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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years of experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
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Professor of Risk Management
25+ years in insurance
Former commercial lines underwriter
Updated
Maybe you’re caring for an ill family member in another state or preparing for deployment. Whatever the reason, you may need to place your car in storage for 30 days or more without driving it.
Car storage insurance, essentially comprehensive-only coverage, is usually cheaper than a standard auto policy because it protects your vehicle from theft, vandalism, and weather damage while you’re not driving it. Vehicle storage insurance helps you avoid coverage lapses.
But some states and lenders may require you to still maintain liability or other coverages. In this guide, you’ll learn how vehicle storage insurance works, what it covers, and when it makes sense to purchase.
Car storage insurance protects vehicles while they’re in storage for 30 days or more.
Maintaining a car storage insurance policy prevents insurance gaps and protects against theft or non-driving-related damages.
On average, car storage insurance premiums are less than $20 per month.[1]
Car storage insurance, sometimes referred to as parked car insurance, is for vehicles that aren’t in use. Whether the car isn’t drivable as it undergoes repairs or because you’re traveling overseas, car storage coverage is an option for vehicles in storage for 30 days or more.
Vehicle storage policies only include comprehensive car insurance. The insurer removes other insurance coverages, such as liability or collision insurance. This is because you won’t be driving the vehicle and, as such, won’t be at risk of getting into an accident.
A comprehensive policy protects the stored vehicle from risks like theft, vandalism, fire, and storm damage. With car storage insurance, you also avoid lapses in coverage, which insurers view as a risky behavior. If you have a lapse in coverage, your insurer might increase your rates.
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Car storage insurance works by adjusting your existing auto policy. Your policy may meet state liability requirements, or you may have full coverage, which includes liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance.
When you place your car in storage, your insurer removes liability and collision coverages while keeping comprehensive coverage. This lowers your premium while still protecting your car from risks.
Some insurance companies allow you to suspend liability or collision insurance, while others require you to remove them from the policy entirely. Before you drive again, contact your insurer to reactivate your coverage or update your policy to meet your state’s insurance requirements.
Car storage insurance can refer to different forms of coverage. Below are the most common types of insurance for stored cars.
Many insurers offer car storage insurance as comprehensive-only coverage. It protects your vehicle against non-accident damage. For example, if someone breaks into the storage center where you keep your vehicle and steals it, comprehensive coverage would help cover the cost of replacing it.
Liability insurance is necessary in nearly every state. It pays for damages you cause to another driver’s vehicle or injuries suffered by the other driver and their passengers in an accident you cause.
Most car owners who place their cars into storage — and won’t be driving the car — drop this form of coverage. But if you have an outstanding car loan, your loan agreement may require you to maintain liability coverage.
Collision insurance pays for damages to your own vehicle after an accident. As with liability coverage, most people drop this insurance when their vehicle is in storage. But if you have a car loan or lease, your insurer may require you to maintain collision insurance.
Most insurance policies pay the vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV), which accounts for depreciation. On the other hand, agreed value policies assign a set value to the car at the time the policy begins. Agreed-value policies tend to work best for antique, classic, or collector cars.
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Car storage insurance provides some critical protection when your vehicle is in long-term storage, but it’s limited in its scope. Your insurance wouldn’t cover your car in the following scenarios:
Your car is driven to a different location, and the driver hits a pole
You back into another vehicle when leaving the storage unit
You pick up the car and get in an accident
Here are some other situations where car storage insurance would or wouldn’t cover your vehicle.
Scenarios  | Car Storage Insurance |
|---|---|
| The car’s sound system is stolen | Yes |
| The vehicle is stolen | Yes |
| A tree falls on the car | Yes |
| The car is damaged in a fire or storm | Yes |
| The car is moved, and the driver hits a pole | No, collision insurance required |
| The driver takes the car on the road and hits another car | No, liability insurance required |
Finally, if you get behind the wheel and get into an accident, your insurer may exclude the incident from coverage. Police could also cite you for driving without state-minimum coverage.
So remember, before getting in the car, make sure you activate your liability insurance with your insurer.
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Car storage insurance can be a good idea if you plan to park your car for 30 days or more. Below are some of the most common reasons to get storage insurance.
Many drivers opt to store their vehicles for part of the year. For example, if you own a convertible, you may decide to put it into storage during the winter months. Or, if you live in another state for part of the year, you may place the vehicle in storage while you’re away.
If you buy an older vehicle that needs significant work, it may not be drivable for a long time. While the work is in progress, you may choose car storage insurance to protect it against theft or storm damage.
If you’re deployed or plan on traveling for an extended period, you may have to leave your vehicle behind. Car storage insurance provides basic protection while you’re away from home.
If you own a collector vehicle you don’t drive, car storage insurance protects your investment.
Vehicle storage coverage may not make sense in the following scenarios:
You have a car loan. If you have an outstanding loan, your lender may require you to maintain liability and collision insurance, regardless of whether you drive the vehicle.
You drive the car occasionally. Most states require liability coverage, even if you only take it to and from the repair shop.
Your state requires coverage for registered vehicles. Some states require all registered vehicles to have liability coverage, even if you keep the car stored and never drive it.
The cost of insuring a car in storage is typically much lower than that cost of a standard auto policy. Since you don’t have to worry about driving-related risks like collisions, you may only need to comprehensive coverage to protect your vehicle against threats, like theft or vandalism.
A car storage policy that only provides comprehensive coverage averages $238 per year, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
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If you plan on storing your vehicle, follow these steps to protect your vehicle with insurance coverage:
Review lender requirements: If you purchased your vehicle with an auto loan, you may be contractually required to maintain full coverage on the vehicle, even if it’s in storage. Make sure you review your agreement before changing your insurance coverage.
Contact your insurer: If you have an existing insurance policy, you may be able to adjust your coverage through your insurer’s mobile app or online portal. Otherwise, you can contact your insurance agent or your company’s customer service department and explain that your vehicle will be going into storage and what kind of coverage you’ll need.
Confirm timing: Confirm with your insurer when the car will be in storage.
Adjust coverage: You may be able to suspend liability and collision insurance, but maintain a comprehensive-only plan. Or, you can cancel your existing policy and get comprehensive-only coverage.
Update your car insurance policy before driving: When it’s time to get your car out of storage, be sure to update your auto insurance policy and check that it’s in effect so your policy meets state liability requirements.
Insurance rates vary by company, so be sure to request insurance quotes from several insurers to find the best rate for you.
Whether you’re deployed or heading off to college, the following questions can help you prepare to store your car and and protect it with the best car insurance coverage.
On average, a car storage policy (with only comprehensive insurance) costs $238 per year, according to the NAIC.
Your insurance costs may decrease if your vehicle is in storage, you drop collision and liability insurance, and choose comprehensive-only coverage.
Yes, if you plan on storing your car for 30 days or more, State Farm may allow you to suspend liability and collision coverage and maintain a policy with comprehensive insurance.
Yes, GEICO offers vehicle storage insurance under its Storage Protection Plan. Military service members who will store their vehicles for 30 days or more can pause or reduce their insurance coverage.
Your cost for parked car insurance may vary based on your car’s year, make and model, location, and the deductible you choose.
If you won’t be driving your vehicle for 30 days or more, you could pause or suspend your auto insurance policy (or opt for a comprehensive-only policy) while your car is in storage to save money.
Yes, car storage insurance is the same as a comprehensive-only policy, protecting your vehicle from things like theft or fire.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years of experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Professor of Risk Management
25+ years in insurance
Former commercial lines underwriter
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