Keeping your vehicle protected from the sun and the rest of Earths elements is super easy…if you have a garage. But for the rest of us who have to leave our vehicles outside, it isn’t as easy. But fortunately we’re not without options.
One of the most common ways to protect your vehicle from the sun, rain, dirt, debris, bird droppings, etc. is with a car cover. But with some car covers reaching prices as high as $400-$500, it can be hard to tell what you’re really paying for. So the question we’re faced with is, are car covers worth it?
Depending on what kind of protection you need for your vehicle, car covers can be worth it to some people but not to others. If all you need is basic protection from the rain, dust, bird droppings, tree sap, etc. then a car cover will work just fine. However, other forms of shelter, such as carports or garages, are better suited to keep your vehicle in pristine condition.
If you’re thinking about buying a car cover for your vehicle but aren’t sure if its worth it, keep reading to learn more. In this article we’ll discuss the different types of covers available as well as what you can realistically expect from them.
What Does a Car Cover Protect my Vehicle From?
Car covers will protect your vehicle from a wide array of potential harms to your vehicle including:
- Damaging UV Rays
- Animal Droppings & Paw Prints
- Rain
- Dirt, Dust, & Debris
- Tree Sap
- etc.
But to answer this question further, we first need to look at the different types of car covers available. As you’re probably aware, there are indoor car covers and outdoor car covers. Both types of covers provide different types of protection. Lets take a look at both of them now.
Indoor Car Cover vs. Outdoor Car Cover
Indoor Car Covers
If you keep your vehicle in a garage, you may be tempted to believe that you don’t need a car cover. And depending on how nice you want to keep your vehicle, you may be right. But for anyone who keeps a vehicle in the garage, dust buildup is always going to be an issue.
By keeping an indoor car cover on your vehicle while its in the garage, you can keep dirt, dust, and debris from settling on your vehicle. And while most of the time a little dust isn’t going to hurt anything, a lot of it built up over time can leave some light scratches if not washed off properly.
Also, keeping an indoor car cover on your vehicle while its in the garage will keep your car cleaner and nicer than it would be otherwise. Now you wont have to wash it every time you want to take it for a spin just to get the dust off. Not to mention it also provides a layer of protection against someone accidentally bumping into it and scratching the paint.
In summary, indoor car covers:
- Protect your vehicle from dirt, dust, and debris buildup
- Provide a layer of protection from scratches due to accidental bumps
- Keep your vehicle cleaner
- Reduces the amount of washes needed
Outdoor Car Covers
Outdoor car covers are great for keeping your vehicle protected when you don’t have a garage to store it in. By keeping your vehicle covered, you can at least prevent some damage that could be caused by mother nature.
Animals climbing onto your vehicle and leaving paw prints, or worse yet doing their business, can leave your paint scratched and in need of repair. By keeping a layer of protection on your car, you can prevent these damages from ever occurring.
Also, one of the biggest advantages to outdoor car covers is that they protect your vehicle from the sun’s damaging UV rays. Now to be clear, your paint is typically protected anyways by clear coat. However, the inside of your vehicle is just as susceptible to the damaging effects of the sun. By keeping it covered, you can prevent your interior from deteriorating as quickly.
One thing to be aware of when it comes to outdoor car covers is moisture. Some car covers are advertised as being waterproof. While this may sound great in theory, it can lead to problems long term.
In the event that water does make its way through the cover, it can become trapped and take longer to evaporate. That’s why its better, in most cases, to buy a cover that’s breathable. Although some moisture will makes its way through the cover anyways, it will also evaporate a lot quicker as well. The only caveat to this may be if you store your vehicle under an outdoor car port where rain isn’t going to be an issue anyways.
In summary, outdoor car covers:
- Protect your vehicle from damaging UV rays
- Keep your vehicle protected from damage due to animals
- Repels water and moisture
- Protects your vehicle from tree sap
- Helps prevent scratches
- Protects against dust, dirt, and debris buildup
Should I Buy a Universal Fit or Custom Fit?
Deciding on a universal or custom fit car cover really comes down to the amount of protection you want and how much you’re willing to pay.
As you know, universal fit car covers are designed to fit a wide array of vehicles within a certain size limit. For example, XL car covers will cover most full size trucks and SUV’s while a small car cover will cover the majority of commuter cars on the road today.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money but still have your vehicle covered, this is your best bet. Universal fit car covers provide adequate protection from all the potential harms mentioned above. The only issue is that they don’t fit your specific vehicle as well as a custom fit car cover would.
Potential issues can arise with universal car covers if you live in a windy area. Because they’re looser fitting than a custom cover, its easy for them to get blown around by the wind. This can cause, over time, your car cover to rip and deteriorate. This can also cause it to scratch your paint if its blown around too much.
This is why its generally a good idea to invest in a custom fit car cover. Custom fit covers are designed specifically for your vehicle. This means they contour to all the body lines on your vehicle as well as your windows and antenna.
Because they fit tighter to your vehicle, its very difficult for the wind to get underneath them and cause damage. And if you’re thinking about buying a car cover, that’s what you’re interested in anyways, right?
How Long Can I Keep My Vehicle Covered?
As long as your vehicle is parked, its a good idea to keep it covered. No harm is going to come to it by keeping it under a cover. The exception to this, as mentioned above, is moisture getting trapped under the cover. While this typically isn’t an issue for most people, it is something to consider for those who plan on using a car cover long term.
If you’re worried that the moisture cant or wont evaporate, just take your cover off every once in a while. Doing this on a warm sunny day is pretty much guaranteed to evaporate any remaining moisture.
If you’re using an indoor car cover, you can leave it on for as long as you would like. There’s really no risk whatsoever to using an indoor car cover indefinitely.
How Long Should I Expect My Cover to Last?
Because car covers are made of fabric, they’re just not going to last forever. However, if you do your part to help keep them maintained, they can last for years to come.
Car covers, over time, can end up with dirt, dust, and debris embedded in them. This can end up scratching your vehicle. Because of this, its a good idea to wash them from time to time. Most car covers are machine washable so keeping them clean isn’t that hard to do. Doing this will extend the life of your car cover.
Another issue to consider is the wind. As mentioned above, if you’re using a universal car cover its easier for wind to cause damage to it over time. If you begin to see tears and holes in your car cover, its time to replace it. At this point your car cover isn’t providing the protection you bought it for.
Are There Any Downsides to Using a Car Cover?
Car covers aren’t perfect and they wont protect your vehicle from everything. In the event of a hailstorm or falling limbs from a tree, a car cover isn’t going to do you much good. They’re really only designed to protect your vehicle from the potential harms mentioned above.
If you need more protection, there are other options available such as carports and pop-up garages. However, these options are more permanent solutions, and quite a bit more expensive. If all you need some basic protection from the elements and mother nature, its hard to beat a good, quality car cover.
Are There Any Other Benefits That Make a Car Cover Worth It?
If protecting your vehicle from unwanted scratches, dings, and UV rays wasn’t enough, there are other benefits to using a car cover.
Believe it or not, car covers are great for deterring would be thieves. This is because taking the time to remove the cover is risky. And the more time a potential thief has to spend exposed prior to breaking in, the more likely he is to move on to another vehicle.
Not only does the intruder not know if there’s anything of value in the vehicle, he most likely wont be able to tell what the vehicle is. So regardless of whether he’s looking to take the vehicle, or whats inside, he’ll probably just decide to pass. A car covers is one of the least expensive theft deterrents you can buy for your vehicle.
Any Suggestions?
If you’re looking to go with a universal car cover, a good option would be this 6 layer heavy duty car cover, available on Amazon.
It has a reflective outside layer that’s perfect for protecting your vehicle from destructive UV rays and other potential harms. The inside layer is made of cotton which helps protect your paint from scratches. This also means that its breathable and that any moisture that gets through the cover can easily be evaporated.
Its available in 7 different sizes, so finding one to fit your vehicle won’t be an issue. Definitely check out this car cover on Amazon if you want a high quality cover at an affordable price.
When it comes to a custom fit car cover, you’ll have to do a little digging to see whats available for your specific vehicle. Right here is a good place to start. Just type in the specific make, model, and year of your vehicle and you’ll find some good results immediately at affordable prices.
In Conclusion
Whether you decide to go with a universal or custom fit car cover, just remember that any protection is better than no protection. Obviously car covers do not provide the best protection available. But for what you’re going to spend on one compared to what you’d have to spend on a carport or garage, the money is well worth it.
I hope this article has helped you decide if a car cover is right for you. Thanks for reading!