Best Car Covers Information

When it comes to keeping a car in tip-top condition, a lot of attention is given to the interior and mechanical aspects. The oil gets changed regularly, winter tires get fitted every year, and you go to painstaking effort to keep it clean. 

But what about the exterior? Snow, wind, rain, and even the sun can diminish the appearance of your vehicle over time, leaving it dull and faded. Not to mention the damaging effects of things like hailstorms or debris falling from trees. Relying on rental cars may seem like a better and better idea given all this upkeep, but while that new car smell fades over time, the value of the car doesn’t have to. 

Thick in durable material, a car cover acts as a barrier of protection against harsh environmental elements. Our favorite is the Platinum Shield Car Cover for its high-quality fabric, but there are plenty of other options that’ll fit your car like a glove.

Types of Car Covers

There are three main types of car covers: indoor, outdoor, and windshield covers. Unless you’re shooting for the barn-find look, indoor covers are the answer for short- and long-term storage out of the elements. Indoor covers prevent dust buildup and offer moderate protection against accidental scratches. The lightweight fabric covers are not water or weatherproof but can act as a vapor and moisture barrier that prevents condensation buildup and mold. 

Protection against the elements requires different materials and construction than indoor covers. Outdoor covers range from multi-layer weatherproof versions to single-layer water-resistant types. Sun, rain, snow, and ice present formidable challenges for outdoor car covers, so consider your climate for the best protection. Breathability and tie-down straps are vital considerations.

Windshield covers fit over the front windshield and cowl to prevent snow and ice buildup while you sleep, so you don’t have to scrape off the ice when you wake up. They also offer sun protection from baking your interior. Smaller versions cover the windshield only, and larger versions feature a sunroof, side window, and mirror pockets. The covers are inexpensive and easier to use than full-size covers and are an excellent choice for winter. 

Car Covers Buyers Guide

Car covers are seemingly simple by design, but this isn’t the case for all high-quality covers. A surprising amount of engineering and design goes into these products, making the process of figuring out what works best for you more complicated.

Below are a few factors that we believe are worth considering before you buy a new car cover.

Indoor Vs. Outdoor

Indoor covers are drastically different from outdoor covers. The features of each type of cover vary, as does how the car cover should be used.

• Indoor: This type of car cover is meant to protect your vehicle from the hazards of the garage. While you may view your garage as a safe place to store your vehicle, the dust that is typically found in a garage can ruin your car’s paint. Additionally, this type of cover should protect against any accidental bumps or dings when you pull out tools from your garage.
• Outdoor: Outdoor covers are meant to protect your vehicle from a wide variety of weather conditions. Whether rain, sun, sleet, or hail, this type of cover should be equipped to handle anything Mother Nature brings its way. Additionally, outdoor covers are typically UV-resistant and meant to withstand bird droppings and tree sap.

Weather Resistance Car Cover

If you’re looking to purchase an outdoor cover, that cover will need to handle a variety of weather conditions.

• Sun: UV protection and heat-reflective material are a must if your car is sitting in the sun for an extended period of time.
• Dust/dirt: For those who live in windy areas with lots of dust, a custom-fit car cover ensures that dust and dirt won’t get to your vehicle.
• Rain: If you’re worried about rain, a waterproof cover is a way to go. At the very least you may need a water-repellent material, but it’s also a good idea to research covers that have been treated for mildew.
• Snow/ice: Similar to rain, you will want a waterproof cover to fully protect against snow and ice. There are car covers available on the market that are specifically designed for ice protection.
• Hail: Anything past light hail will require a hail storm-specific cover. This type of car cover is typically padded and will sometimes even be inflatable.

Car Cover Key Features 

First and foremost, you want to keep in mind the fit. Car covers come in custom, contoured or semi-custom, and universal sizes. Custom-sewn aftermarket covers can meet or exceed the manufacturer’s fit, and semi-custom or contour covers are the next best choice. Universal fit covers are designed for vehicle types, rather than a specific year, make, and model. 

You’ll also want to look for four corner tie-downs: the stronger, the better. Elastic hems alone are not enough unless you like fighting with maple trees and the brambles over car cover custody after your cover takes flight. Center anti-theft eyelet grommets might deter criminals but rarely prevent the car cover from coming loose and collecting grit as it flops around on the ground. 

And lastly, material is a factor. Where you live and where your car is stored are the two most important factors in choosing a material that offers the most protection. Indoor car covers don’t need to fight the elements and are made of softer fabrics. Outdoor covers range from single-layer water-resistant fabric to multi-layer weatherproof material that’s more like a tarp than a windbreaker. Look for breathability with outdoor covers. You don’t want to wrap your car up like a steak in plastic wrap. 

Five Things to Know Before Buying and Using a Car Cover

• Do you want an indoor car cover or an outdoor car cover? This will hinge on where you primarily park your car. But if it varies, you may want to get one of each.
• If you’re getting an outdoor car cover, what’s the weather like where you live? Do you live by any large bodies of water? This information may seem obvious, but you’ll want to take full stock of it. Because the outdoor elements will likely affect the material of the cover you buy.
• If you’re getting an indoor car cover, what will be going on in the garage where you park your car? If your car will be exposed to physical hazards, you may want to get a thicker or padded cover.
• What size is your car? The size of your car will obviously affect the size of your cover. Since you want a tight fit, it pays to be as precise as possible.
• How can you best care for your car cover? Make sure to familiarize yourself with storage and washing instructions prior to use. In order to ensure that your cover lasts as long as possible.

Tips for Buying a Car Cover

Consider access to your car

If you access your car often, you’ll want a cover that can fasten and unfasten quickly. Opt for one with buckle-type straps, as they’re much faster and easier to handle than tie-downs. 

Need to access your car, but don’t want to take the whole cover off? Easy: Choose a cover that provides zipper access to the driver’s side door. This way, you can easily grab things you left behind, like your phone or charging cable.

Know your biggest environmental concerns

A car cover should be able to handle the type of precipitation that happens the most where you live. For example, if you live in a place that has hailstorms often, it’s imperative that you choose a cover capable of preventing serious damage.

The same precaution should be taken if you live near a large body of water. There’s water damage to worry about, plus the risk of salt exposure. (If a car is exposed often enough to sea salt in the air, oxidation and rusting can break down the quality of its finish.) 

Aim for a tight fit

A car cover should be tight without any gaps so that wind, dirt, debris, and snow can’t get trapped inside. It’s a good idea to get a custom fit whenever possible. If this is too expensive or unavailable, go the cost-effective route and at least measure your car before choosing a cover size. 

Although you want a tight fit, you’ll also need to choose a cover made of breathable fabric. This ensures that the trapped moisture and condensation will dry up a lot faster and prevent oxidation and rust. Keep in mind, though, that a breathable cover doesn’t mean that it’s waterproof. 

Seal Skin Classic Car Cover Maintains

There are many advantages of using a high-quality Seal Skin classic car cover, whether it’s for indoor protection or outdoor protection.

• The inner fleece fabric layer of our vintage car covers is soft, ensuring that they can be drawn across the surface of your vehicle without damaging the paint.
• Polyurethane coatings of our expertly designed Seal Skin classic car covers resist water and provide adequate protection for your classic car.
• Our vintage car covers include many microscopic holes to provide breathable space which prevents any moisture and condensation from becoming trapped next to your car.
• Seal Skin classic car covers are made from superior fabrics and tailored to fit perfectly.
• Our vintage car covers include materials that are durable, to provide a high degree of water resistance and UV protection.

A nostalgic connection to a car can seem like an irrational reason to buy it; however, for many classic car lovers, emotional connections are the whole point. They are ready to accept these cars irrespective of their shortcomings when compared to modern vehicles. Too many classic car lovers, these classic cars represent a cultural identity.

Some Other Points

A classic car is not just an expensive investment but also a cherished possession. You need to take the necessary steps to protect your vintage car. We offer some of the best car covers for classic cars that are genuine and reliable. Our elegantly designed classic car covers to ensure that your pride and joy remain in pristine condition. 

Our outdoor car covers to protect your vehicle from hazardous outdoor elements and also we offer one of the best indoor car covers for classic cars that are non-abrasive and prevent minute scratches. Purchasing a high-quality Seal Skin classic car cover is a minimal investment that can help you preserve the value of your classic car.

Car Cover Testing Methodology

We tested a selection of car covers under normal and, what turned out to be, very punishing conditions. Our car cover test fleet consists of a tall and boxy SUV (1989 Mitsubishi Montero), a subcompact hatchback (1982 Toyota Corolla), and a turbo specialty sports coupe (1987 Mitsubishi Starion). 

Clearly, this isn’t the average stable of cars: no CUV, no minivan, no full-size truck present. However, given the fact that these cars don’t have large aftermarket support, nor did the OEMs ever build bespoke covers when new, it actually allowed us the opportunity to test out a handful of widely available universal and near-custom covers. 

To narrow down the scope slightly, we limited the budget to under $200 and went for outdoor covers that could also be used indoors. Wrestling with a full-size cover on a street parked or daily driven car isn’t always feasible either, so we also picked up a few windshield covers. These partial covers are designed to keep snow and sun off the windshield and out of the interior, so you don’t have to start your day by scraping ice off glass or finding a cracked dash.

As for what we’d be looking for, fabric quality, overall fit, stitching, and additional features like tie-downs or side zippers were essential factors. Luckily for us at the time of the test, nature unleashed ideal conditions for real torture. We also did a bit of research-based picking as we couldn’t get covers for all the categories we wanted. Let’s get into how they did. 

HOW MUCH DOES A CAR COVER COST?

Just like colors, styles and fabrics, the cost of a car cover can vary. Just as much as the options available to you. What we can promise you that there is a cover that will suit your style, protection requirements and your budget. If you’re not sure where to buy a car cover, well of course Car Cover World is the place!

FAQ

Q: Can a car cover damage my paint?

Answer: Only if neglected. A dirty, low-quality, worn out, ill-fitting, or improperly fastened car cover can scratch or scuff the paint. Dirt trapped in between the car and the cover acts like sandpaper. Wind-whipped fasteners and tie-down straps can slap against the paint like loose rope hitches on a flagpole, too.

Q: How to measure your car?

Answer: Not every car cover is customizable. Some you buy by size. To get the proper size, you’ll need to measure the longest points on your car. Make sure when you measure that it’s a straight line and you aren’t contouring around the car, as it won’t give you as accurate of a measurement.

• For length, measure from the front bumper to the rear bumper (and if you have any attachments on the front or rear bumper that make it longer, make sure to measure there).
• For height, measure from the bottom of the frame of the car to the top of the frame at the roof.
• For width, measure from the widest point on one side to the widest point on the other. Exclude the mirrors from this measurement.

Q: When should you not use a car cover?

Answer: You should not use a car cover if you think you may need access to your car with minimal interference. Whether you’re driving or just getting something out of your vehicle, the car cover adds an extra step that could be a nuisance. Also, if you’re using a large, inflatable car cover, you shouldn’t deploy it when parked on the street, as it will take up a lot of room.

Q: How do I clean a car cover?

Answer: The same way you wash a car. Rinse first and use car wash soap to remove crud and grime. Rinse again, reverse the car cover, and repeat. Hang dry. Some indoor car covers can be machine washed but check with the manufacturer first.

How can I protect a car without a garage?

Answer: Covering your vehicle with a quality car cover made for the outdoors is the next best way to protect it from the elements if you do not have a garage or carport available. Waxing your vehicle before putting it under a car cover will further protect it by adding an extra layer of UV and water-repellent protection and removing debris that may scratch the finish.

Read more about Automotive and How to Take Care of your car and also Other Accessories. You can also Buy them