International travel from Atlanta—whether for work, study abroad, or extended vacation—creates a practical problem: what happens to your car while you're gone? You can't take it with you, and leaving it on the street or in an unsecured location for months is asking for trouble.

The most common solution for trips over 2-3 weeks. You rent a space at a storage facility, prep your car for extended sitting, and retrieve it when you return.

Pros:

• Secure, gated facilities
• Designed for vehicles
• Month-to-month flexibility
• Various protection levels available

Cons:

• Monthly cost ($50-200+ depending on facility and options)
• Need to get to/from the facility on travel days
• You're responsible for vehicle prep and maintenance

If someone you trust has a garage, driveway, or secure space, this can be ideal.

Pros:

• Often free
• Someone can check on the car
• Can handle emergencies

Cons:

• You're imposing on them
• May not be secure
• Not everyone has this option

For shorter international trips (1-2 weeks), airport lots work. For longer trips, the math breaks down—$10-14/day × 30+ days gets expensive fast.

Practical limit: Under 3 weeks. Beyond that, dedicated storage is cheaper.

If you have a garage or secure parking at home and someone to check on things, keeping the car at home makes sense.

Considerations:

• Have someone start it periodically
• Make sure HOA/neighborhood rules allow long-term parking
• Security varies by neighborhood

Choose your storage option. Book a space if using a facility. Confirm with friends/family if using their property.

Verify insurance coverage. Call your insurer to confirm your policy covers the car while:

• Stored off-property (if using a facility)
• Undriven for extended periods
• While you're out of the country

Some policies have requirements about regular use or specific storage locations. Better to know now than after a claim.

Prepare the car:

• Full tank of gas + fuel stabilizer (if storing 30+ days)
• Oil change if you're due within 3-6 months
• Check tire pressure (add 3-5 PSI over normal)
• Clean interior—remove all food, trash, valuables
• Clean exterior—dirt trapped under covers damages paint

Handle battery:

• Option A: Disconnect battery
• Option B: Install battery maintainer (need power access)
• Option C: Have someone start it every 2 weeks (requires someone stateside)

Documentation:

• Take photos of the car's condition
• Record mileage
• Write down storage address, access code, space number
• Share this info with someone you trust

Final steps:

• Lock everything
• Cover the car if storing outdoors/covered
• Test that your access code/key works
• Take a final photo
• Arrange transport to airport (Uber, friend, shuttle)

Ideally, you have someone who can:

• Check on the car occasionally
• Handle emergencies (storage facility issues, weather events)
• Start the car periodically (if that's your battery plan)
• Respond if you're contacted about the vehicle

Give them:

• Your storage details
• Authorization letter to access the car
• Your itinerary and emergency contact info

Battery dies: Very common. Either plan for it (maintainer/disconnection) or accept you might need a jump when you return.

Weather event: Hail, flood, tornado. This is why insurance matters and why covered storage is worth considering.

Facility issue: Rare, but facilities can have break-ins, fires, or closures. Your insurance should cover these scenarios.

Your trip extends: Make sure your storage is month-to-month or that you can pay remotely if you stay longer than planned.

If you land at Hartsfield-Jackson and head straight to your storage facility:

• Allow time—you'll be jet-lagged
• Consider whether driving immediately is wise
• Have your access code ready
• Expect to need a jump start

Often smarter to:

1. Uber home from the airport
2. Sleep in your own bed
3. Retrieve the car when you're functional

Before driving normally:

• Check tire pressure
• Look under the car for leaks
• Check oil level
• Let the car idle for 5-10 minutes before driving
• Listen for unusual sounds
• Check brakes carefully on first drive (surface rust is normal, should burn off quickly)

Oxford RV Storage works for international travelers who live on the east side of the Metro or whose departure doesn't involve the airport. The facility offers month-to-month storage, which matches the often-uncertain timelines of international travel.

For travelers flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson, the 45-mile distance from Oxford means you'd need to arrange transport to/from the airport. This isn't ideal for short trips but matters less for months-long travel where the storage cost savings outweigh the inconvenience.