Buying a car cover is a smart idea to protect your investment, but with so many to choose from, how do you choose the best car covers? By identifying where, when, and how your car is going to be stored, you can narrow down the search to find the custom car cover that will best suit your needs. Will the car be kept indoors in a garage or outdoors on the driveway? Indoor car covers are not built to stand up to tough weather conditions. On the other hand, if your car is to be stored indoors, an outdoor cover may be more protection than you need. Also consider the overall climate; even the best outdoor car covers for the beach may be inadequate for the snowy mountains. If you drive the car frequently, you’ll want a lightweight cover that’s easy to fold up and store away, but if it’s not frequently driven, you’ll want some extra padding and protection from dust.

During what seasons will your car be in storage? If your car is stored outside, what weather conditions will it be exposed to? Outdoor car cover recommendations include covers that can withstand heat, cold, rain, snow, hail, and UV radiation. Soft interior lining that will not scratch the paint. Resistance to mold and mildew. These destructive fungi can do a number on your car cover. Breathable fabric. This is important to prevent condensation buildup. Cotton car covers are a good choice for indoor storage. You may think that leaving your car primarily in your garage will protect it from damage. Unfortunately, this is not always true. Dust and dirt can collect on the surface and act like sandpaper, ruining the paint job. Using an indoor car cover will help protect your vehicle against everyday accidents that can cause minor dents and scratches. If you have a two-car garage, an indoor car cover will protect your vehicle from door dings caused by the other. Indoor car covers will also protect from bicycles, toys, and anything else you may be storing in your garage.

Covering your vehicle will allow you the peace of mind to move freely through your garage without worrying about your bags scratching the paint or tools denting the hood. Most car covers can be used both inside and outside. This works out if your vehicle spends an equal amount of time in the garage or parked out on your driveway. If your car spends the majority of its time outside, you may want to invest in a heavier duty cover for extra protection against the weather. To keep your car in pristine condition, use your car covers whenever you are not using your car. If you have a collector’s car or keep a second vehicle for fun or sport, keep it covered as much as possible. After doing maintenance or driving, dust or wash your car before covering it again. You don’t want grime to rest on your paint or the cover will be little help. If there is a layer of dirt between the cover and your vehicle, it will act like sandpaper when the cover is moved, potentially causing paint scratches. Make sure your car is dry before putting the cover on to avoid trapped moisture and potential rust damage.