Car covers are a useful tool for protecting your car from the elements, but they can also be damaging to the paint if you don’t use them correctly. If you want to avoid scratching and other scratches on your car’s paint, there are ways to keep these covers from harming your vehicle. Here are some tips for keeping your car covered and safe.
Table of Contents
- What Causes Car Covers to Scratch Paint?
- What Can You Do to Prevent This from Happening?
- 1. Park in A Covered Structure
- 2. Get A Car Cover That Fits Your Car
- 3. Get A Car Cover That has a Soft Surface
- 4. Make Sure Your Car is Clean Before Putting It on The Cover
- 5. Quickly Clean Off Bird Droppings
- 6. Wax Your Car
- 7. Cover Your Car With A Plastic Bag
- 8. Put Some Tape Over The Edge of Your Cover
- 9. Park At A Distance From Other Cars
- Why Use A Car Cover?
- The Best-Fitting Car Covers to Avoid Paint Damage
- Why are Car Covers A Good Idea?
- Do Car Covers do More Harm Than Good?
- Where Should You Store Your Car Cover?
What Causes Car Covers to Scratch Paint?
One cause of paint damage is the abrasive nature of the materials found in car covers. Typically, these covers are made from common materials like cotton and rubber. Due to their natural properties, they can cause your paint to become scratched or, even worse.
Another contributing factor is that most car covers are not designed specifically for cars. They are typically made with flimsy material, which makes them more likely to be damaged if they come into contact with your car’s paint.
Car covers can also damage your car by trapping heat and moisture under the cover and causing rust on your car’s body parts. Overall, you should use a car cover that is made specifically for cars and designed to protect against any risks of damaging your vehicle.
What Can You Do to Prevent This from Happening?
Car covers are a great way to protect your car from the elements. But they can also be damaging to the paint if you don’t use them correctly. Here are some ways to avoid scratching and other scratches on your car’s paint when using a car cover:
1. Park in A Covered Structure
There are plenty of car covers that will protect your vehicle from the elements. But if you want to prevent any damage to your paint, make sure you store it in a covered structure when not in use. If you need to leave it outside, then park it in a garage or carport. This will prevent your vehicle from getting wet, which can cause rust or paint damage.
2. Get A Car Cover That Fits Your Car
Car covers come in different shapes and sizes, and you should get one that is an appropriate size for your car. If the cover is too large, it will hang over the sides of the vehicle, which could damage the paint. You can measure your car to find out what size it is or use a measuring tape. There are also some online tools that you can use to find out what size cover you need.
3. Get A Car Cover That has a Soft Surface
If you choose a car cover with a less durable surface, like vinyl or neoprene, it can cause your car cover to cling to one side of your car and pull away from the other. These types of covers don’t lay flat and will cause damage as they try to cling to both sides of the vehicle due to their less durable surfaces. If you want to avoid scratching or damaging your paint with these covers, pick a more durable one.
4. Make Sure Your Car is Clean Before Putting It on The Cover
You must clean your car before putting on a car cover so that any dirt and debris doesn’t stick to the fabric or create scratches when it pulls against each other as it lays down on top of each other during driving.
5. Quickly Clean Off Bird Droppings
Bird droppings are a great way to keep your car clean, but they can be damaging to the paint if you don’t quickly clean them off. If you notice bird droppings on your car’s paint, use a paper towel, water, or soap and water to wipe it off.
6. Wax Your Car
If you have a car that has been coated with wax, you should take the time to wax it again before covering it up. Waxing your car will help keep it protected and even add shine to your paint, which is always a good thing.
7. Cover Your Car With A Plastic Bag
Your best bet for protection is to cover your car with a plastic bag and then put on an old t-shirt or towel over that. Just make sure that the plastic bag doesn’t touch the paint of your car, and keep in mind how long you should leave it on so that you don’t end up damaging the paint through prolonged exposure.
8. Put Some Tape Over The Edge of Your Cover
If your cover has an edge with sharp lines, it can be very damaging if not appropriately covered. You can put some tape on this edge to hide any damage or scratches from occurring.
9. Park At A Distance From Other Cars
The best way to keep your car from being damaged by the cover is to park far enough away from other cars. When you are parking, try not to touch your car when parking it. This will prevent damage.
Why Use A Car Cover?
One of the most beneficial ways to use a car cover is to protect your vehicle in inclement weather. Car covers also protect from scratches and scuffs that happen when you park outside or go for a drive without one.
But just because a car cover has these benefits doesn’t mean that it’s the best option for your car. For example, car covers are not to be used on cars with high-quality paint jobs since they could damage the paint job by trapping dirt on the surface.
They’re also not recommended for cars with delicate finishes, like chrome or leather. Car covers can also leave residue behind and damage the finish if you don’t wash them thoroughly when you’re done using them.
The Best-Fitting Car Covers to Avoid Paint Damage
When choosing a car cover, you should consider the extent of protection you need. Some types of covers are better for full-coverage protection, while others are more lightweight and won’t do much to protect your car. If you want to avoid paint damage, choose one that is tailored to fit your car well.
You can also try it on before buying so that you know the cover will stay on even during windy or rainy weather. This will prevent it from slipping off or blowing off in high winds.
Why are Car Covers A Good Idea?
Car covers are a valuable tool for protecting your car from the elements. They can help protect your vehicle from rain, sleet, hail, snow, and other harmful weather conditions.
It is important to use a car cover that is designed specifically for your car’s make and model of vehicle. Using a cover that doesn’t fit properly could cause abrasions or scratches on the paint.
The first step to preventing damage is using a car cover that fits the car well. If you are using a generic cover, it is important to make sure the fit is tight enough to keep out dirt and debris but not too tight where it becomes difficult to put on or take off. If you aren’t using a custom-fit cover, make sure it has an elastic band that can be tightened around your vehicle for extra protection.
Do Car Covers do More Harm Than Good?
Probably, yes. Car covers are useful in protecting your car from the elements, but they can also be damaging to the paint if you don’t use them correctly. If you want to avoid scratching and other scratches on your car’s paint, there are ways to keep these covers from harming the car.
Now, of course, that doesn’t mean you should never cover your car with a cover. The best way to protect your car is probably to use a custom fit cover and keep it properly secured. But if you do have a cheap slip-on cover that’s not designed for your specific vehicle or model year, it’s best to take extra care when removing the cover from your car. This will ensure that no scratches happen during the removal process.
Where Should You Store Your Car Cover?
Ideally, you should store your car cover inside a place where it will be safe. For example, you should make sure that the storage area is not in direct sunlight or near a heater or other sources of heat. Additionally, store your car cover in an area where there is no chance of something heavy dropping on top of it.
Also read: What is The Best Ceramic Coating for My Car?
