Travelling Overseas for a Year, Advice on What to Do with Car

Hitstachbachman on 01/11/2018 - 17:26

Hi all,

Looking for some advice. I am planning last minute travel and will be away for a year. I am looking for ideas on what I could do with my car. I am planning to rent out my apartment for the year. I am unable to leave the car with family\and or friends at the moment. Bought the car (POLO) new for 20k 4.5 years ago.

So far I have come up with:
- Leave the car in my garage at home (disconnect the battery), take a hit in potential rent and fix up any problems when get back.
- Found some websites where could store the car for a year for about ~3.7k (http://www.allcarstorage.com.au/).
- Try sell the car quickly for about 6-12k and re-buy something when I get back. Not sure how easy this would be to do within a couple of weeks.

Does anyone know cheap places where you can store a car? Or have any other ideas?

Automotive

Comments

  • HighAndDry on 01/11/2018 - 17:33
    +3

    How firm is the "one year" timeframe? Because if it could potentially turn into "many many years" then the only reasonable choice is to sell now. Actually - if you don't have anyone to take care of it… even for a year that might be the only realistic option. Wait for some of the better informed car-people to chime in, but I think leaving a car for a year - never turning the engine, leaving the fuel in the take to evaporate, etc - that'll do bad things to the car.

    • Randxyz123 on 01/11/2018 - 20:16
      +1

      +1 to this.

      Fuel goes stale, the battery will be dead, you'll need to drain all fluids when you are back.

      If you are going overseas (say to the UK to work) and assuming here you aren't married or with someone and you meet someone and decide you really want to stay you aren't going to want to have s*** like a car back home.

      Even if you are going over with your S/O, you both might love it and want to stay.

      When are you going? Have you actually rented your apartment? That alone takes a couple of weeks to sort.

      Personally, I'd sell the car. Over the weekend(or even tomorrow if you don't work), get it cleaned and go and take some decent photos of it. Inside, outside etc. List it on carsales for $2-3K less than other similar models with similar KMs. You never know.

      Have you got friends or family looking for a car?

    • Hitstachbachman on 04/11/2018 - 20:55

      The one year timeframe is pretty firm. But you never know what will happen, easy to say that now. Based on the other replies it sounds like selling is the best if I can't find someone to help look after it.

      • BK12 on 27/11/2018 - 14:48

        If you want a quick sale try these guys , last time when i tried they were 1500$ more than a trade-in value for my car

        https://www.sellmycar.com.au/

  • pao2x on 01/11/2018 - 17:42
    +2

    No one to take it for a year? Sounds like a good deal if you have a friend you can trust.

    Otherwise I suggest
    1) Sell
    2) Find a friend or an arrangement to keep the car mostly garaged - totally garaged is bad if you dont remove some fluids
    3) Try one of those rent my car thingies

  • Sunny84 on 01/11/2018 - 17:50

    List it in ozb classifieds :)

  • [Deactivated] on 01/11/2018 - 17:56
    +2

    Sell it and relax.

  • Jimmycfc on 01/11/2018 - 18:14
    +3

    I did the same thing, quick sold it for 3k under what i wanted.
    When i came back i didn't have to worry about money/job/car, it was a LOT better to come back to knowing i had the money there.

  • lataliana on 01/11/2018 - 18:59

    i had the same issue back in 2013. 3 year old car (bought new), went away for 18 months. luckily i could keep it at the parents no worries and glad i did. i definitely wouldn't pay $4k to store it.

    some things to potentially consider:
    - how critical is a car to everyday life where you live/will come back to? out in the suburbs i immediately needed a car when i got back. i have zero access to car sharing or decent public transport.
    - what's the depreciation of the car if you sell it now vs when you get back?

    if you can't store it, i'd sell it and buy again when (and if) you come back. good cash flow you can either lock away and gain some interest or use for your travels.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 01/11/2018 - 20:27

    I left my car abandoned for two years and it was rusted throughout!

  • Stewardo on 01/11/2018 - 21:15
    +1

    Sell it, you cant predict the future, things change.

  • fakefilo on 01/11/2018 - 21:37
    +1

    Wonder if you can leave your car for a year with Carhood ?

    • dasher86 on 02/11/2018 - 09:29

      yeah until a problem happens with it and then they start charging you because it cant be rented out.

      • Carhood Support on 02/11/2018 - 12:56

        Hi Dasher,
        Carhood offers to liaise with repairers if there is a problem with the vehicle. Should you wish not to have the vehicle repaired, then obviously we cannot rent a vehicle out that is not fit for rental and as such can offer to park the vehicle in our premises for a low daily fee.

    • Carhood Support on 02/11/2018 - 12:55

      Hi Pata,
      You would earn a guarantee $250/month ($3000 for the year) if you left your vehicle with Carhood! Carhood provides free insurance on the vehicle too, and if its not rented out you'll get free secure airport parking. Carhood can also liaise with any mechanics you would like to have come in for regular servicing should you desire.

    • BK12 on 27/11/2018 - 14:45

      Don't believe this company , terrible customer service . never pay you on time . I got payment after 4 months(after several emails and calls) for 4 day rental

      Imagine if my car had a crash ,chasing these people is a nightmare, No one answers the phone and they take months to reply emails , Look at reviews in product review on how many complaints these guys got around payments and claims

  • onevstheworld on 02/11/2018 - 12:06
    +1

    Sell.

    Between the storage, rego, insurance, depreciation and catch-up maintanence costs when you get back, not worthwhile IMO.

  • nith265 on 02/11/2018 - 12:50

    Looks like you're in NSW so this might not apply

    I travelled and worked overseas for 2 years a long time ago.

    Main thing I STILL regret not doing was continuing my RACV membership at the minimum level - they give you product discounts depending on how many continuous years you've been a member. I would have become a Silver and then a Gold member 10 years earlier saving an extra 5-10% on my insurance and membership each year.

    RACV are not that competitive for individual policies but once you start adding in multi policy discount and Bronze/Silver/Gold membership discounts they're as cheap as anyone and their service is good.

  • Hitstachbachman on 04/11/2018 - 20:56

    Thanks for the replies everyone. It does sound like selling is probably the best idea unless I can find someone to help look after it.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/11/2018 - 20:30

    Sell it, cars f up when there not driven.

    Plus its just gonna drop value the longer it sits.

  • aparra on 19/11/2018 - 15:57

    Sell it. Consider the depreciation of your car in a year could be 1-2K. If you do not use the car for that time you are losing that money. So probably better idea sell it for 2K lesser and relax.

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