No garage? Here’s how to help protect your car

With La Niña confirmed to be making a return by the end of the year, it seems we’re in for another season of wild weather, and you don’t want to risk it taking a toll on your vehicle’s aesthetics and value. Car owners are seemingly left with some difficult choices; they could build their own garage, or rent a parking space or garage. But both would mean forking out some serious cash.

Luckily, there’s a few simple precautions you can take to keep that paint job looking fresh and your wheels turning without breaking the bank.

WHAT’S MOSTLY LIKELY TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR CAR?

First up, it’s a good idea to find out exactly what is going to cause damage to your car. When you’re forced to park your car outside, falling branches, hail and debris from passing cars can wreak havoc on your car’s exterior, but hidden culprits like the sun’s harsh UV rays, pollution and smog can damage both the outside and inside of your car. These, along with a number of other environmental factors, have been linked to everything from stains and discoloration, to clear coat oxidation, corrosion and rust. And without the proper precautions, these can impact your paint, glass and interior, as well as rubber and plastic components.

Once you figure out what you should be looking out for, it’s much easier to remain vigilant and to be proactive when looking after your car when it’s parked outside - saving you a lot of money and heartache in the long run. Here are our tips for protecting your car when keeping it undercover isn’t an option.

WASH AND WAX YOUR CAR REGULARLY

Wax on, wax off, as much as you can, but ideally once a month at the very least. Washing your car as often as you can - and in line with water restrictions - is your first line of offence against  sun damage and Australia’s harmful UV rays. This is also true for car owners in places with a lot of pollution from exhaust fumes and city smog, so it’s even more important in these areas that you wash your car as much as you can.

Once your car is spick and span, give it a thorough waxing. Using a good quality wax and applying it often is super important for building layers of protection against potential damage. When you’re happy with the wax job, you can even add paint protectant products and sealants to add even more protection. And if you’re feeling extra cautious, ceramic coatings, vinyl wraps and paint wraps done by a professional can last up to five years and will make for a lot less maintenance, but also a lot less time being the wise person on your street waxing your car. Plus they can set you back a bit.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG, WHICH COULD BE BAD NEWS FOR YOUR CAR

We know it’s tempting to head for a shady tree when parking in the warmer months, but sometimes this isn’t always the best choice. When in season, fruit bearing trees will become ridden with a variety of wildlife, including birds, insects and even bats, who will happily leave their droppings all over your beautiful car. Not only is it a nightmare to clean, but bird poo in particular is high in uric acid, a corrosive element that damages your car at an alarming rate. It is also very gross.

If your only option is to park under trees, there are ways you can clean animal poo off your car. A soaked cloth can get the fresher droppings off your car, but when it’s been left too long and simply won’t budge no matter what you do, spraying the area with a homemade solution (such as baking soda, water and a touch of dish soap) or one purchased from a trusted retailer, before leaving it to sit for a while, normally does the trick.

But, as we’ll say a lot in this article, prevention is always best, so don’t park under trees if you can avoid it. And if you’re still not convinced, parking under trees is a surefire way to start seeing a few more spiders than usual.

COVER YOUR CAR

Now if waxing and cleaning just aren’t an option, there’s a variety of car covers that can help protect your car. They likely won’t stop damage from debris like hail and falling branches, but will provide some extra protection from animals, tree sap and sun damage.

Car covers that fit perfectly to your model can be purchased from local dealers and are well worth the cost. If you have a driveway, you can even put up a car tent that can act as a portable carport, which will provide more protection than a cover alone.

If it’s your interior you’re worried about, which is just as much at risk to sun damage as your exterior, car covers can also help the sun’s harmful UV rays damaging interior plastics, leather and upholstery, which have been found to start breaking down due to heat radiation. When you’re not at home and need to park outside in the sun, place sun visors all around your car, or at least on the front and rear windows.

The best protection comes from proactive measures and looking after your car. However, you can’t protect your car against everything so we have heaps of cover options available to suit your needs.

To find out more about NRMA Car Insurance, simply call us on 132 132 to get a quote or find us online 24/7 at nrma.com.au.