Tips For Parking Your Summer Vehicle

Part of Canada’s charm comes from having different seasons. In Ontario, our climate ranges from dry heat in the summer to bitter cold in the dead of winter. However, some vehicles are not built to withstand all four seasons. Your summer convertible or vintage ride is designed for warm sunny days, free of snow, slush and salt that plague Ontario’s winter roads.

As we approach the winter months, here is everything you need to know before your seasonal car goes into hibernation.

What is considered a seasonal vehicle?

A seasonal vehicle is one that is only used for a portion of the year, such as snowmobiles, ATVs, classic cars, or convertibles. Typically, seasonal vehicles are expensive and not designed to be driven year-round in places like Ontario. In order to protect your asset, proper maintenance, storage and adequate insurance are a must-have!

Tips for putting your car into storage.

Whether you store your vehicle in a shed, outside or inside your garage, it is important to take the following steps to make for an easy transition back onto the road in the warmer months.

• Before storage, make sure to thoroughly clean your car inside and out. Rid the car of any tree sap drops or dirt build-up with a good hand wash, polish up that chrome and apply a coat of wax to the paint.
• Throw out food wrappers, soda cans, and any other trash that may have accumulated in the vehicle’s cabin. This can attract unwanted visitors such as raccoons or other animals.
• Inflate your tires with slightly higher air pressure before storing your vehicle because tires can deflate over time with temperature changes. Make sure not to exceed the tire’s maximum air pressure, which can be found on the side of the tire.
• Invest in a car cover. Especially if you store your car outside, make sure it is waterproof and quality material. However, even cars inside can also benefit from a basic cover because it stops the exterior from accumulating dust and dirt. It also provides an added barrier should the car get accidentally hit while moving items around in the garage.

Changes to your car insurance?

Auto insurance is required by law in Canada, but did you know while your seasonal vehicle is in storage, you are eligible to remove liability and accident benefits insurance on that vehicle? Although the option of cancellation is available, it isn’t necessarily the best choice. The main reason to keep your car insurance intact over the winter is to protect your vehicle while in storage. With insurance, your vehicle is protected from vandalism, fires, theft, and even weather-related damage.

There are a lot of factors to be mindful of when putting your seasonal vehicle in storage for the winter. The first being maintaining the physical integrity of the car by properly storing it in a dry and safe place. But the second is protecting your asset from unknown risks. Talk to a Merit broker to determine what is the best coverage for your seasonal vehicle and get protected all year long.