As the temperature drops and the days get shorter, many classic car owners face a familiar decision - store the car away for winter, or keep it on the road for those bright, crisp drives that make ownership so rewarding.
Whichever route you choose, a little preparation goes a long way. Here’s how to protect, maintain, and document your car throughout the colder months with help from Custodian’s Digital Garage to keep every detail safely recorded
Before putting your car away, give it a deep clean - not just to make it shine, but to prevent corrosion.
👉 Related: Safeguarding Your Classic – Essential Tips for Secure Car Storage
Once your car’s spotless, upload photos to your Custodian garage. They’ll timestamp your car’s condition and provide a baseline for future inspections or valuations, a valuable addition to your digital history.
Moisture is the enemy of any classic. Store your car in a clean, ventilated, and dry space wherever possible. If your garage is prone to damp, use a dehumidifier or silica gel packs to reduce humidity.
👉 Tip: Set up reminders in Custodian to check moisture levels monthly or inspect for pests, a simple routine that prevents nasty surprises in spring.
Even while stored, your car’s fluids and battery need attention:
Record these maintenance steps in your Custodian Digital Garage to create a running log of care, invaluable for provenance and future MOT exemptions or valuations.
Prevent flat spots by inflating tyres to the manufacturer’s recommended pressures before storage. Move the car occasionally to change the tyre’s resting point, or raise it on axle stands to reduce strain on the suspension.
Set a reminder on Custodian to do this monthly so you never forget.
Winter is an ideal time to catch up on admin.
Upload all certificates, receipts, and renewal confirmations to Custodian so nothing gets misplaced. Every document stored strengthens your car’s provenance and digital record.
Winter is prime workshop season, whether it’s a light mechanical refresh, interior detailing, or a full restoration.
Use Custodian to:
This kind of digital documentation protects your car’s story and supports compliance with updated DVLA registration rules, should provenance ever be questioned.
Even in storage, it’s good practice to start the car every few weeks:
Add these as scheduled reminders in Custodian for easy seasonal maintenance tracking.
If your classic lives in or near a ULEZ or Clean Air Zone, make sure you know how the rules affect you.
👉 Related: Classic Cars & ULEZ – How It Works in 2025–2026
Cold evenings are perfect for digital housekeeping. Add old photos, restoration details, or ownership notes to your Custodian history file.
You can:
Fit the Right Tyres
Use winter or all-season tyres for improved grip and braking in cold or damp weather. Log tyre changes in Custodian to track wear, date, and brand - helpful for insurance records or resale.
If you are driving abroad, these might be a requirement, so be sure to check local laws and legislation, even if just passing through.
Check Antifreeze and Coolant
Ensure antifreeze strength and coolant levels are correct to protect against freezing. Note top-ups or coolant changes in your maintenance log.
Keep Heaters and Demisters Working
Working heaters and demisters aren’t just comfort features - they’re essential for visibility. Test them regularly, and record any servicing work in your Custodian file.
Avoid Salt Corrosion
If you drive in winter, rinse your car’s underside and wheel arches regularly to wash away salt.
Apply Underseal or Rust Protection
A quality underseal can make all the difference in preserving your car’s structure.
Document each treatment in Custodian, upload receipts, photos, and workshop notes. A record of ongoing rust protection adds real value when insuring or selling later.
👉 Related: Safeguarding Your Classic – Essential Tips for Secure Car Storage
Battery, Lights & Electrical Health
Cold weather can expose weak batteries or corroded wiring. Keep your battery fully charged, check terminals, and make sure lights are clean and bright.
Custodian’s maintenance log makes it easy to track these small but important checks over the winter months.
Insurance & Usage Tracking
If your classic stays on the road year-round, confirm your insurance policy covers winter use and mileage changes.
👉 See: Young Enthusiasts’ Guide to Classic Car Insurance.
Use Custodian to track journeys, mileage, and running costs, perfect for understanding your car’s usage across the seasons.
Final Thoughts
Whether your car spends winter under cover or out on the open road, a bit of preparation and careful documentation goes a long way.
If you’re interested in learning more about Custodian, check out our website here.
If you have any other tips, tricks or feedback, we would love to hear from you - please email us at hello@custodian.club to reach the team directly.
