For most people, a car is one of the most expensive things we own. The number climbs exponentially when that car is a luxury model like a BMW.

If you’ve got a BMW or another luxury brand in your garage, what tips do you need to know to protect that investment?

Park Indoors

One of the easiest ways to protect your BMW is to park indoors. If the BMW isn’t your daily driver, you could be in an attached or detached garage, a secure parking facility, or even vehicle storage.

The goal here is to keep your car out of sight, so it’s out of the minds of thieves and out of the way of drivers who might crash into it while it’s parked on the street or in your driveway.

Clean Your Garage

If you have a garage on your property, it becomes a catch-all for everything that won’t fit in the rest of your house.

Sure, you can shove it all against the walls to make room for your car, but then you risk something heavy falling and damaging your paint job or breaking a window. If you’re going to park in your garage, take some time to clean and organize it first. Your BMW will thank you.

Keep The Door Closed

It’s nice to leave the garage door open when you’re working on your car or are actively in the room, but other than those moments where you are physically present in the garage, keep the door closed. Open garage doors will increase the likelihood of your car being stolen.

Stay in the Light

When you have to park out in the world, make sure you choose your parking spaces carefully. This tip is critical if you’re out at night. Choose areas that get a lot of foot traffic and are well lit.

Things like dark alleys might not have a lot of competition for parking spaces, but there’s a reason for that. Stay in the light whenever you can if securing a space in a parking garage or another structure isn’t possible. 

Lock Your Doors

This tip might sound like common sense, but it’s one of the easiest things you can do to protect your BMW. It’s also one thing that many people overlook. Lock your doors.

From the moment you leave the car to the moment you get back behind the wheel, your doors should be locked. Some vehicles will automatically lock the doors while you’re in motion, as well as an additional security measure to prevent carjacking. 

Splurge on the Detailing

It’s not always thieves or errant drivers presenting a threat to your automotive investment. Sometimes it can be something as simple as a rock kicked up by another driver or a car door opened a little too forcefully.

While you can’t prevent every scratch and ding, a thorough detailing job, including a good coat of wax, can help to absorb some of the damage and prevent it from reaching your paint job. 

Invest in Luxury Insurance

Buying a car insurance policy isn’t like heading to your local Geico office and asking for a quote. If you’re driving or storing an expensive car, make sure you have insurance to match.

The price tag might be a bit larger, but the coverage will be more comprehensive, and you can be sure that you’ll be ready in case you get into an accident or squirrels chew through your headlight cables. 

Don’t Skip Your Maintenance Days.

Protecting the outside of your BMW is only part of the equation. There’s no point in spending the money to bring home one of these luxury cars if you’re not going to take care of it.

Stick to the manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule. Change your oil, rotate your tires, and take care of your BMW. Do that, and it will take care of you for many years to come.

Drive Carefully

Finally, the most important thing you can do to protect your BMW — and yourself — is to drive carefully. Don’t act like you’re on a racetrack.

Practice your defensive driving techniques, and do whatever it takes to avoid a collision. It sounds simple, but of course, it’s not your driving skills that you need to worry about — it’s everyone else when you’re out on the road. 

Protect Your Investment

Whether your BMW is brand new or something that would qualify you for an antique license plate, it takes a bit of work to keep it safe both on and off the road. Make sure you have a secure place to park, keep your doors locked, and drive carefully.