Signs It's Time to Replace Your Car Cover

Car covers are meant to get barraged with the elements so your car doesn’t. Sparing its gorgeous finish from the damaging sun rays, rain, snow, wind, bird droppings, and whatever else Mother Nature has in store, they’re built to take a beating. With that said, if your car cover isn’t made with the best possible materials, it will occasionally need to be replaced. But how do you know when it’s time to swap it out for a new one? Reference the list below, and then shop our car covers for a replacement that will stand the test of time.

Discover Our Selection of Car Covers

1. It’s Ripped or Torn – Inspect your car cover for visible signs of wear and tear. Unfortunately, many low-quality options are made from thin, weak materials that can rip, snag, or tear with exposure to moisture, dust, and extreme temperatures. Of course, any serious holes or tears can leave your car’s exterior vulnerable to environmental damage, rendering the cover useless. Rips and tears can also compromise the fit of the cover.
2. It Doesn’t Fit Properly – If you found your vehicle cover at an auto parts store or purchased the most affordable one you could find, it’s probably what we call a “universal” car cover. Despite the fact that vehicles vary widely—with thousands of variations in shapes and dimensions—these covers are made in only a select few sizes. As a result, they tend to not fit properly and can leave your vehicle susceptible to damage. When replacing it, you want to choose a custom or semi-custom car cover for a much snugger fit.
3. It’s Made of a Sub-Par Material – In addition to an inadequate fit, your cover may be made of an inadequate material. You want to swap it out with a higher-quality option with a stronger construction. The best material for a car body cover depends on whether you’ll be storing your vehicle inside or outside, but the smartest choice is generally one made of multi-layer polypropylene or lightweight polyester, both of which provide exceptional protection against moisture, sun rays, and dust, while also offering a good fit.
4. Your Car Smells or Is Growing Mold – If you have recently uncovered your car only to get hit with a burst of mustiness or a foul odor, that’s a good sign that your car cover is letting in moisture, which can promote the growth of mold and mildew. These pesky intruders love damp, dark, and warm environments without good airflow. A good-quality car cover should be one that’s breathable, as it will allow air to circulate beneath the surface and keep smelly mildew and gross mold at bay. This is especially important if you store your vehicle in a wet garage or live in a humid climate, but it can happen anywhere with a poor-quality cover.
5. Your Car Looks Dusty or Dirty – Dust particles can be tough to keep out and, though they seem relatively harmless, they can cause irreparable damage to the surface of your vehicle. If you uncover it to find that there are visible signs of dust, dirt, or debris on the finish, you probably need to replace it with a better-quality, more protective option. Dust buildup is often caused by a combination of an improper fit and the use of subpar materials, so make sure to upgrade to a style that solves both of those issues.
6. Water Soaks into the Fabric – A good car cover should be made of a water-resistant yet breathable material that’s hydrophobic, meaning it will not allow moisture droplets to seep into the material. You can easily test this by splattering a few drops of water onto the cover and seeing whether they roll off completely or seep into the material. If they seep, that’s a pretty good indicator that your cover will let in moisture that could lead to premature rust, not to mention mold, mildew, and oxidation.

Shop Car Covers with Warranties

Despite what you may think, car covers can be made to last. And, in general, they’re like anything else in life—you get what you pay for. At CarCovers.com, we have a variety of superior options, all of which come backed by warranties to protect your purchase and keep your cover in the game for longer. In fact, our top-quality vehicle covers come backed by the best warranties in the business, with our Platinum Shield backed by a lifetime warranty and the Ultimate Shield and Black Satin Shield backed by 10-year warranties.