Not everyone is lucky enough to have a garage to keep their car in and even if you do you may be like me and have too much junk to be able to park your car there. Things like tree sap, especially from pine trees, hail, and exposure to the sun can ruin your car's paint quickly. If you want to protect your car's finish from the elements you may want to consider investing in a car cover, however there are some things you need to know before you do this. A good quality car cover can go a long way in protecting your vehicle's finish but the wrong cover can ruin it! You can find a good quality cover for your car for under a hundred dollars in most cases so price isn't a big issue.

If you can afford a car that you care about protecting you can afford to cover it. Car covers come in assorted sizes with some being generic to fit any average size car and others made for trucks and SUVs. There are also covers designed for specific vehicles, if you own a very expensive car you may want to consider one of these. When you are looking for a car cover you will find that there are really two choices when it comes to types of covers.

First you will see waterproof covers and then water repellant covers. Contrary to what you might normally think, you do not want the waterproof version. The problem with a waterproof cover is that it not only keeps water out, but if water gets under the cover it will be trapped there and can cause mildew and even rust. A water repellant cover on the other hand is a little more permeable and will prevent moisture from forming under it.

You will pay a little more for a water repellant cover but like anything else, it is because you get what you pay for. A water repellant cover is much better for your vehicle than a waterproof one. You may even want to cover your car in the garage, especially if it is a car you don't drive often like an old classic Corvette or Muscle Car. This will prevent accidental scratches, keep little kids hands off, and protect against other things that could happen to it while in storage. The cost of a car cover is nothing when you consider the cost of repairing even a minor ding or scratch as well as what the damage doe to the value of the car. Consider the purchase of a car cover an investment in the protection of your car.

Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more articles about cars and car care products at http://www.5starshine.com