‘I’m a car expert – parking in your own garage could destroy your vehicle'

A top motoring expert has claimed that motorists could damage their vehicles by parking in their own garage this winter. Leading mechanic Scotty Kilmer explained that salt and grit laid on the road during cooler conditions could stick to vehicle bodywork.

This salt can then “ruin” cars when they are parked inside warmer garages, with Scotty suggesting the move could be enough to "destroy" cars. The toxic mix will likely cause havoc to bodywork with road users prepared that rust could “make lunch” of vehicles. It could be a major blow to road users this October, with temperatures cooling down into the Autumn and Winter.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Scotty said: "You might not want to put your car in the garage in the winter, the salt on the road that they use in the winter to de-ice can ruin your car if you put it in a heated garage.

“Salt rots the metal in your car not in solid form but in liquid form. If it's freezing cold outside there’s no water solution and nothing gets eaten up. You pull it in the garage, it melts and the rust starts making lunch of your car.”

“So if you want a rust-free car, leave it on the street in the winter if it's freezing outside.” Motorists quickly took to social media to raise concerns about the effects of salt on their vehicles during the winter.

YouTube viewer @davidclough3951 said: “Never had a garage, my vehicles still rust due to the salt they use on the roads in the winter.

@PickleJam08 posted: “Lot of truth here. Warm garage, day after day in winter daily driving on salty roads, will exacerbate rusting over time.”

@BabyBugBug added: “During the winter, when I have to drive, I always go out when it stops snowing and wash off all the salt, including the underside. Then I spray it with an anti-salt solution. Doesn’t take more than 10 minutes or so. My car is perfectly fine as a result.”

However, the RAC said storing a vehicle in a garage could help protect certain vehicles from picking up extra damage during the colder winter months. Many classic car owners decide to park up and leave their cars over the winter, opting to only get behind he wheel of their pride and joy during the better conditions in the summer.

The RAC said: “Parking your car in a garage will help protect it from the elements but you might want to go further to ensure it’s safe from rust. After you’ve parked your car in a garage you can try using a dehumidifier to remove any moisture in the air.”