In order to end up with the car cover best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of car covers are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a car cover.
Research the market: Car Cover essentials
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the car cover market. The range of options can seem overwhelming, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Type: Car covers come in two basic types - pre-made (ready-fit) or custom fit. Pre-made covers are available to suit a wide rage of different vehicles and will suit most purposes. If your vehicle has been extensively modified, or you have a vintage or show car, you may prefer to have something custom made. Covers may enclose the entire vehicle or only a part of it, such as the front end of a car or the cab of a truck.
Fabric: There is a huge range of fabrics, which can be matched to best suit the local weather conditions, including polypropylene, polycotton, drill, polyethylene, flannel, cotton and canvas. Waterproof, water resistant, and mildew & mold resistant fabrics are available.
Features: Covers may have storage bags, a range of different fastening and tie-down options, as well as padded car covers to offer some dent protection.
Size: Car covers are sold according to the size of the vehicle that you want to cover. The models of vehicles they will fit on are usually listed on the website or on the side panel of the car cover box. If you have added spoilers, extended mirrors or other changes to your vehicle you may require a larger size to completely cover the car.
Cost: The size, fabric, accessories and other options will impact on the cost of the car cover. Very old, expensive or rare vehicles may require a custom cover, which is usually the most expensive option.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a car cover. For example, will you use the car cover only to protect your car from inclement weather or are you trying to maintain the entire exterior and therefore the value of your car?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| Have I used a car cover before? |
| | If you have used a car cover, work out what you did or didn't like about the car cover. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient. |
| Am I trying to protect my car from water, snow and ice, dust and debris or exposure to the sun? |
| | The type of weather you are storing your car in will determine the fabric and style of car cover. The harsher the climate the thicker and more durable the fabric will need to be. |
| Will I be storing the car inside or outside? |
| | Some inside lighting can be just as harmful as the sun is on paint, so you might consider using a car cover even for inside storage. |
| Do I need extra storage in the car cover? |
| | Will you need pockets or pouches in the car cover to store accessories or other items? |
| Will I need to protect the car from denting and other damage? |
| | This may be a consideration if the car is stored somewhere that items may fall on it or limbs from trees may hit the side of the vehicle in windy conditions. |
| How tight do I want the car cover to be? |
| | You need to decide if the cover should be a snug fit, like a sock, or something that drapes loosely over the car. You also need to decide what method of fastening the cover to the car you prefer. |
| Do I require mildew or mold resistant fabrics? |
| | If you live in humid climates mildew or mold can easily damage your vehicle, and destroy the cover prematurely, so a resistant material is critical. |
| How much can I afford to spend? |
| | As with most purchases, you need to determine your budget for a cover. |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of car covers and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
Video Links
Buyz123.com Research Links:Car cover buyer's guideA guide to selecting the right cover for your carHow to choose an outdoor car coverGetting help with interior car coverCar cover fabricCar cover fabric guideGreat guidelines on which fabric is right for you.Tons of information on car coversFabric guides for indoor and outdoor storage.Car cover generalReasons to buy a custom car cover, with links to productsGood general article on car covers