Everything You Need to Know About FIFO Car Storage
If you’re a FIFO worker, what to do with your car when you’re on site can be a big concern. Unless you have a dedicated parking spot at home, there’s a real risk of incurring serious fines while you’re away. You could also come home to find that it has been seriously damaged or, even worse, stolen.
This is where car storage can really help. When you leave your car in secure storage, you can happily head off on shift, knowing it will be kept safe. You’ll also have the peace of mind of knowing it’ll be waiting for you, just as you left it, when you get home.
But if you’ve never used secure car storage before, you probably have a few questions about how it all works. Here we’ll attempt to answer some of these for you. We’ll also explain why our car storage in Osborne Park is a great option for all FIFO workers.
What are my car storage options?
Depending on the facility you choose, you should have a couple of options for how you store your car. For example, when you choose Ezi Storage’s Osborne Park car storage, you can book:
- A secure parking space: If you just need to store your car, you can keep it simple and arrange a single parking spot. This gives you a secure place to park on your way out of the city. And, when you get back from site, just give the facility a call to organise to pick up your car, before dropping it back when you fly out.
- A secure storage unit: If there are other things you need space for – like your surfboard or camping gear – a storage unit would be better. These can be as big as a standard single garage and allow you to keep everything together. It also means you’ll be ready to head off on your next holiday as soon as you get back to Perth.
What should I look for in a car storage facility?
When choosing where to store your car, there are a few important features you should look out for. This includes:
- Undercover storage: Leaving your car outdoors, means it’ll be exposed to potentially harmful elements, like sun, rain, wind, and dust. As such, you should look for a facility with undercover storage to minimise the risk of damage.
- Good accessibility: You want to be able to get to your car whenever you need it. As such, you should look for a facility that’s open seven days a week, at hours that work for you.
- Security controls: Knowing that your vehicle will be kept safe is an important part of car storage. As such, you should look for a facility that actively monitors and controls who’s accessing the storage area.
What do I need to do to prepare my car for storage?
To keep your car in the best possible condition, there are a few things you should do before putting it into storage. These preparations are particularly important if you’re planning to leave your car sit for a month or more. That said, some are still worth doing, even if you’re only storing your car for a week or so.
Some of the things you should do include:
- Give your car good clean: The cleaner your car is when you leave it, the cleaner it will be when you come back to it. So, thoroughly clean the inside, making sure you get into all the small cracks and remove any dust and crumbs. Also wash the outside, removing any build up that may corrode the paint (dirt, grime, etc.), and finish with a wax. Leaving a couple of windows slightly open will also help with ventilation and should reduce any unpleasant odours.
- Replace the oil and fill the tank: Over time, the oil in your car can become acidic and start damaging your engine. So, if you’re planning to leave your car in storage for a while, it’s best to change the oil first. It’s also worth filling up the fuel tank, as this will minimise the risk of moisture building up.
- Check the tyres: While tyres naturally lose pressure over time, this tends to happen quicker when they don’t move for long periods. To avoid this, and to prevent flat spots developing, you should remove your tyres once your car is in storage. Alternatively, you can arrange for someone you trust to take your car out for a quick drive every couple of weeks. Whichever option you choose, we also recommend leaving your handbrake off to stop the brake pads from rusting or seizing.
- Prepare your battery: Much like your tyres, your battery will also benefit from a short drive every couple of weeks. This will give it a chance to recharge and help make sure it’s still working correctly. Alternatively, you can disconnect your battery or attach a trickle charger to it, once your car is in storage.
Want to discuss this further?
If you’d like to explore ways to keep your car safe while you’re out of town, Ezi Storage can help. Our car storage in Osborne Park is easily accessible from the freeway and we have spaces to suit most vehicle types. Give us a call today to have a chat about your storage requirements and get your free quote.