Tuesday, July 14, 2009

I'm traveling abroad for over a month- what should I do with my car?

I%26#039;m wondering if there are any companies that would rent out my car to someone else for the time I%26#039;m gone... (It%26#039;s currently financed, if that matters, so it%26#039;s going to be pretty pricey to just have it sitting around! I have insurance, and the car is in really good condition). If I can%26#039;t find a company / individual to rent it, should I consider storing it? Where? I don%26#039;t think I have any family members with open garage space.



Thank you!



I%26#039;m traveling abroad for over a month- what should I do with my car?

Store it.



If it%26#039;s a car that is financed and it%26#039;s something decent, then, the last thing I would do is rent it to someone. You have no idea if they will check the oil, drive it if it overheats and blow the head gasket, park too close to people and get your doors dinged up, or flat out wreck the crap out of it. If you don%26#039;t know them well, they might even just drive it off and sell it under your name and take off with the money.



Whatever they do, you%26#039;ll be responsible for it, or at least your insurance company will. You will indirectly, and if it%26#039;s the renters fault, your insurance rates will reflect it later.



The bottom line on this is, letting someone else drive it could end up costing you a heck of a lot more than a month of storage. If you think it%26#039;s pricey having it set around, add up the costs of your insurance deductable, depreciation in value if it%26#039;s been wrecked, and the combined total of several years of increased rates. If they do something like drive it when it%26#039;s overheating, insurance won%26#039;t cover it. A blown head gasket can warp the head and cause thousands in repair costs.



While it is a shame that you need to continue paying everything for a month, that%26#039;s how it is. If you own it, you pay for it. The finance company doesn%26#039;t care if you drive it or not. If it%26#039;s a financial challenge, you might want to consider selling it and paying the loan off out of the proceeds. You could buy something else when you got back.



If it were me, I%26#039;d find a reputable storage company with security cameras all over, and store it. One month isn%26#039;t very long. You should be able to find a storage unit for less than 100 bucks that will have the room for it, and it will be safe and sound. Storage facilities can be robbed like anywhere else, so make sure you get a very good lock. If there%26#039;s room for 2 locks on the door, put 2 on there. Roll up the windows and lock the car too. Disconnect the battery as well. It will protect the battery from discharge, and it will also throw up one more obstacle if someone tries to take it.



Have a good trip



Kevin



I%26#039;m traveling abroad for over a month- what should I do with my car?

My cousin worked in Canada for over a month. He paid me to go over to his place and drive the car once a week. I wouldn%26#039;t rent it. It could come back with stains and the smell of cigarettes and God knows what else. People just don%26#039;t take any pride in rentals.



I%26#039;m traveling abroad for over a month- what should I do with my car?

I would store it, even though your still paying the financing and a storage fee.Its better than paying for it when its wrecked by someone else driving it.Plus you%26#039;ll be closer to owning it and it will have less miles than if you were driving it. Really its only a month,so thats what one payment?



I%26#039;m traveling abroad for over a month- what should I do with my car?

I%26#039;d recommend putting it in storage. Look for a place that stores RVs and boats, they might take cars too. I don%26#039;t think anyone would use your car as a rental and I wouldn%26#039;t recommend it, too much liability. If someone damaged or wrecked it and you are overseas then things could get complicated.



I%26#039;m traveling abroad for over a month- what should I do with my car?

Why would you ever want to rent your car out to someone you don%26#039;t know. The abuse of rental cars is rampant and I%26#039;m trying to start an endangered rental car habitat. Just kidding, just park it and enjoy your trip.



I%26#039;m traveling abroad for over a month- what should I do with my car?

TA DA!



I%26#039;ve got your answer here! But first let me make sure I%26#039;ve got the question right?



You%26#039;re buying a car.



You%26#039;re leaving the country for over a month.



and You think you should rent your car to someone you don%26#039;t know just because it%26#039;s going to be pricey to leave it sit around and it%26#039;s in good condition. It almost sounds like you don%26#039;t want your car to be in good condition.



Have you ever rented a car? (I%26#039;m guess no) Have you ever heard the phrase %26quot;drive it like you stole it?%26quot; yep that%26#039;s pretty much how people take care of a rental car.



Unless you have a dear Friend who needs a car, (if you do make sure your insurance will cover him driving your car) Park it!



It sounds like you might live in a big city where leaving it parked on the street could be a recipe for disaster. Why not leave it at your folks house, a Friends house, consider renting a storage unit big enough to get the car in, (expensive but safe)



If you decide to rent it out, just leave the keys in the door when you leave and a note on the steering wheel saying when you want the car back. Heck leave%26#039;em a little cash in the glove box for fuel. and the number to your mechanic just in case it breaks down.



STORE IT

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