Protecting your car without a garage is important for preventing fading, hail damage, and wear and tear. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to protect a car even if you do not have a garage.
We’ve compiled our best tips on how to protect a car without a garage. All of our tips are easy, affordable, and can go a long way in maximising your car’s lifespan..
10 Easy Ways to Protect Your Car Without a Garage
- Watch the Weather
- Use Sun Shades
- Consider Portable Car Shelters
- Park Strategically
- Wash Your Car Regularly
- Wax Your Car Regularly
- Apply a Paint Protection Film
- Trim Overhanging Trees
- Use Seat Covers
- Use a Dashboard Cover
1. Watch the Weather
If you must store your car outside, always watch for extreme weather. If you notice a chance of a hail storm, specialty car covers can be used to help prevent damage.
Consider investing in a hail car cover or inflatable car cover. These padded car covers help prevent the body of the vehicle and pain job from hail damage.
2. Use Sun Shades
Do car sun shades work to protect a car without a garage? Yes!
Sun shades are one of the most budget-friendly ways to protect a car without a garage. UV rays are one of the most damaging effects of parking a car in an exposed area. Sun shades block out UV rays to protect the interior.
Too much sun on the plastic components and upholstery can cause fading, cracking, and damage. Sun shades also help protect the dashboard from overheating and damaging internal elements.
Sun shades help reflect UV rays away from the vehicle to protect the interior. Bonus: Sun shades can naturally keep a car cooler on hot days too.
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3. Consider Portable Car Shelters
If you have the space and budget, a portable car shelter is a great alternative to a garage. Car shelters provide excellent protection from rain, debris, bird droppings, dust, UV rays, and hail. Choose an option with UV protection, water resistance, high-quality canvas, and a sturdy frame to help it withstand windy conditions.
For a more budget-friendly option, a car cover can offer an easy way to protect your car without a garage. Opt for a high-quality, breathable car cover that is designed for your car’s make and model.
4. Park Strategically
Whether you’re at home, work, or running errands, always pay attention to where you park.
To help protect your car’s paint job and interior, park in the shade when possible but avoid parking under overhanging branches. Parking in the shade is a wonderful way to keep a car cooler and protect it from sun damage, but it may not be worth it if you’re parked under a gum tree!
5. Wash Your Car Regularly
Washing your car regularly is an important part of protecting the exterior, especially if you do not have a garage. Washing a car removes debris, dirt, and grime to help protect the paint job and exterior. Pollution and sea salt can hasten corrosion, making it important to regularly clean your car of build-up.
Choose a high-quality microfibre cloth or mitt and a gentle car wash soap. Always make sure you thoroughly rinse your car so no soap residue is left behind.
If you live near the coast or an area with heavy pollution or smog, you may need to wash your car more often.
6. Wax Your Car Regularly
Along with regularly washing your car, make waxing part of your routine as well. Along with adding a nice sheen, wax offers protective properties.
Wax can act as a protective layer between your car’s paint and debris, seeds, leaves, and other elements that can damage the exterior. You can even choose a wax with built-in UV protectants to further protect your car without a garage.
7. Apply a Paint Protection Film
Applying a paint protection film to the vehicle’s exterior provides a clear layer of protection. The high-gloss coating helps prevent build-up, protect against tree sap, and cut down on wear and tear.
8. Trim Overhanging Trees
If you have trees that hang over your driveway or parking space, it may be time for a good trim. While the shade from a tree can be a nice spot to park, you don’t want bird droppings, sap, or tree seeds falling on your car. Trim back any overhanging branches so nothing is directly over your car.
9. Use Seat Covers
UV rays are harsh, damaging, and can shorten the lifespan of your vehicle’s upholstery. Seat covers are an effective, budget-friendly way to protect upholstery against UV damage. If you must store your car outside, seat covers can help keep the original upholstery protected and looking new.
10. Use a Dashboard Cover
Dashboards can heat up significantly in the sun. Overheating can damage the dashboard, leading to cracking and fading. Constant sun exposure can also damage internal components beneath the dashboard. A dashboard cover is an effective, cheap way to protect a car without a garage.
Need Customised Recommendations on Protecting Your Car Without a Garage?
There are many cheap ways to protect a car without a garage and we hope these tips give you some great ideas.
If you’d like personalised product recommendations that can help keep your car looking new, contact our experts. We offer a wide range of products dedicated to sheltering your car from the elements and making vehicle’s more comfortable to ride in.