Heading off on your OE, a long work contract or an extended trip overseas? Working out what to do with the car is one of the most common headaches. Selling it means taking a hit and buying again when you’re back. Leaving it on the street or in a mate’s driveway means months out in the Wellington wind, rain and salt air.

Storing it properly is often the simplest option. Here’s how to plan it so the car is ready to drive the day you land.

Is storing worth it compared with selling?

It depends on how long you’ll be away and what the car’s worth to you. Some things to weigh up:

  • What you’d lose selling and buying again. Dealer margins, time spent on Trade Me and the hassle of finding a good replacement all add up.
  • How long you’re going for. Our indoor storage is $40 a week including GST, which is about $173 a month. Work out the total for your trip and compare it with what you’d lose by selling.
  • Whether you’d want the same car back. If it’s reliable, paid off, or a car you love, it’s often worth keeping.

Before you leave: your checklist

Book storage early

Get in touch a few weeks before you fly so the drop-off fits in with your last few days, which always end up busier than expected. Come and have a look at the space first if you like.

Put your rego on hold

If the car won’t be used on the road for at least three months, you can apply to NZTA for an exemption from licensing, usually called putting your rego on hold. It’s free when you apply online, can last up to 12 months at a time, and you can apply again before it runs out if you’re away longer. See our full guide to putting your rego on hold.

Talk to your insurer

Ask about laid-up cover for a car that isn’t being driven. It usually costs less than full cover but still protects you against things like fire and theft. Let them know where the car will be kept.

Check the WoF expiry date

If your warrant of fitness will run out while you’re away, put a reminder in your phone for when you get back. You’ll need a current WoF before you can relicense the car or drive it on the road. You’re allowed to drive an unlicensed car directly to a WoF appointment.

Update your contact details

Make sure NZTA has your current email address so reminders reach you while you’re overseas. Give us an email address and phone number you’ll actually check while you’re away, too.

Prepare the car

Clean it inside and out, fill the tank, check the tyres and clear out anything you won’t need. Our guide to preparing your car for long-term storage covers this step by step.

While you’re away

Once your car is with us, it’s stored indoors under a cover, out of the weather. It’s connected to a smart battery conditioner so it stays charged, and we check the tyre pressures regularly. The owners live on site, and the storage is alarmed and watched by cameras 24/7.

Coming home

Send us a message when you know your flight dates. Give us 24 hours’ notice and we’ll have the car out and ready for you. If your rego is on hold, relicense it online before you drive. If the WoF has run out, book that in first.

Store your car with us

We’re at 624 Ohariu Valley Road, Johnsonville, about 15 minutes from Wellington city, and handy for Porirua, the Hutt and Kāpiti. Open 7 days, 7am to 7pm, by appointment.