Making the most of storage in second hand cars

06/03/12

Most contemporary cars are now built with all the problems and baggage of modern day life in mind, giving you a host of storage options for your car – you can even customise your storage so that it fits the needs of your lifestyle exactly.

But for those of us with treasured second hand cars, or maybe if you’re on the lookout for a used car, then storage can sometimes be a bit of an issue. Aside from the glovebox and door pockets, you might be blessed with a couple of elasticated pockets on the back of the front seats – and that might be it. So how can you make the most of the space your used car affords without packing too much in?

First of all, have a look online to see if there’s any specific storage upgrades or options for your second hand car. For example, it might be that the manufacturer produces an underseat or side pocket storage system that makes the most of your car space. Failing that, investing in some generic storage options are a great idea. If you’ve got kids, then a storage system that fits on the back of the driver and front passenger seats is ideal; preferably one with lots of pockets that are easy to open, so they can store toys and games in them.

Making the most of your boot space is also another great way to bulk up your in-car storage. All of us have, knocking around in our car somewhere, a whole host of equipment ‘just in case’ – de-icer, air freshener, spare bits of change for parking, a duster or cloth for windscreens, a scraper…the list goes on. Kick the habit of just kicking them under the seat and store them all together in a pack in the boot, freeing up in-car space and keeping your organised.

For all those odds and ends that you need every time you get in the car, a set of self-adhesive car pockets is a great solution: simply stick to your car door or back of the seat, and fill your boots (by boots, we mean self-adhesive pockets). One of the easiest things to do to avoid wasting in-car storage is – and we hate to say this – tidy up regularly. It’s really easy to let your car become a dumping ground for all the stuff you don’t want to tidy up in the house but, especially with second hand cars, there’s only so much space for things in any car. Clear out rubbish and unwanted junk regularly – do you really need that Greatest Hits tapes when you upgraded to a CD player three months ago? Not only will it make your car feel roomier, but it’s probably good for your state of mind too!

What are your favourite handy hints for car storage? Have you come up with any ingenious ideas for storing CDs, kids’ toys or in-car essentials? Let us know over on our Facebook page!