Drivers Steer Clear of Garages

21/06/2011

By Kevin Dixon

An increasing number of car owners are jeopardising the value of their motor by not parking it in their garage, a survey shows.

Car auction company Manheim Auctions found that 55 per cent of drivers polled said they used their garage space to store others items, ranging from lawnmowers and bikes to golf clubs and even guinea pigs.

A quarter of motorists said they were able to fit their car and other items in their garage, but only one in five said their garage was only used for their vehicle.

Manheim Auctions marketing director Craig Mailey said: "Where you park your car may seem like a trivial subject, but keeping it in a garage may pay off in the long run.

"If a car is stored in a dry, cool garage every night it's more likely to have a higher resale value because it's been protected from the elements and risk of accidental damage.

"Paint weathers, so keeping it inside a garage will help to protect it, and if a car is parked outside there's always the opportunity for it to be exposed to accidental knocks and scrapes by other drivers or passers-by.

"In the 1970s it was the norm to use the garage to provide essential respite care for fragile cars. The modern car may be more robust but don't neglect what is, after your home, likely to be your most valuable asset."

The findings were based on responses from 3,000 people.