KEY TAKEAWAYS
▸ You’ll find plenty of storage units available just for storing vehicles, from 10′ x 15′ units that can store a compact car to 10′ x 30′ units for transit vans or pickup trucks.
▸ Outdoor vehicle storage lots offer less protection from the elements, but are often less expensive and offer much more space for oversized vehicles like buses and RVs.
▸ Before committing to a specific storage unit size, make sure to measure your vehicle with its doors open to accurately determine how much space it’ll take up.
There are plenty of reasons you might want to put a vehicle into storage. Maybe the weather has changed and the road trip season is over; maybe you simply want to save space in your garage. It truly doesn’t matter why; there’s a storage unit perfect for your needs out there, but the market can get overwhelming if you don’t go in knowing exactly what you want to rent.
Vehicle storage units come in many shapes and sizes, so you’ll need to identify exactly how much space will fit the vehicle you’re trying to store. Beyond that, you’ll have to decide whether you want outdoor or indoor storage, whether or not to rent a unit with climate control, how long you plan on renting a unit for, and many more factors. Luckily, you’re in the right place to learn what to look for!
In this article, we’ll take you through the process of selecting the right size storage unit for your vehicle, the best practices for putting a car or truck into storage, and what other features are worth seeking out when it’s time to put your vehicle away for a little while.
How do I figure out what size storage unit I need for my car?
If your vehicle isn’t oversized and you want to invest in the maximum amount of protection and security for it, we recommend renting an enclosed vehicle storage unit to keep it in. These units provide an individual space for you to park your vehicle and store some additional objects.
There are a huge range of vehicle storage unit sizes available, but as a rule of thumb, you should only rent the space you need. Remember that when storing a car in an enclosed unit, you’ll need a bit of extra space around your car to move around, open the doors, and store items that need to be kept alongside your car.
Common enclosed vehicle storage unit sizes
Storage units come in a wide range of sizes, but most vehicle storage units are offered in 10′ x 15′, 10′ x 20′, and 10′ x 30′ sizes. Let’s take a closer look at what these units are most appropriate for.
10′ x 15′
Sub-compact and compact cars, as well as ride-on vehicles like motorcycles and ATVs, are all easy to store in a 10′ x 15′ vehicle storage unit. However, be careful when selecting these units, as many common sedans are just over 15 feet long; for example, my 2014 Toyota Corolla LE sits at around 15.22 feet, which is enough to make a larger unit necessary. Two-door vehicles are usually okay to put in these units, but don’t skip the measuring part of the process before committing to a rental!
What fits inside a 10′ x 15′ vehicle storage unit?
- Motorcycles
- ATVs
- Subcompact cars shorter than 15 feet
- Compact cars shorter than 15 feet
10′ x 20′
Most everyday vehicles will easily fit inside a 10′ x 20′ vehicle storage unit, from sedans to SUVs to common pickup trucks. If the vehicle you want to store can fit inside a standard 12′ x 22′ one-car garage, you can typically fit it inside one of these units. However, go a size up if you plan on storing anything more than a handful of personal items alongside your vehicle!
What fits inside a 10′ x 20′ vehicle storage unit?
- Sedans
- Hatchbacks
- Minivans
- Crossovers
- SUVs
- Small to mid-sized pickup trucks
10′ x 30′
If you need extra space alongside a standard-sized vehicle, or you’d like to store a large vehicle like an extended pickup truck or a transit van, 10′ x 30′ units have all the space you need and more. While some facilities offer 10′ x 25′ units for those that don’t need the extra room, you can easily make use of what space is left over to store supplies related to your vehicle, like tools and important title and registration documents.
What fits inside a 10′ x 30′ vehicle storage unit?
- Large pickup trucks
- Commercial cargo and transit vans
- Oversized SUVs
- Small camper vans or RVs
What other options are available if I don’t want enclosed vehicle storage?
While there are plenty of reasons to spring for an enclosed, drive-up storage unit for your vehicle, there are plenty of other reasons not to. Maybe you’d rather not invest that much money in storing a vehicle you aren’t as worried about, or maybe the vehicle you want to store is simply too big for one of these units. If you’d rather not go for an enclosed vehicle storage unit, here are a few other options worth considering!
- Indoor vehicle storage. If you’ve ever parked your vehicle inside a parking garage, you understand how to use an indoor vehicle storage facility. It’s essentially a large indoor parking garage that allows you to rent a space alongside other vehicles, and while it’s not as easy to access as an enclosed unit and your car or truck won’t be isolated from the other cars and trucks inside, you’ll still have plenty of protection from weather damage, thieves, and vandalism.
- Covered vehicle storage. Offering less protection than indoor facilities but giving you the basics at a reasonable price, covered vehicle storage allows you to park your vehicle in the open air under a standalone roof. These storage facilities offer some basic security features, and the roof will keep rain, snow, and hail from damaging or rusting your car.
- Outdoor vehicle parking. Outdoor secure parking lots are the most affordable vehicle storage solutions out there, and while they provide the least weather protection, they offer enough security to prevent thieves from accessing the lot. These lots are often the best way to store oversized vehicles such as large trucks, buses, and large RVs and campers.
How do I get my car ready for vehicle storage once I’ve chosen the right facility for it?
No matter where you’re storing your vehicle or how much space it takes up, you should take a few important steps to keep it in good shape for as long as you store it. For extended periods, also see our guide to long-term car storage. Ignoring these could result in damage to the exterior and, in extreme cases, wear and tear on the internal components and pipes.
- Wash and dry the vehicle. Block out some time to take your vehicle to a high-quality car wash or manually wash it in your driveway to make sure there are no dirt, dust, or moisture stains on it before storage. Clean the interior as well to make sure there aren’t any crumbs or other dirt that could attract pests, and thoroughly dry the vehicle to prevent mold and mildew from being attracted to leftover water.
- Change oil and other fluids. If a car goes unused for an extended period of time, old oil and fluids can do more harm than good by corroding and rusting the pipes and internal components. Taking your car in for an oil change and refilling the coolant and other liquids will help keep those components in good shape.
- Fill the gas tank before storage. To keep old fuel from going sour and damaging the gas tank, make sure you give your car a fresh fill-up. We also recommend purchasing some fuel stabilizer from an auto parts store to keep the fuel from going bad during storage.
- Store your vehicle with the parking brake off. Leaving the parking brake on for an extended period in storage can lead to “glazing”, an unwanted process where the brakes fuse with the rotors and permanently damage the vehicle. To prevent your car from rolling away, get some wheel blocks and store them around the wheels.
- Disconnect the battery before storage. This can help prevent the battery from draining over time and requiring an expensive replacement. If the unit you rent has power available, consider getting a battery tender or trickle charger to keep a decent flow of electricity going and offset the rate at which a battery naturally drains.
- Cover your air intakes and exhaust pipes. Pests and rodents are known to make homes in dark, dry spaces such as car exhaust pipes. For maximum protection, invest in a tight-fitting car cover that will further prevent dirt and dust from collecting on your vehicle.
What features and amenities should I look for in car storage?
When shopping for storage, size and preparation are far from the only things to consider. You’ll want to make sure you choose a facility that offers the best features for your car’s needs. If you’re opting for an enclosed vehicle storage unit, look for facilities that offer the following features:
- 24-hour access. Your schedule may not make it convenient for you to stop by the storage facility during standard opening hours. Luckily, most storage facilities today offer 24-hour access to renters, meaning you can access the facility at any hour of any day that’s convenient for you.
- Drive-up access. A standard feature for most vehicle storage facilities, drive-up units allow you to drive your vehicle right onto the lot and into the unit. Many of these units are oriented outdoors, but some indoor facilities offer enough space for you to carefully drive into them as well. For more, see our guide to drive-up storage units.
- Climate control. Opting for a facility that offers climate-controlled storage units will offer the most protection from temperature and humidity shifts. Climate control keeps the unit at a predictable range of temperature and humidity to provide a comfortable environment for your car and any other items you want to store.
- On-site security. At the most basic of levels, storage facilities offer gated access to prevent unwanted visitors from getting into units. However, for the best security possible, invest in a facility with good lighting, a robust surveillance camera system, keypad locks, and on-site security staff that can monitor any suspicious activity.
How do I find the right car storage facility for my needs in my area?
It can be difficult to navigate the market of vehicle storage facilities at a glance, but after reading this article, you should understand how to identify and seek out the right unit for your needs with the features you require. Following our suggested steps to prepare your vehicle for storage will make sure it’s ready to drive when your lease ends or you’re ready to take it out for a spin. Just make sure you reconnect the battery first! For high-end vehicles, see our guide to luxury car storage.
If you’re ready to start searching for units and need help comparing prices and narrowing down features near you, you’re in the right place. SpareFoot gives you access to a free, easy-to-use search tool for vehicle storage units in your area, and you can use it to filter results by the features you need and compare prices right in the search page. We even offer exclusive discounts for booking through our site!
Take a look at our search tool when you’re ready to start searching, or call (844) 532-6932 to speak to a SpareFoot storage expert and get personalized help. Keep looking through our blog articles for more tips on storing and moving anything you may need!
Yes, you need documentation that proves your vehicle is registered to you and it’s insured before you can store it in a storage facility. Have these documents ready when you go in to make your rental, as they ensure you’re the registered owner and reduce the facility’s liability in the case of an accident. Some facilities also ask you to prove that the car is drivable before you can rent a unit for it. For more on coverage, see our guide to self-storage insurance.
Depending on storage unit size, amenities, storage type, and location, you can expect to pay a monthly cost of anywhere from $130-$200 while renting a vehicle storage unit. Outdoor storage parking lots will be your cheapest option, while enclosed indoor car storage units will be the most expensive.
The right size storage unit for a car depends on what kind of car you’re storing. A 10′ x 20′ unit is more than enough room for most standard-sized sedans and small pickup trucks, a 10′ x 30′ unit will allow you to store a large pickup truck or cargo van, and a 10′ x 15′ unit is usually enough room for a two-door or subcompact car. Any other vehicles are best stored in an outdoor storage lot.
Unless you’re driving a Smart Fortwo or a Peel P50, even the smallest of cars are usually over 10 feet long, making them unsuitable for a 10′ x 10′ unit. Your best bet is to opt for a 10′ x 15′ unit at minimum, and make sure you measure the car with its doors open to ensure you rent the right size unit.
Michael Ta’Nous
Michael Ta’Nous is a full-time writer who works and lives with his wife in Taos, New Mexico. “Mikey” spent his early twenties living either out of a van as a touring musician or out of a backpack on motorcycle trips writing from cafes–these rigorous adventure years polished him into a master packer. In addition to managing storage units full of catering supplies and outdoor gear professionally, Michael has used storage units as a band rehearsal space and a motorcycle garage.
