who parks their car up over winter?

[vw_golf_nutter]

hi all, just looking for a bit of advice.
I have a mk3 cabriolet which will need a bit of work for the MOT in November. Im thinking of parking it up over winter and have found a concrete garage to rent that has a lockable metal door.
My question is. Obviously I am doing this is save money so Im thinking of cancelling the insurance altogether. Is this wise? I mean, what harm can come to it if its parked in a garage?
And if im parking it up do i leave the battery connected or is there anything i should do to prepare it for being laid up for 4 months+?
thanks

[rob.043]

If its going to be off the road then cancel the Insurance, and cash in the tax disc so its on a SORN. That way itll just be costing you whatever rent on the garage is. Disconnecting the battery would be best, and give it a charge before you start it up again.

However if the roof of the garage falls in, or it gets broken in to and the car's nicked, you will have no insurance cover. If the area is ok, and the garage is sound enough, I wouldnt worry about it not being insured.

[Luke1981]

Depending on how much your car is worth I would also cancel the insurance and sorn it of the road. As stated above disconnect the battery and make sure you get a good lock on the door. Chances of it getting nicked are pretty slim as you need the keys to start it.

[Golf_GT_TDI]

I think whats been posted above covers everything but just to confirm that its best to disconnect battery.. its going to lose charge over that time anyway but by disconnecting it it won't go completely flat and not recharge etc. Park it up with brakes dry! and maybe turn wheels on full lock and engage steering lock, make it harder for anyone to steal it, very unlikely if its a locked garage in half decent area.

[leigh_harty]

Is it going to be stored and run every now and again?

Maybe a dab of oil in the bores but might be overkill for 4months 

[Gti_Jamo]

I would also take the battery right out the car.

[Thom89]

Theirs no way in the world that i'd cancel my insurance! poor advice I think!

Just park it up, disconnect the battery, chock the wheels, leave hand brake OFF, get a decent dust cover, Halfords ones are more than adequate, and cover it up.

While laid up, don't bother running it up, thinking that you're doing it some good, all you will do is add condensation to the inside of the exhaust system, and possibly shortening its life, your car will easily cope being laid up for a few years let alone a few months

Bringing out of hibernation, charge battery fully overnight, Disconnect "King lead" from Distributor, spin the engine over for about 10 seconds, this will pump oil to the areas that need it, reconnect king lead, and start as normal
Drive to a Petrol station, fresh fuel, and check the tyres... Job done

Thom

[dTEA]

Theirs no way in the world that i'd cancel my insurance! poor advice I think!

Just park it up, disconnect the battery, chock the wheels, leave hand brake OFF, get a decent dust cover, Halfords ones are more than adequate, and cover it up.

While laid up, don't bother running it up, thinking that you're doing it some good, all you will do is add condensation to the inside of the exhaust system, and possibly shortening its life, your car will easily cope being laid up for a few years let alone a few months

Bringing out of hibernation, charge battery fully overnight, Disconnect "King lead" from Distributor, spin the engine over for about 10 seconds, this will pump oil to the areas that need it, reconnect king lead, and start as normal
Drive to a Petrol station, fresh fuel, and check the tyres... Job done

Thom

this if you dont have enough money to replace when it gets taken.

[vw_golf_nutter]

ok thanks. exhaust is rotten anyway, thats part of the reason im parking it up. its going to cost a bit to MOT it, needs middle and rear exhaust and other stuff and im not really using it.
do i leave it with petrol in or as empty as poss? my mums mazda was parked up for a few years before she bought it and the petrol tank was rotten because of it, think it was empty?

[F17BAD]

i have a car in storeage, its still insured under "laid up cover"  basically insured for everyting apart from been driven on the road

Costs me £50 a year