Clean it

If you have a vehicle you store at your vacation home or a spare car you only drive every so often, there are some steps you should take before leaving it for an extended period of time. According to Cars.com, start by cleaning your vehicle from top to bottom, including washing (make sure you get hard-to-remove dirt and debris, like sap), polishing and waxing the outside. Consider spraying any unpainted metal with undercoating to help protect against rust, says Cars.com.

Get a full tank of gas

When your vehicle is sparkling clean again, it's important to fill up your gas tank if you will be storing the car longer than 30 days, says Edmunds, as this may help prevent moisture from building up in the tank. Cars.com also recommends adding a fuel stabilizer to the tank when it's almost full, as the shelf life of standard fuels is only about three months. If your vehicle won't be used for a few months, Cars.com says the stabilizer may help keep the fuel lines and engine from corroding.

Inflate the tires

If your car will be sitting for a long period of time, the temperature may change and the tires can slowly lose pressure, says Cars.com. For this reason, it's a good idea to inflate your tires to the recommended air pressure, but do not exceed the maximum. You'll want to repeat this process when you take the vehicle out of storage, says Cars.com.

Top off fluids

Finally, Cars.com suggests that before you leave your car dormant for an extended period of time, top off your vehicle's fluids — such as brake fluid, engine coolant, power steering fluid (if applicable), transmission fluid, antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid. Also, consider changing the oil before you let your vehicle sit in storage for more than a couple of weeks, says Edmunds. Cars.com recommends taking the car for a short drive, as this will help circulate the fluids, including the fuel stabilizer.