a fraction of the cost. Rates are lower, explains Bookman, because collector vehicles are used gently and for the most part experience fewer claims.

“The great thing about these policies is they are offered on an agreed value basis rather than actual cash value,” explains Bookman. “So if you have a total loss on a car you’ve put a lot of work into, you won’t lose your investment.”

Collector vehicle value may be established in a number of ways: 1) Purchase price (if recently purchased); 2) Reference manuals (e.g. collector car pricing guides); or 3) Professional appraisal.

The information needed for the application is much the same as for a standard auto policy: name and address of the insured; number of drivers in the household; year, make, model and VIN; and whether the driver has been involved in any accidents.

The insurer also needs to know the value of the car and the number of miles on it. If the car is kept at a separate storage facility, the garage's address is also needed. So are pictures of the vehicle.