The Best Car Covers

Buying Guide

For many people, a car is the second-most expensive purchase they ever make, after a house. As a result, it’s vital to ensure you take good care of it – not only while it is on the road but while it is in storage. A car cover ensures your vehicle is protected from dust, debris, rain, sunlight and much more.

When looking for a car cover, one of the first things you have to consider is where you’re going to store it. For example, will it be indoors or outdoors, in a family garage or in a public lot? This will help you determine how much potential damage your car might see over the long term. Some indoor car covers can be used outdoors as well, but keep in mind that they may not be as sturdy as car covers that are designed specially for the outdoors. Heavy-duty outdoor car covers can protect your vehicle from all kinds of weather conditions without losing structural integrity.

If the car will be stored outdoors, another factor to keep in mind is wind. Wind can not only knock things against your car and scratch it, but it can also lift up the car cover and blow it off. That’s why it’s important to check whether the car cover has strong tie-downs and buckle straps to ensure it doesn’t get blown away.

Another element to factor in is the kind of fit you want for the car cover. The two options are contour and custom. Custom-fit covers typically have a tighter fit than contour because they have mirror and antenna pockets. They are more costly than contour fit covers and are less flexible – however, they may be better for vintage or specialty vehicles. Contour-fit covers are affordable and flexible, so you can use them on different vehicles if needed.

• Depending on whether the car will be stored indoors or outdoors, you will need to decide if you want to get a breathable cover or a waterproof cover. Breathable covers are often water resistant, but not fully waterproof. However, waterproof covers can trap moisture underneath the cover, which may lead to rust or mold, which can ruin the paint job on the car. With breathable covers, the condensation has an opportunity to evaporate quickly. However, they may not protect your car in heavy rain or snow.
• If your car is going to be parked outdoors, it’s important to consider how the sunlight can harm it. For example, the harsh rays of the sun can damage the paint in addition to the upholstery and dashboard. In this case, it’s best to get a car cover that has UV protection so that your car doesn’t fade. These covers are usually made from a reflective material. Reflective car covers don’t only have to be for long-term storage. They are easy to fold up and transport, so you can take it with you if you’re going to be out all day and your car will be parked in the sun. Put the car cover on so your car stays cool.
• A car cover keeps dirt and debris off your car so you don’t have to worry about particles scratching your paint job. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there may be dust on the inside of the car cover. Be sure to clean it often so that that dust doesn’t get on your car.