Auto Insurance For Cars In Long-Term Storage
If you have a car in long-term storage, you should ensure it has adequate coverage for the duration of the storage. Below are reasons you may need to store your car, and why you should have it under comprehensive coverage.
Why You May Need to Store Your Car
People store their cars for lengthy periods for different reasons. For example, you may place your car in long-term storage for the following reasons.
Seasonal Use
Some people own multiple cars, say two or three, and only use one of them at any given time. For example, you may own a convertible that you only use during your summer vacation. In such a case, you can store the convertible for the remainder of the year.
Restoration
If you are a DIY mechanic or a restoration enthusiast, then you may have one or more cars under restoration at any particular time. Such cars typically require heavy work before they can be put on the road, so they are basically stored cars.
Sale
If you have a car you are planning to sell, then you may need to store it as you look for the best market or while you spruce it up to increase its market value.
Absence
Lastly, you may also need to store your regular car if you won't be driving it for a long time because you will be away. Maybe you are going overseas for a work assignment, or you want to travel and see the world a bit.
Possible Damages in Storage
Anything can happen to your car in storage. Here are a few specific risks to worry about.
Vandalism
The neighborhood boys may damage your parked car. Maybe the kids realized that you are on an extended vacation overseas and started to target-practice their stone-throwing abilities by aiming at your car through the window.
Theft
Any car can get stolen, whether it is parked in the garage or even if it is not running. Car thieves can even strip off valuable parts if they can't haul away the whole car.
Animal Damage
Animals can cause various damages to your car. For example, rodents can chew on the upholstery or damage the electrical wiring.
Fire Damage
An accidental fire outbreak can burn your garage, your car with it, to the ground. This fire could be from an electrical problem or even a wildfire that starts while you are away.
Damage from Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are not easy to predict. You can store your car today and have it destroyed by a sinkhole, flood, or storm the following day.
Comprehensive insurance will come to your rescue in any of these scenarios to reimburse you for any damages that happen when your car is stored.
