What should I have inspected before using a car that has sat unused for months?

Start with the history, not a drive. Write down the approximate last-use date, where and how the car was stored, whether it was moved during that time, and any known repairs or maintenance due. Gather the owner’s manual and service records if available; note gaps rather than guessing. Ask whoever last used or maintained it whether they noticed leaks, warning lights, tire damage, or other changes.

Storage time and vehicle type matter. Toyota’s guidance for conventionally powered vehicles stored for 1–6 months recommends checking fluid levels, looking underneath for leaks, checking tire pressure, and arranging a general dealership inspection. Toyota also says procedures vary and suggests an experienced technician if the owner is unsure. This is guidance for that vehicle maker’s specified situation, not a universal procedure for every car or longer storage period. [S1]

If you cannot establish the storage period, or the car has an unknown maintenance history, treat that uncertainty as something to tell a qualified mechanic—not as a reason to assume it is ready.

Keep the check to things you can observe safely while the car is parked. Look around and beneath it for signs of leakage; do not crawl under a car supported only by a jack. Check the tires for obvious cuts, cracks, bulges, embedded objects, uneven wear, or other visible damage. Michelin recommends examining tread condition and tire damage and checking pressure with a gauge. It cautions that an exterior look cannot reveal some internal tire damage and does not replace professional inspection. [S2]

Check fluid levels only as described in the vehicle’s manual and only where that can be done safely. Toyota’s storage advice recommends checking fluid levels and adding as needed, but it does not establish the correct procedure or fluid specification for every vehicle. [S1] Don’t guess at a fluid type or try to remedy damage you cannot identify; record what you observe and ask a technician.

A short drive is not a substitute for an inspection, and I would not use it as the first test when the car’s condition is uncertain. First discuss visible tire damage, leaks, overdue maintenance, or other concerns with a qualified mechanic and ask whether the car should be inspected where it is or transported for service.

If a qualified professional advises starting the vehicle as part of their assessment, follow the vehicle-specific instructions and stop to get professional help if anything seems abnormal. Toyota’s guidance for its specified storage situation advises observing warning lights after starting and having persistent lights addressed by a Toyota dealer; it also recommends a general dealership inspection. That guidance is Toyota-specific and does not establish that a vehicle is safe to drive simply because it starts or has no persistent warning light. [S1]

Give the shop the vehicle make, model, year, approximate time unused, storage location if known, last known maintenance, and any observations. Use placeholders if you are writing this down before you have the details:

“Vehicle: [year, make, model]. Unused since about [date or duration]. Storage: [location and conditions, if known]. Last known service: [date or unknown]. I noticed: [leaks, tire condition, warning lights, or no observations]. Please advise whether it should be transported rather than driven, and inspect its condition and readiness for return to use. Please tell me what you checked and any limitations.”

Ask whether the inspection covers the tires, fluid levels, visible leaks, and any maintenance or vehicle-specific checks the mechanic considers appropriate. Ask what needs attention before use and what remains unverified. The supplied guidance supports specific checks for Toyota vehicles stored 1–6 months and tire-specific visual checks, but it does not provide a complete inspection standard for all vehicles, storage durations, or powertrains. [S1] [S2]