How to Choose a Car Cover, and Why It Matters

To the average automobile owner, car covers may seem like a needless extravagance used mostly by car collectors or by the enthusiastic young adult male who just invested all of his money in his first set of wheels. But, practical reasons abound for using car covers, and any automobile owner would appreciate the benefits of using them on a daily basis.



Protection from Natural and Human Influences



One of the more obvious reasons for using car covers is to protect a vehicle from environmental damage. Depending on where you live, your car takes a multitude of abuses just by sitting in a parking lot, along a street, or on a driveway. Wind blown sand, sea salt, dirt, dust, bird droppings, tree sap, falling twigs or other debris, and weather conditions like ice, snow, and rain can take an expensive toll on a car's exterior.



In addition, car covers protect your car's interior from sunlight. Interior temperatures are reduced to a more comfortable level on hot, sunny days when a car cover is used, and interior fabrics and materials are protected from damage by the sun's harmful UV rays. Materials like upholstered fabrics, leather, plastics, and vinyl that are exposed regularly and over lengthy amounts of time to UV rays can become discolored, weakened, and cracked. Environmental conditions quickly age a vehicle's interior and exterior, and car covers are an easy solution that can dramatically slow down that process.



Car covers are also useful for deterring theft because they keep expensive interior components out of view. And, car covers can prevent the harmless, but inquisitive, passerby from peeking into car windows and leaving fingerprints on your car's exterior. Thicker car covers can even prevent minor dings caused by careless neighbors in the parking lot.



Selecting the Best Car Cover



What is the best kind of car cover to choose? Comparing the available materials is an essential first step. If your vehicle is kept outdoors for most or part of a day, look for a cover made from breathable material. Breathable car covers allow condensation to escape from underneath. Over time, moisture that is unable to evaporate from under car covers can cause mildew or corrosion and discoloration. Look also for a car cover that offers superior weather protection. The best materials are the newer, high-tech, multi-layered materials that are rugged, lightweight, breathable, and can handle extremes in temperature and weather conditions. These materials will protect more efficiently than inferior quality materials like vinyl or plastic.



A car cover that fits properly is an important characteristic to insist upon when it comes to choosing the right one for your vehicle. Covers that are too large for the vehicle can fill with air like a balloon on breezy days. If not secured well, a ballooning cover can rip or blow completely off the car. Even if the cover does not blow off of the car, the excess fabric that lashes against the car's finish continually on windy days can damage the finish over time. Car covers that fit snugly and that are equipped with elastic hems, ties, or drawstrings are the best choices. Even better are custom car covers that are made to fit your car exactly. Custom car covers generally cost more, but many automobile owners believe that any extra expense is worth it.



Overall, taking care of our big investments, like vehicles, makes more sense than ever now that rough economic times make it difficult to swap our existing cars every few years for shiny new models. Protecting a vehicle with a top quality car cover is a basic and practical way to keep that car's exterior and interior in good condition for as long as the car continues to run.



Trey Collier is co-owner of MightyCovers.com, specializing in high quality, durable Custom Covers and Ready-Made Stock Covers to protect practically everything under the sun, including Car Covers.