Storing a car in a storage unit
You can store a car in a drive-up unit where the facility allows vehicles. A car usually needs a 10×20. Expect the facility to ask for registration and insurance, and often a car that runs. 127 facilities in our directory say cars are allowed in units, and 2,641 list a 10×20 or larger drive-up unit.
What size unit a car needs
A 10×20 is the usual car unit. Public Storage's 20-foot vehicle storage FAQ says those units are usually "suitable for standard-size cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles," and tells renters to measure the car before reserving. Full-size pickups, long-bed trucks and anything with a trailer may need a 10×25 or 10×30.
Check the door as well as the floor. Measure your car's width with the mirrors out and its height with any roof rack, and ask the facility for the door's clear opening.
What facilities usually require
Facility rules vary, so read the lease. Public Storage's FAQ is typical: "your car must be registered and insured in order to be stored with us," and "it needs to be running. Your car must be in working condition or kept on a trailer."
From our last scan of the 5,143 listings in the directory, these counts come from each facility's own website:
- Cars allowed in units: 127 facilities say so.
- 10×20 or larger drive-up units: 2,641 facilities list one.
- Outdoor RV, boat or vehicle parking: 3,869 facilities offer it, a cheaper option if the car doesn't need a roof.
- Stated vehicle rules: 54 require the vehicle to be insured, 15 require it to be registered and 15 require it to run.
Most sites don't publish their vehicle rules at all, so call before you rent. Where a facility's site does state them, they show under Details on its listing.
On any city page, choose Vehicle under "What's it for?" to see the facilities whose site says cars are allowed or lists a 10×20 or larger unit.
Registration and insurance while it's stored
Your state, your insurer and your lender each have a say, and they don't always line up with the facility's rules.
Registration. Some states let you suspend registration on a car you won't drive. In California that is Planned Nonoperation. The California DMV's PNO page says it means the vehicle "will not be driven, towed, stored, or parked on public roads or highways" for the entire registration year, and that you can file up to 60 days before the registration expires. A car in a storage unit stays off public roads, but it can't go back on them until the registration is renewed. Other states have their own rules, so check your DMV.
Insurance. Ask your insurer whether you can drop to comprehensive-only coverage while the car is stored. That keeps theft, fire and weather damage covered. If the car is financed or leased, your lender may require full coverage, and if the facility requires the car to be insured, keep proof handy. Before dropping liability, confirm with your DMV that it won't affect your registration.
Prepare the car
- Wash it and clean out the interior so food and crumbs don't draw pests.
- Fill the tank and add a fuel stabilizer, or follow the facility's rule if it limits fuel.
- Change the oil if it's due, since used oil holds contaminants.
- Inflate the tires to the pressure on the door sticker, or put the car on stands for long stays.
- Connect a battery maintainer if the unit has power, or disconnect the battery if it doesn't.
- Use a breathable car cover, not plastic, which traps condensation.
- Leave the parking brake off for long stays and chock the wheels instead.
Only 283 facilities in our directory list climate-controlled drive-up units, and a metal unit gets hot. If the car is a classic or will sit through a hot summer, ask whether the facility has climate-controlled drive-up units. Our listings tag those as Climate drive-up.
Where to start
These cities have the most facilities matching the Vehicle filter in our directory: