Car cover: Buying one is a simple, low-cost investment that protects your car from the elements.
Hot sun, heavy rain and buzzing insects: all these things irritate us to no end in Singapore.
Incidentally, your car probably doesn’t like all those things too.
Being located at the equator also means that Singapore receives a lot of sunlight.
Without a car cover, that news doesn’t bode well for your car.
What is a car cover?
You’ve probably seen covered cars parked in your neighbourhood carpark.
They might sometimes be covered with either black or silvered sheets that fit the shape of the car.
These sheets are car covers, and they come in a wide variety of materials.
These covers can be made out of simple cloth or a silvered, plastic material.
If you park your car outside, they provide protection against the rain during the rainy season too.
Why should I buy one?
A car cover protects from debris like fallen leaves and road dirt.
Of course, you can constantly run your car through a car wash and keep it clean.
This is especially true if you constantly drive through areas like construction sites.
But that’s definitely not cost-effective, not to mention time-consuming.
As mentioned above, Singapore gets plenty of sunlight.
That’s good for working on your tan, but not good for the interior of your car.
That’s because the ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight break down plastics and leather over time. If you always park your car in the sun, that accelerates the process.
A car cover not only saves you time and money, but it does the job of keeping your car clean even when you’re not using it.
They’re useful for a number of reasons: they protect your car from direct sunlight, bird droppings, plant sap and dirt, among many other things.
It’s the same concept when you buy a case for your smartphone – you want to keep it scratch and dirt-free.
Also, considering how much you’ve already paid for your set of wheels, it pays to protect your investment for the long term too.
This is especially true if you want to resell your car. A well-maintained car retains good value, and a cover helps with that.
What should I look out for when buying a car cover?
Get one which fits your car model. In the long term, it’ll protect your car better instead of a generic one.
Also, get one which comes with tie-down straps. Considering how strong winds can get in Singapore, it pays to get a car cover which can be strapped down in a storm.
If you can, spend a bit more on a good-quality cover. Cheap ones may end up scratching your car and making things worse!
