If your job is going to be taking you out of the country for an extended period, you'll need a safe place to park your car. Choosing a self-storage facility to store your car is the best option. Not only will it provide you covered parking, it will also provide you with the security you need to keep your car safe while you're gone. Before you take your car to a storage facility (such as Coastal Mini Storage), here are some steps you should take to make sure it's in good shape when you return.

Begin with Fresh Oil

If you're going to be storing your car, the first thing you need to is get an oil change. You won't be driving your car, but that doesn't mean dirty oil won't harm your engine. Storing your car with dirty motor oil will allow sediment to eat away at the engine. Protect your car by having a full oil change taken care of right before you move it into the storage facility.

Clean It Inside and Out

The next item of business should be a good cleaning – inside and out. Begin by detailing the interior of your car, including carpeting and upholstery. If you have leather interior, apply a generous amount of protectant. This will seal the leather and keep it from drying out while you're away. You'll also need to vacuum the carpet and the vents to remove dust particles.

When cleaning the outside of your car for storage, don't forget about the trim and the tires. Polish the trim to remove tar and bug particles. Wash the tires carefully and then apply a tire protectant. The tire protectant will prevent dry rot.

Go with Climate Control        

Once you have your car ready for storage, you'll need to choose the right storage unit. If you live in a region of the country that experiences extreme temperatures, or high humidity, you should choose a storage unit that's climate controlled. The climate control option will protect your car from damage associated with temperature and environmental changes.

Choose a Designated Driver

Depending on how long you're going to be gone, you'll need to choose a designated driver for your car. Allowing your car to sit for too long can cause serious problems including:

• Dead batteries
• Engine trouble
• Belt rot

You can protect your car from these problems by assigning someone to drive your car around the block at least once every three months. That way, your car will be ready when you return.