How To Choose Between Indoor And Outdoor Vehicle Storage

When choosing between indoor and outdoor vehicle storage, you should first think about how frequently you will be driving the vehicle. Most vehicles that end up in a storage unit are only used seasonally or a few times a year. Good examples of this are recreational vehicles, boats, jet skis, and classic cars. Vehicles that are used more frequently can be stored outdoors with less problems because they will not spend as much time sitting there unattended. If you will not be driving the vehicle for months on end, you may need to keep it indoors to protect it from weather and pest damage.

Outdoor vehicle storage is usually cheaper and easier than finding an indoor vehicle storage facility. You can usually park automobiles right outside of your home. Many cities do not permit homeowners to park RVs and boats on the street or in their driveway, so you may need to rent a storage unit for those larger vehicles. Outdoor storage may be cheaper, sometimes even free, but it exposes your vehicle to a number of dangers that may make it a poor choice in the long run.

Exposure to the sun can cause a great deal of damage to an automobile or RV, so indoor vehicle storage may be the best choice if you live in a hot climate. Sun damage will make tires deflate and even crack in extreme temperatures. The interior of your vehicle may also be damaged, with the dashboard and seats especially susceptible to cracking. Sun and heat will cause damage to vinyl roof liners or the plastic roofs that are often found on the tops of RVs and campers. Paint oxidation may be another consequence of excessive sun exposure. All of these things can drastically reduce the value of your vehicle, so an indoor vehicle storage rental may be worth the extra money simply to protect your investment.

Storing your vehicle indoors will protect it from other damage caused by rodents or insects. This is especially important for RVs, which may have traces of food that would attract pests. Indoor, or at least covered vehicle storage, will also protect it from bird droppings. Left unwashed, bird droppings contain chemicals that may permanently damage the vehicle's paint.

An indoor storage facility will help protect your vehicle from theft and vandalism. Classic cars, RVs, and boats are common targets for thieves, especially when they have been left in the same parking space for a long period of time. This makes it very obvious that nobody is using the vehicle and it may be unattended. Most indoor vehicle storage facilities have access gates to prevent access to the entire property, along with security guards, alarm systems, and video surveillance.

Indoor vehicle storage also ensures that you will not violate any municipal parking or storage codes. Many cities have regulations on the type of vehicle that can be parked on the street, prohibiting large vehicles such as boats or RVs. There may also be time limits on how long a vehicle can remain parked in the same location, so auto or boat storage may be mandatory.

Outdoor vehicle storage requires more preparation ahead of time because you must winterize the vehicle before taking it to storage. If you are storing your vehicle in an indoor auto storage facility, it will not be subjected to the same extreme temperatures and weather conditions. Keeping your vehicle indoors can also make it easier to do the winterizing itself. Being able to work in warmth while staying safe from the elements will help encourage you to properly service and winterize your vehicle. Many vehicle owners put off winterizing or servicing their vehicles until it is too late because they do not want to go out into the cold or rain.

Indoor storage facilities may also offer additional services that are unavailable in lower-cost outdoor facilities. For boat storage, the company will often offer to transport the boat into and out of the water. Auto storage facilities may have on-site mechanics to handle routine maintenance on the vehicles stored there or to perform repairs needed to get the vehicle running so that it can be driven off of the premises.

The only drawback to indoor vehicle storage is that it will cost more than an outdoor storage facility. Depending on the services offered, this difference in price may be significant. Consider the possible damage and loss of value of your vehicle when deciding if an indoor vehicle storage facility is right for you.