5 Benefits of Leaving Your Car in Covered Parking

When heading to work or running errands, you’ll find many places have covered parking options. While it may seem more convenient to park in an exposed spot near the front of the building, the UV rays from the sun and weather conditions could damage your car. Learn more about the benefits of leaving your car in covered parking and protecting your vehicle’s interior and exterior from unnecessary wear.

1. Protects Your Car’s Paint

If you leave your car baking in the sun day after day, you’ll eventually notice the paint fading or starting to peel. Aside from its aesthetic value, paint damage could also compromise the structure of your car and create safety concerns. Parking in a shaded area can help to keep your car’s paint factory-fresh and vibrant for multiple years.

2. Shields Your Interior From Fading

The UV rays from the sun can blast through the windows and damage your interior. This could lead to your upholstery, dashboard, and steering wheel fading or cracking. Covered parking acts like a shield, preserving your car’s interior to look as fresh as the exterior.

3. Avoids Overheating

When your car sits in the sun for hours, it can turn into a mobile oven. The interior temperature can skyrocket, making your seats and interior components unbearably hot. Covered parking keeps your vehicle cooler, so stepping into your car after work or running an errand doesn’t feel like stepping into a sauna.

This can also reduce the strain on your air conditioning system when cooling the car down. Leaving your car in a covered parking space keeps its temperature lower while you’re away.

4. Prevents Weather Damage

Even on those cloudy days, rain, snow, and hail can also cause damage to your vehicle. Hail can lead to costly dents and cracks on the roof and hood, and rain can strip the paint off your car over time. Covered parking provides a protective barrier against the worst Mother Nature offers. As a nice bonus, you’ll also deal with fewer annoying water spots after it rains.

5. Reduces Maintenance Costs

Protecting your car from sun damage and harsh weather doesn’t just keep it looking good; it saves you serious time and money. For example, the preparatory work to repaint your vehicle is much easier and less expensive when the original paint hasn’t been damaged over the years. Parking in covered spots makes future service work both easier and cheaper.

If covered parking spots aren’t available, look for shaded spots to prevent damage caused by harsh UV rays. If you need to park in an exposed spot or your driveway, consider investing in a windshield cover or car cover to reduce the risk of damage to your car. Always remember to check for covered parking before picking your parking spot. This small effort can save you from hefty repair bills down the road.