Taking Car Off the Road ... What To Do

PasturesNew

I'm moving into a city for a few months, but I have a car. I therefore need to get rid of the car until I know how things work out, but I need to hang onto the car until things are settled in case I move out of the city in a few months (I'll be there looking for a job, but have to think about what happens if I don't get one, or if I get one out of the city and need a car).

So, "how best to put a car into storage for up to 6 months" is the question.

I bought the car brand new, it's now nearly 9 years old. It's worth under £1k, it's done about 50,000 miles. I have nobody I can leave it with, so will need to rent a space on a driveway, or rent a garage.

What would you suggest?

Oh ... and to complicate it, I will be leaving it 200 miles from where I am now, 300 miles from where I'm moving to, all in opposite directions - and will be wanting to sort this out and do it over Xmas and New Year.

Suggestions please, on a postcard.

Thanks.

Premier_2

There are numerous vehicle storage companies, some offering undercover, dehumidified storage, others a place in an outdoor compound.

http://www.freeindex.co.uk/categories/transport_and_auto/parking_and_storage/

However, the cost of renting storage probably makes it financially unviable unless you cherish the car for some reason.
Flog it, and if you find you need a car later, buy another one.

Or if you are prepared to risk it, just park it on the street. As long as it's taxed & insured, there should be no problem.

Edit: Don't forget, if you are keeping the vehicle regularly in a location 200 miles from where you last advised your insurance company it would be left, you need to advise them as it may affect the premium.
(I don't quite understand why you are moving it 200 miles to somewhere you have nowhere to store it, but I guess that's a whole new topic of discussion)

hewhoisnotintheknow

find a friend and aunt etc who will let you put in on their drive, bottle of wine and a gift voucher each time you see em will keep em sweet

what car is it btw

vikingaero

It's definitely not worth selling the car given it's age and value. The value to you may be far in excess of it's market value given you know the condition and reliability of the car. I would start by looking for a lock up garage wherever you may be moving to. These normally require a minimum 3 month term and cost from £30 per calendar month but will be more in large cities.

DaveMacD

I'm a little concerned that if it's going to be laid up for an extended period of time, it may not be the reliable runner you have just now, when you get back. My old car was mega reliable for years, living on motorways, and used every day. When it was sold on, it had sat for a few weeks, then the new owner only used it for short trips and irregularly. That's when it started to let them down. I know it's still on the road, because I still see it regularly, but I have no idea if it is still as reliable as it once was. If you put it into storage, especially over the winter, give it a good wash first, or you'll come back to lots of rust/fur on the mechanicals.

PasturesNew

Thanks for replying. You know, I think reading your replies just made my mind up as to what's best to do. I think the best thing is for me to keep it "close" to where I'll be moving to, renting some driveway space or something and taking it out for a "comfort drive" at weekends

It makes more sense to me to have the car within 10 miles of where I'm moving, rather than 300 miles from where I am.

The thing is, with everything I do, it's "down to me". I don't have other people to help me o ut etc. No family/friends of any benefit. The only place I could really leave it would be at my parents' house, in their next door neighbour's front driveway (they're abroad) and if they came back, out on the street. The "problem" is my father. He would HAVE to fiddle. And fiddling would include driving it around "to keep it roadworthy" even though he's probably not insured and is as blind as a bat. So it's easier to not put it in temptation's way.

Next problem is where to store my stuff now

Basically, my family are 300 miles from where a friend is offering me 3 months in their flat, right IN London, so I can try to get work there. So for 3 months I have to put everything I own into small self-storage, and the car ... then in 3 months I definitely have to move out and somewhere, I might have a job, I might not. If not, then I will choose another random town to move to and will need my stuff out of storage and my car immediately available to do the move.

On the other hand, if I DO have a job in 3 months, it could be IN London, or not.

I am on another big adventure, I am middle-aged and trying to lug my life about with me, but for my move I will just have one suitcase of clothes to re-establish myself with, but still need to hold onto the few things I do have already..... and at the end of 3 months be able to grab my car and my stuff to get relocated again.

Right now I am 200 miles from family, 200 miles from where I am moving too ... and am not the "traveller" type at all.

anewman

I'm guessing this option has already been discounted, but for completeness will suggest it. You could job hunt from your current location and then move to where the job is, and the car will let you get to the interviews and so on. Many companies will also offer to pay your travel expenses, usually up to the cost of standard return train fare.