If you take extended trips away from house, one of your concerns is the care and shelter of your car while away. Unless you park your car in a garage, it’s susceptible to nicks, scrapes and other damage from a lot of different sources including bird droppings, bug splatter, falling branches and particularly the sun. Upon returning from your trip the damage is evident and not easily reversed. Fortunately, guard your investment by installing a custom fit car cover and prevent these problems before they occur. Before you buy a cover, you must realize that not all car covers are the same – following are some things for you to think about:

Most people think all car covers are the same, right? Absolutely not! Some are basically throw over tarps, whilst others are custom made, especially in the luxury car market. A loose fitting car cover can actually cause more problems than it can help as unwelcome moisture, debris, and damaging UV rays will still be able to get in.

When you are comparing car covers, consider the other possible positive aspects of the cover beyond simply covering your car.

Consider these following:

UV rays can damage your cars finish, so ask yourself, will the cover you are considering provide adequate protection? You need a car cover that provides the maximum amount of protection possible against the suns rays, especially in areas like Florida, where the UV rays are very intense.

How tough is the material, will it slit if exposed to ice and snow?

You need to be sure that it will adequately repel rain and moisture.

Can it withstand strong heat or intense cold?

Will the product be resistant to dust as some car covers thwart even the finest dust from accumulating.

Are there extra layers in the cover that protect against scratches and dings? This is vital if you leave behind your car in a public lot!

Other factors to look at are warranty periods and color.

You should also be aware that some car covers are designed so that you can actually wash it yourself. You can use you washing machine to clean those car covers made from a super weave material – you simply use your normal laundry detergent in cold to hot water, without bleach, and they can even be dried in your dryer on the permanent press setting. In all cases make absolutely sure you strictly follow manufacturer specifications for the proper care of the car cover you purchase.