How to Choose the Right Car Cover [Infographic]

By John Funk, April 9, 2020

It’s a question we get asked quite often: How do I choose the right car cover?

It’s very understandable that people are cautious about spending money on something like a car cover; your vehicles are precious to you, and it would feel terrible to spend money on a cover that doesn’t adequately protect your car!

In this car cover buying guide, we’ll examine some of the key considerations about how to choose a car cover: Where will it be stored? Do you need a custom fit? And what materials will your cover be made out of?

Where Is Your Car Parked?

Depending on where you keep your car when not in use, you may need different types of vehicle covers. The three most common places to store a car are outdoors, in an indoors garage, or in long-term storage like a groundskeeper’s shed. Depending on the circumstances, you will have different needs and different concerns when it comes to selecting your car cover.

Parked indoors: A car in a clean garage tends to be fairly safe, comparatively speaking. If you plan to keep your car or other vehicle in a garage, you will typically only need a lightweight cover to protect it from dust, condensation, and other minor hazards. Because the best indoor car covers are lighter and thinner, they are easier to fold and store for when your vehicle is no longer being stored.
Parked outdoors: A car exposed to the elements is a car that needs protection! If you are storing your car outside, be sure to get a heavy-duty cover that can protect it from dust, rain, snow, or even hail. The best outdoor car covers should be the most durable, protective covers you can find.
Parked in a shed: While less hazardous than the outdoors, groundskeeper’s sheds (and similar structures) are often cluttered and less purposefully built for vehicle storage than a garage. These covers should be heavier, able to protect your car from playful pets and children, but don’t need to be as durable as those for an outdoor location.

Once you know the general amount of protection you’ll need, you should consider what type of fit you want for your car cover. But whether you’re looking for the best outdoor car covers or the best indoor car covers, another question to keep in mind is the cover’s fit.

What Type of Fit Should You Get?

Broadly speaking, there are three common types of car covers: Universal fit, custom cover, and Seal-Fit cover. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages including things like efficacy and price. Before asking “how much does a car cover cost,” ask yourself which type of car cover you want.

Universal fit covers: These tend to be readily available at most auto parts retailers and will likely be the cheapest car cover you can find. However, these are rarely one-size-fits-all, and tend to be either too big or too small a fit for your car. They are also usually thinner, and rarely the best outdoor car covers. This can work if you intend to store your car in a garage.
Custom fit covers: These covers are specifically designed for your individual make and model of car. As a result, they provide the best fit, are often very high-quality, and will last a long time. However, while these are some of the best car covers, they tend to be very expensive, they cannot be returned or exchanged most of the time, and they can only be used on one specific car with maximum effectiveness.
Seal-Fit covers: These take into account the vehicle’s style, and are often a good balance between fit and price. They are easily returned or exchanged, and are easy to install. You won’t get the maximum effectiveness that you would on a custom-fit cover, but it’ll be much more affordable.

Ultimately, the best type of car cover for you depends on your budget, your car, and what you need it for.

What to Look For When Selecting a Car Cover

A car cover may look like a simple piece of fabric (and cheaper ones may be just that), but high-quality car covers are typically much more advanced than this. These covers have a multi-layer composition, with each layer offering something to protect your car. When shopping for the best car covers, look for a cover with the following:

Inner layer: This is the layer that directly makes contact with your car, so it should be gentle! This soft lining cover will cushion the car and prevent any external pressure from leaving scratches.
Middle layer: This layer (or group of layers) will be the majority of the cushioning in padded car covers. It will help protect against dings and dents, and will be water resistant, preventing the soft inner layer from getting wet.
Outer layer: This layer will typically be tough if not soft, and will block dust, tree sap, and bird droppings, stopping any of that from penetrating to the lower layers.

Make sure that the car cover you’re looking to purchase has all of these, so that your beloved car will be protected for years to come. We hope you found this car cover buying guide useful! Are you looking for a great, affordable Seal-Fit cover for your car? Contact SealSkin today.

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