Storing a sports car for winter is a great way to protect it from the elements when the weather turns cold and nasty to ensure proper maintenance. Done right, your beloved chariot will emerge from a long winter’s nap refreshed and ready for spring. Do it wrong, and you could wind up with a car that won’t start or is inhabited by mice or other rodents. 

So as the weather cools, the leaves change, people load up on all things pumpkin spice, and Christmas decorations make an appearance before Halloween, it’s a good time to think about putting away your toy for the winter. 

Before storing your car, there are a few things to do to get it ready: 

Once you’re ready to put your car in hibernation, do the following steps: 

Some people like to start their vehicles periodically while in storage. This is not necessary if you’ve completed the above steps. However, there is no harm in starting your vehicle as long as you let it warm up and run for a good 10 minutes to burn off water vapor in the exhaust and circulate the fluids. 

When it’s time to pull your car out of winter storage, do the following: 

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