Taking Your Car Out of Storage: Here's Everything You Need to Know

Spring is finally (almost) here, but before you turn the key, make sure your first drive of the season isn't your last.

You’ve spent the winter staring at that silhouette in the garage, waiting for the salt to clear and the mercury to rise. But as any enthusiast knows, "waking up" a car after months of hibernation is about more than just checking the battery. Whether you’re dusting off a 1960s muscle car or a modern weekend toy, the transition from storage to the street can be a minefield of mechanical mishaps.

To help you start the motoring season on the right foot, AutoGuide has once again teamed up with the experts at Hagerty. We sat down with Bryant Kolle of Hagerty to answer the burning questions submitted by our forum community.

The #1 Mistake: The "Driveway Disaster"

Before you even think about horsepower, Bryant warns of a much humbler system: the brakes. "I’ve seen countless claims where the owner is so excited to get the car out that they forget the brakes might have developed surface rust or lost pressure," says Bryant. "If you have a slight incline on your driveway, that excitement can quickly turn into thousands of dollars in damage to your neighbor's car, or your own house."

Expert Tip: Always pump the brake pedal several times and test the engagement on level ground before shifting into gear.

The Fuel Dilemma: Did You Forget the Stabilizer?

It’s the question we’ve all asked ourselves: “I forgot to put fuel stabilizer in back in November... am I in trouble?”

According to Bryant, there is good news for those with a short memory. Modern high-octane fuels are generally stable for 3 to 6 months. While a year of sitting might require draining the tank, a standard winter nap usually just requires a fresh top-off and a long drive to cycle the system.

Uninvited Guests

Even if your car looks pristine on the outside, the local wildlife may have been busy. Bryant and the AutoGuide team discuss the tell-tale signs of rodent damage that go beyond just droppings. From "smelly" HVAC systems caused by nests on the cabin filter to the dangers of chewed wiring harnesses, a quick visual inspection under the hood (and in the exhaust tips) is non-negotiable.

Does Your "Modern" Car Qualify as a Classic?

One of the most surprising takeaways from our session? You don’t need a car from the 1960s to benefit from a collector insurance policy. Bryant explains how 90s and 2000s "analog modern" cars (and even some brand-new enthusiast models) can qualify for specialized coverage that is often significantly cheaper than a standard commercial policy.