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Should I be disconnecting my car battery for storage?
I’m going overseas for four months for my new job. Someone online said I should disconnect my car battery. Is this true? And how does disconnecting a car battery for storage help?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It’s true: disconnecting your car battery is always a good idea if you plan on putting your car in storage. The car will use up the battery for no good reason if you leave it connected.
Disconnect the negative cable first, always, then disconnect the positive cable second. You don’t need to do anything else in terms of the battery, but here are some more useful tips for storing your car long-term:
- If you can afford it, pay for car storage rather than leaving it in your driveway or home garage.
- Clean the car thoroughly inside and out
- Fill up the gas tank completely, as gas tanks can rust over time if they’re empty
- Get an oil change and top off the car’s fluids
- Wrap up your wiper blades in cloth so they don’t get stuck to the windshield over time
- Park on a tarp, and keep the car protected with a car cover
- Leave your parking brake off. You could place wheel chocks, available at most auto parts stores if you’re worried about the car rolling
We also highly recommend investing in car storage insurance. If the car is paid off, you can usually cancel your insurance coverage so long as the car isn’t in use. But if you still owe a lender for the car, you’ll need to contact them and see if car storage insurance is acceptable.
When you get back, don’t just go with your old insurance provider. Download
Jerry
instead and save hundreds of dollars or more per year car insurance in just a few minutes! You don’t even have to bring us cool souvenirs from your trip to say thanks. We want you to … but you don’t have to.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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