How much does car storage cost?

Storing a car costs anywhere from about $17 a month for an outdoor space to $450 or more a month for a staffed, climate-controlled collector facility. Storage.com, which lists storage units nationwide, says most people pay around $105 a month, based on its own listings data in an article updated 11 September 2026. Where your money lands depends on three things: whether the car is outside, under a roof or behind a door, whether the air is controlled, and whether anyone looks after the car while it sits.

What each kind of storage costs

Storage.com’s monthly ranges by type, from its in-house data:

• Outdoor, uncovered parking space: $17 to $100
• Covered, carport-style parking: $50 to $200
• Indoor, enclosed unit: $150 to $270
• Climate control: $25 to $50 a month on top

By unit size, it gives averages of about $119 a month for a 10 by 20 foot unit, which fits most cars and sedans, about $127 for a 10 by 25 for an SUV or pickup, and about $149 for a 10 by 30.

City prices run higher

Storage.com’s 2026 ranges for three large markets show how much location moves the number: New York $104 to $384 a month, Los Angeles $164 to $356 and Phoenix $35 to $248. It also notes that in cold regions indoor car storage can cost more in winter, when demand rises, and that long-term contracts usually carry a lower monthly rate than short ones.

What a collector car facility charges, and what it adds

A self-storage unit is a locked box. A dedicated car storage facility charges more because people handle the car. One example with its prices posted: the Carolina Exotic Car Club in Raleigh, North Carolina, which stores cars in a 30,000 square foot climate-controlled building.

• General storage for members: $350 a month per vehicle
• General storage for non-members: $450 a month per vehicle, with no membership needed
• Short-term storage: $500 a month

For that, the club lists a battery trickle charge as needed, 24-hour video surveillance, pick-up and drop-off from 9:30am to 6pm six days a week on two hours’ notice, and the car’s condition photographed and signed off at every check-in and check-out. That last item is worth asking any facility about: it is your record if something happens to the car while you are away.

Why two quotes for the same car differ

• Access. A self-storage unit you open yourself costs less than a facility that brings the car out for you on notice.
• Care. Battery maintenance, tire checks, exercising the car and washing it before pick-up are either included, extra or not offered.
• Climate. Climate control adds $25 to $50 a month at a self-storage unit, per Storage.com. It matters most for long storage in heat or humidity.
• Term. Short-term rates are higher. The Raleigh club charges $500 short term against $450 for its regular non-member rate.
• Fees. Ask about deposits, admin fees, required locks and whether you must buy the facility’s protection plan.

Before you sign

• Ask for the monthly rate in writing, with every fee, and how much notice you must give to leave
• Ask whether you can start the car or work on it on site; many self-storage leases forbid it
• Ask what the facility’s insurance covers and what it does not. Your own policy still matters for a stored car, so call your insurer before you drop coverage on a car that is parked
• If you store for winter, ask the facility whether it wants the tank full, the battery connected or disconnected, and the car on jack stands or tire cradles, and keep its answer

What your state requires before you drop insurance on a stored car, and the coverage worth keeping while it sits, are in Storing a car for winter.

Prices were read on 7 November 2026 and change. Use them to check a quote, not to replace one.

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Mario Bailey

Founder, Driven Life

Mario Bailey founded Driven Life, which is published by Revlent LLC. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran and a tech founder, and has worked as a software engineer for more than ten years. He edits the site and is responsible for every page on it: the meet, club and rally guides, the metro and state hubs, the car and tool pages, and the magazine.