6 Winter Storage Tips to Keep Your Vintage Ride Safe

BY KYLE SMITH / ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 6, 2025

It’s that time of year again. The weather shifts, and while there are some drivers anxiously awaiting the cooler weather, most are looking at forecasts and lamenting the disappearance of convertible season. In its place is storage season, and while the wait can be tough, a little preparation and attention now will pay dividends in the spring. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Keep clean

When putting a car up for the season, it is best to do so with it clean. Dirt and debris packed into the nooks and crannies of a car are an open invitation for nesting animals who want that junk to make a home. Giving the car a wash is a good idea, and be sure to get the underside of the car too. Any pockets of leaves or grit that are still stuck under the car after those final fall drives will not just magically disappear and could instead become a nest.

Protect—if it makes sense

With a freshly washed car, it might be tempting to try to keep the dust away, but be careful: Wrapping the car up may not be the protection you expect. In fact, a car cover used improperly will do far more damage than one not used at all. For example, I occasionally store one of my own cars in a single-sided carport, and the winter wind blows through it fiercely in the evenings. If I chose to cover my car, that cover would flap about, filling with dust and dirt that would be beaten and chafed into the paint.

If I were storing my car inside—even unheated storage—I would opt for a soft cover to help prevent anything that might get tipped onto or nudged into the car from making a mark. It won’t stop everything and won’t do anything if boxes get stacked on top before spring, but a cover indoors can be helpful in keeping the car looking sharp.

Catch up on maintenance

Spring is months away, whether we want to admit it or not. That means our cars will likely be pushed to the back of our minds for a bit. Thinking that I will remember the small, quirky problems all winter and then immediately want to fix them is foolish. Instead, now is the time to deal with any lingering issues that appeared during the driving season

Investigate the space

Not all of us spend lots of time doting over our cars in the garage, so when it comes time to park them for a bit, be sure to look around and double-check for items that might suddenly topple over and hurt your car. This could be things leaning on the wall or sitting precariously on a shelf over the hood. Also, think about what’s overhead if you are in the snowbelt: Leaky roofs can cause damage, and collapsed roofs cause even more.

Take a moment to walk around the car and ensure it is as safe as you think it is when parking for hibernation. Look for hazards that may fall or be tipped onto the car, and also where doors from other cars that might pull in and out of the garage will swing. Ensure everyone has enough space to operate normally if possible—a buffer or bumper to prevent door dings might be prudent.

Top up (fluids and convertibles)

The coolant, oil, and other fluids in a vintage car can be easy to forget about when a car only sees a few thousand miles per year. Nearly all of us remember oil changes, but coolant, power steering, and other fluids age as well. Take the moment while putting the car away to not only check these fluids and top up, but also replace them if they are contaminated or aged.

For convertibles, storing with the top up will prevent the fabric from shrinking and making it tough to close the top next summer. With the top up, take the time to look around inside at the top frame to make sure the pivots are properly lubricated and there are no leaks on a hydraulic power top.

Also top up the gas tank, especially if it is steel. Fuel can draw in moisture, and that moisture can rot out a fuel tank from the inside, leaving chunks of rust to clog up the fuel system. Add some fuel stabilizer of your choice to non-ethanol fuel (if you can get it) and then top up the tank.

Plug in maintenance

Batteries do surprisingly well in storage left on their own, but a storage maintainer will help keep a battery healthy and topped up so that the first start-up does not involve a delay (like the kind that happens when you have to head out to the parts store for a new one). Using a maintainer like a Battery Tender makes battery upkeep simple and allows for easy checking on the battery while in storage.

There are a lot of storage tips and ideas out there. Anyone who has stored a car for multiple years often develops their own process, but don’t let habit get in the way of adapting to new information or techniques. Your vintage car just might love you a little more for it

This article has been reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder, Hagerty. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Click here for more automotive tips and stories, or here for more information on the next Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show.