Seasonal Service
Winter Storage
Prep Toronto
The detail the collector community books in October — done right, the car comes out in April looking better than it went in.
Why It Matters
Storage Is When Cars Age Fastest
Most owners think storage is the safe time for a car — no road salt, no bug strikes, no parking-lot dings. In reality, storage is when a car ages the fastest if the prep is skipped. Six months of sitting still in a humidity-cycling garage lets bonded contamination etch into the clear coat, leather dries out from heated-garage HVAC, tires develop flat spots, fuel separates, and the battery flat-lines from parasitic draw.
Every year in October, Yorkville, Rosedale, and Forest Hill garages fill up with collector cars going into storage. Half of them come out in April worse than they went in. That is not a storage problem — it is a prep problem. The owners who see their cars emerge unchanged are the ones who invested in a proper pre-storage detail.
Our winter storage prep covers the full checklist: full decontamination, ceramic coating or refresh, interior conditioning, dehumidifier placement, smart battery tender, coordinated mechanical service, and breathable cover fitting. Everything the car needs to emerge in spring in the same condition it arrived.
What Every Storage Prep Includes
Six anchors that set the car up for a clean spring reveal
Full decontamination detail
Iron remover, tar remover, clay bar, IPA wipe. Every piece of bonded contamination leaves the paint before the cover goes on.
Ceramic coating or refresh
Storage is the best time to coat — climate-controlled cure, no rain, six months of bond time before first water contact.
Interior conditioning + dehumidifier
Leather cleaned and conditioned. Silica gel packs placed in cabin and trunk. Glass roof and windows treated for UV.
Smart battery tender placement
Compatible AGM/lithium smart tenders installed. We confirm with your storage facility it can stay connected for the season.
Mechanic coordination
Fuel stabilizer, oil change if due, coolant top-up, brake fluid check — coordinated with your mechanic on the same day, so you hand off one car.
Breathable cover fitting
We fit and position a breathable multi-layer cover — never plastic. If you do not own one, we recommend and source model-specific covers.
Storage Prep Packages
Three depth levels — basic, coating-inclusive, and concours-grade
Basic Storage
- Full decontamination wash
- Gold-tier interior clean
- Leather conditioning
- Glass clean + dehumidifier pack placement
- Cover fitting (client-supplied)
Best For
Daily drivers going on a month-long hold or lighter coverage for a well-maintained car.
Most Booked
Storage + Coating
- Decontamination + clay bar + IPA wipe
- Single-stage paint polish
- Ceramic coating application OR topper refresh
- Diamond-tier interior with leather ceramic
- Dehumidifier packs + UV glass protection
- Smart battery tender installation
- Mechanic-coordinated fluid check
Best For
Collector cars going into 5–6 months of storage. The standard spring-ready prep package.
Concours Storage
- Multi-stage paint correction
- New ceramic coating (Professional 4-year minimum)
- Full engine bay detail
- Interior restoration + UV protection
- Wheel-off detail + tire conditioning
- Cover fitting + floor stands if available
- Spring reveal pre-booked and discounted 20%
Best For
Concours-eligible or six-figure collector cars going into long-term storage. Pairs with a pre-booked Concours Reveal in spring.
When to Book
The Toronto storage prep calendar — plan ahead or risk the wait
Late September
Booking opens. Early clients get peak slots. Storage facilities also start opening intake windows.
October
Peak storage prep month. Collector clubs coordinate group bookings. We extend bay hours to 9pm to accommodate same-day turnaround.
Early November
Final storage prep window before first snow. Availability tightens — book 2–3 weeks ahead in this window.
Mid November onwards
If you missed the main window, we still take last-minute prep — typically expedited and usually the week before the car is moved to storage.
Pre-Book the Reveal
Spring Reveal at 20% Off
Concours Storage clients get the spring reveal pre-booked and discounted 20%. Pick up the same car in April, freshly revealed, ready for the first drive of the season.
See Spring Reveal ServiceWinter Storage Prep FAQ
What clients ask before booking the prep
September and October are our peak booking months. For daily-driven cars going into short-term storage, we can usually accommodate 1–2 weeks notice. For collector cars requiring 2–3 day packages with ceramic coating, book 3–4 weeks ahead. Our busiest week is the third week of October.
Protect Your Car Through Winter
Call (416) 389-4321 or email info@dtwash.ca to book storage prep. Peak weeks (mid-October) book 3–4 weeks ahead.