"Typically thieves will go for the path of least resistance," Williamsonrelates. "When they see a car cover they have no idea what is underneathand usually don't want to hassle with it."
What Do YOU Want in a Car Cover?
The first thing you need to ask yourself before buying a car cover iswhat are you trying to protect your car from? Is it from the elements,or from dust, from dings and dents, or from theft, or maybe even acombination of all of these? Whatever your reasons there is a car coverto suit your needs, but there are a few basics to keep in mind.
"We encourage people to look for the highest warranty that they can findin cover," Williamson explains. "They should look for, not only thewater resistance of a cover, but also the breathability. Often timesyou'll get water trapped underneath the cover. If there is not anybreathability you'll get condensation and then the car cover will rotand may affect the paint. What we at Kimberly-Clark feel we have is thebest balance of both properties: waterproofing, breathability, UVdurability and softness."
Cheap car covers tend to have very little UV protection, if any at all,so the rule "you get what you pay for" applies here.
"The more expensive car covers have more UV protection, therefore moresun protection, and better protection over a longer period of time,"says Williamson.
Enthusiasts searching for added protection from damage should look forcar covers with four or five layers that can be used as extra padding.The extra layers will go a long way toward protecting against errantobjects and people trying to squeeze by your car in a tight garage.
This one's important: get a custom made cover. Sure they cost a littlemore, but a custom made cover offers the best fit for your car, whichwill save you time and stress when putting the cover on, and gives theadded benefit of being even tougher against the elements.
"For people that are really concerned about protecting theirinvestment," Williamson says, "we encourage them to buy custom covers.They fit like a glove and you don't have to worry about them blowingaway in strong winds."
If the front of your cover...
If the front of your cover isn't already clearly designated, like this one, place a mark of some sort on the front to help you line up the cover on your car.
There is a misconception floating about that car covers are difficult toput on and take off - simply put, this is a fallacy. On average, ittakes people about 45 seconds to put on or take off a car cover. That isnot a lot of time to give your ride added protection. Just use the tipsbelow and you'll be a pro at handling your cover.
Cover a clean vehicle only. Dust, dirt, and grit between a cover and thefinish can cause scratches, swirls, abrasion and dullness. If you have abreathable cover, your car does not have to be totally dry before youput on the cover.
Put on a clean cover. Bringing dirt to a clean car via the cover onlyincreases the odds for damage. Spot cleaning when necessary willminimize this risk.