Short-term parking in a public parking garage or lot may involve leaving your vehicle for a couple of days to a month or longer. If your job requires you to take an airplane or another form of public transportation, prepare your vehicle for the time that it will be left in a paid parking space.
Battery Testing
Test your battery before leaving your car in a parking spot. A portable battery tester can be used for this process. Clean off the battery terminals and ensure that all of the cables leading to the battery are attached properly. Equip your vehicle with a pair of jumper cables. If your vehicle will only be left in a parking garage or lot for a couple of days, your vehicle will likely start without any hesitation.
If frigid weather is expected while your vehicle is parked or if you will be leaving your vehicle for several weeks, prepare to jumpstart your vehicle if you are unable to get the ignition to turn over when you are ready to drive out of the short term parking space.
A Protective Cover
If the short-term parking spot will be inside a garage, your vehicle will not be subjected to the elements and will remain clean and dry. If you reserve an outdoor parking space, the sun, pollen, ice, and rain could come into contact with your vehicle. These elements may make your vehicle dirty. Invest in a windshield cover. The cover will ensure that you will be able to see out of your windshield when you pick up your vehicle from the short-term parking space. A cover will also keep the interior of your vehicle at a comfortable temperature.
Tire Inflation And Fluids
If you will be traveling out of town for a while, ensuring that your vehicle's tires are properly-inflated may be of importance. Dealing with a flat tire is probably one of the last things that you may want to encounter when returning from a trip. Use a tire gauge to read the pressure rating of each tire.
Fill the tires to the desired pressure rating, but do not overinflate them. Check the oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and antifreeze levels. Add any of the fluids if needed. Keep extra fluids in your vehicle. Upon returning from your travels, check your tires and the fluids again. As long as there are no leaks, your vehicle will be ready for you to drive out of the parking space.
