Can Car Covers Damage Cars? (7 Warnings)

When it comes to keeping your vehicle in mint condition, car covers are a popular safeguarding option. These covers provide an additional layer of protection against multiple hazards that could harm the exterior of your vehicle. 

However, it remains essential to be aware of the potential risks and downsides associated with how car covers are utilized. 

So, let’s take a closer look at the factors that determine if car covers actually possess the ability to cause damage to your vehicle. 

Here’s Why Car Covers Can Damage Cars:

While car covers are intended to protect vehicles, it is crucial to keep in mind that low-quality abrasive fabric covers may cause paint surface damage, rust, scratching, and mold. To prevent this, it is best to use high-quality vehicle coverings made of breathable, non-abrasive materials. 

Can Car Covers Damage the Car Paint?

Car covers might potentially damage your vehicle’s paint if used incorrectly or in certain conditions. 

The following are the most important variables to consider:

• Trapped moisture: Installing a car cover on a wet or damp vehicle or in a humid location can cause moisture to become trapped between the cover and the paint, resulting in mold and possibly rust.
• Wear and tear: Poorly fitted or low-quality car covers may scratch and rub the surface of the vehicle, especially when dust or debris builds on the cover.
• Insufficient ventilation: Inadequate ventilation can result in a humid atmosphere, facilitating paint damage and corrosion due to poor air circulation and heat dissipation.
• UV Damage: Some car covers might not offer adequate UV protection, resulting in paint fading and discoloration as time passes.

To reduce paint damage from occurring, you should choose a high-quality, breathable car cover that has been designed for the size of your vehicle. 

Before using the car, make sure it is clean and dry, and inspect it on a regular basis for any signs of damage or issues that need to be addressed.

Will Daily Use of Car Covers Cause Scratches Over Time?

Using car covers on a daily basis may cause scratches in the paint of your vehicle. This is especially true in windy environments, where the cover may frequently rub on the car’s surface, inflicting paint damage gradually. 

The regular friction and motion between the cover and the car can leave micro-scratches or marks on the paintwork, reducing the car’s overall appearance.

Furthermore, car coverings can pick up dirt and debris, which can be transferred across your vehicle’s surfaces while putting on or removing the cover. 

These particles can be coarse, increasing the likelihood of scratches and damage to the paint, glass, and trim. 

To reduce such risks, make sure the cover fits snugly and is firmly fastened to reduce movement and friction against the paint. 

Also, clean the car cover on a regular basis to prevent the buildup of dirt and debris, and clean your vehicle regularly to get rid of any particles that could be embedded in the paintwork.

Please also check out our article about car wrap problems.

Can Car Covers Cause Paint to Bubble?

While car covers are intended to protect your vehicle from the weather, some car covers, notably those labeled as 100% waterproof, should be adopted with caution. 

Although efficient in keeping water out, these covers are also capable of preventing moisture from escaping, resulting in an accumulation of trapped moisture.

This creates an atmosphere susceptible to rust and other types of paint damage (such as bubbling). This retained moisture can cause bubbles or blisters to grow in the paint over time.

Furthermore, using a car cover in direct sunshine or on a hot day can cause the paint to soften and bubble due to the interaction of warm trapped air between the cover and the paint.

To minimize this possibility, choose car covers with adequate ventilation and breathability, allowing moisture to evaporate.

Can Car Covers Speed Up the Rust Process?

To address the issue head-on, it’s critical to recognize that car covers may lead to rust. However, the severity of this problem is determined by the quality of the cover as well as how it is utilized. 

Let’s get into the specifics.

Cheap car covers and inappropriate use can both contribute to the formation of rust. You risk collecting moisture between the cover and the car’s surface if you use a low-quality car cover or put it on a damp vehicle. 

This trapped moisture can cause rust to form gradually.

Material selection is equally as important. Porous car covers allow rainwater to pass through, reducing the likelihood of rust. 

Covers made of heavy plastic or non-porous materials, on the other hand, might trap moisture and promote the growth of rust.

To reduce the chance of rust:

• Choose a car cover that drains moisture and allows for optimal airflow. 
• Avoid hefty plastic covers that restrict airflow.
• Allow your car dry prior to covering it. 

To summarise, while car covers have the potential to cause rust, it is critical to choose a high-quality cover, size it correctly, and guarantee thorough drying before wrapping your vehicle. 

By following these precautions, you may reduce the chance of developing rust while preserving the structural integrity of your vehicle.

Can Car Covers Cause Scratches and Marks?

Car covers, although their primary purpose of protecting vehicles, can unintentionally generate scratches if not installed and removed properly. 

It is vital to understand that the scratches are caused by the presence of abrasive particles or dirt caught in the fabric, as well as the method in which the cover is handled and applied.

Pulling a car cover across the vehicle’s surface while it contains abrasive particles or debris may result in unsightly scratches and markings on the vehicle. 

These particles can function as abrasives, especially when the cover rubs against the paintwork, making it important for owners to thoroughly inspect the car cover before usage to guarantee it is clear of debris.

It is important to note that car covers typically consist of materials that are non-abrasive and soft on the paint. They are designed precisely to protect the vehicle’s surface without generating scratches. 

Yet, throughout the installation and removal processes, human error can result in unintentional scratches and marks.

Take a look at our article to find out if putting bumper stickers on scratches is a good idea.

Can Car Covers Cause Mold?

If a car cover is completely waterproof, it usually signifies that the fabric is not breathable. 

This lack of ventilation can be a major issue for automobile owners since it stops moisture from leaving after it has accumulated beneath the cover. 

Without the ability to enable airflow, the material forms a barrier that collects moisture, fostering the establishment of mold.

Considering mold spores grow and multiply in an environment where moisture is retained, moisture can become trapped between the cover and the vehicle’s surface when a car cover is applied on a wet or damp vehicle or in a humid environment too. 

This scenario goes against the intent of a car cover, which is to safeguard your vehicle. It is critical to select a ventilated car cover that allows for optimum air circulation. 

Breathable coverings allow moisture to escape, lowering the chances of mold growth. 

Wash the Car Properly Before Putting On a Car Cover

Failure to properly wash your vehicle before putting on a car cover can kick off a chain of events that may end up resulting in rust, scratching, bubbling, and mold. 

These issues are linked and can emerge for a variety of reasons, including:

Rust: Any dirt, grime, or road salt that has gathered on the vehicle’s surface will potentially retain moisture.

Trapped moisture, along with a lack of ventilation, is ideal for rust growth and can jeopardize the paint’s integrity and the underlying metal surfaces.

Scratches: When a car cover is placed over dirt, they function as abrasives. These particles rub on the paint as the cover moves, causing scratches. This can reduce the aesthetic and protective characteristics of the paintwork and facilitate rust.

Bubbling: Existing paint damage, such as scratches or chips, may contribute to the creation of bubbles. If moisture or humid air becomes trapped beneath a car cover, it may reach these areas, causing the paint to bubble.

Mold: If the vehicle is not thoroughly cleaned before covering, dirt, organic debris, or moisture may become caught between the vehicle and the cover, offering a perfect environment for mold growth. 

Taking the time to thoroughly clean and dry your vehicle before installing a car cover assists in breaking this cycle, reducing the danger of these interrelated problems, and maintaining the overall state and style of your vehicle.

Was this article helpful?