With a car tarpaulin, you protect your vehicle from scratches and other damage to the paintwork caused by the weather and other external influences. This is particularly important if your vehicle is outdoors all year round. But a tarpaulin can also be useful in the garage. When you are thinking about buying a car cover, you are faced with a wide range of different designs. What size is the right one and what properties should the perfect tarpaulin for your car have? In this article, we provide you with answers to the most frequently asked questions and have summarized six helpful tips for you when buying your new car tarpaulin.
1. Why should I buy a car cover?
A car cover can be very important to the life of your car, along with regular car washing and maintenance. The first step is to clarify where your car is and what conditions it is exposed to. For example, should the car cover withstand all weather conditions or is a dust and dirt cover for the garage sufficient?
If the car is mainly outdoors, you will have to deal with leaves, bird droppings, branches, acorns and pine cones, among other things. In the long term, bird droppings can even eat into the paint and cause rust. Pine cones and acorns, on the other hand, can lead to pitting or even small dents.
Rain, wind, frost, hail and the sun also have a major impact on your car. Not only the paint, but also the steel that is installed in the car is stressed by the weather conditions. Moisture causes the vehicle to rust, which increases maintenance requirements. Discoloration from UV rays is also a problem. Although today's paints are very sun-resistant, they can still discolour over time. A car cover can easily make a big difference.
In addition to UV protection, an appropriate cover also prevents the interior from heating up too much, which benefits you as the driver and the passengers, especially in summer.
2. Which car tarpaulin do I need for my purpose?
As just mentioned, your car is exposed to a wide variety of conditions. Therefore, there are logically different car covers on the market. An all-weather car cover is well suited for good all-round protection in all weather conditions and weather conditions, whether in summer or winter. This cover can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Are you always busy for a long time in winter mornings cleaning the windows of your car from ice and snow? Then a semi-garage could be right for you. A semi-garage can be stretched over the side mirrors and primarily protects the roof, windshield and windows of the vehicle. Full garages, on the other hand, offer protection for the entire car and extend over the rims.
If you have a car in the garage, for example a classic car, then a dust and dirt cover would be a good solution. These car covers are often a little cheaper to buy and made from a thinner fabric. They have to withstand less adverse conditions, but ensure that your paintwork does not dull from dirt, but always shines like the first day.
3. What material is the best for my vehicle cover?
A car cover is usually made of polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA), a soft and high-quality plastic. This does not mean that every cover made from PEVA is of good quality. Therefore, before buying, take a closer look at the descriptions and reviews of the products.
There are also car tarpaulins that are made of soft fabric. Before buying, always check what material the car cover is made of and what it can withstand. For example, a car tarpaulin that protects against snow and frost should be a little thicker and insulating. In general, good covers should have a water-repellent surface and be durable even under the most adverse environmental influences.
4. How do I attach the tarpaulin to my car?
The car tarpaulin can usually be fixed without much effort. An elastic band is woven into the hem for this purpose. This way you can clip the car cover under the car. Some car covers also have additional clips that you can use to attach the tarp to the vehicle. However, a rubber band is often more than sufficient.
5. What size fits my car?
In order for the tarpaulin to really offer the best protection, it should be the perfect size for your car. Especially with a full garage, it is important that the entire length of the vehicle and each side can be covered up to the rims.
Sometimes online shops offer an overview with the different car types and suitable car cover sizes. Reviews from other customers also give insight into the experiences with the product for different cars. Despite this, it is always advisable to measure your car yourself so that you can be sure that you are ordering the correct car cover.
6. How do I find the right provider?
Good providers of car covers not only offer you high-quality products for a wide variety of requirements, but also comprehensive service including purchase advice. Customer service should be easy to reach, give you answers to all your questions, and be able to provide you with more information about the offer if you ask.
Can you return the items if you ordered the wrong car cover? Will the purchase price be refunded? Are additional shipping costs to be expected? These are all questions that are important to you as a consumer. You can then determine your price-performance winner by comparing the prices and services.
We would be happy to assist you as your tarpaulin specialist when purchasing a suitable car tarpaulin. When buying boat tarpaulins or caravan tarpaulins, we are also happy to give you tips and help you to choose the right variant.
