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For car enthusiasts, summer usually means extended road trips and highway cruising. However, despite all the fun, it’s easy to forget that excessive sun exposure and heat can damage your vehicle. Plus, we all know it’s no fun to enter a car that’s been sitting directly in the sun for hours. Although your car won’t immediately break down because the weather is a little warm, taking a few precautions can help prevent paint and interior damage over time. So, whether it’s practicing good parking habits or simply utilizing the right products, here are five tips on how to protect your car from sun damage.

How to Protect Your Car from Sun Damage

Excessive sun exposure can damage your car’s paint and interior. Luckily, some routine car maintenance and good parking habits can help prevent most issues.

1. Keep Your Car Clean 

Regularly washing your car keeps it looking its best, but it can also help protect your car’s paint and exterior surface.

As you drive, it’s normal for debris, dirt, and even bugs to get stuck on the outside of your car. If not maintained, the dirt and bugs can slowly react with the sun’s heat and cause your paint to change. Additionally, as bugs decompose, they release acidic fluids that can further damage your car’s paint. Consider washing your car frequently to prevent sun damage from grime build-up, especially during hot months.

2. Don’t Forget to Apply a Wax Coat 

Washing your car will help remove grime from its surface but won’t provide lasting protection against sun damage. That’s why applying a wax coat to a car’s exterior surface is essential. The main benefit of wax is that it adds an additional layer of defense to your car’s paint job to shield it against minor scratches and UV rays. Applying a layer of wax also makes it easier to remove messy debris, such as tree sap, bird droppings, and bug splatter.

If you plan to wax your vehicle, remember to always clean your car before applying the wax. Failing to do so may grind matter into the paintwork during the application process. As a general rule of thumb, consider waxing your car at least two times a year. However, those who experience harsher weather conditions may benefit from waxing every three to four months.  

What about spray-on wax at self-service car washes? Spray-on wax is an affordable, quick way of adding a thin layer of protection to your car. However, although spray-on wax can make your car shine in a pinch, it doesn’t provide as much protection when compared to paste wax that is applied by hand. Still, most experts agree that spray wax is better than no wax. For optimal results, consider having your car professionally cleaned and waxed at least once a year between self-service car washes.

3. Check Under the Hood as Well  

Hot weather can further increase the temperatures inside your car’s engine, forcing it to work harder. For example, motor oil thins at high temperatures which can increase friction and engine heat. If you live in an area prone to extremely hot weather, you can prevent this by getting an oil change with higher viscosity oil before summer.

As summer approaches, you should also pay close attention to your car’s coolant levels. Coolant fluid protects car engines from overheating, so running on old or low coolant could lead to a mechanical breakdown. You can identify a coolant issue if your car’s temperature gauge consistently shows a high reading. Most manufacturers recommend changing your coolant every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. However, always refer to your owner’s manual for specific intervals.

The summer months can also cause strain on your car’s battery. In high heat, the fluids inside your battery can begin to evaporate slowly, limiting the amount of charge the battery can hold. So before heading out on an extended trip this summer, have your battery serviced and cleaned to prevent start-up issues.

4. Shield Your Car’s Interior from the Sun

Don’t forget about your car’s interior when protecting it from sun damage. Just like paint, a car’s dashboard, steering wheel, and upholstery can all suffer from excessive sun and UV exposure—especially leather. If you must park in direct sunlight during a hot summer day, utilizing a windshield shade is a quick and easy way to add a layer of sun protection. Plus, it’ll also help keep the temperature in your car from getting too hot.

Suppose you don’t plan on using a vehicle during summer but don’t have a garage for storage. In that case, you can purchase a car cover to keep the vehicle out of direct sunlight.

5. Practice Good Parking Habits 

No matter what defensive measures you take, keeping your vehicle out of the sun is the easiest way to prevent sun damage. Although one sunny day won’t cause your paint to fade, practicing good parking habits such as parking in the shade, covering your car, or utilizing a garage will all extend the life of your car’s paint job.

Does Car Insurance Cover Sun Damage? 

Unfortunately, your car insurance will likely not cover sun damage. Because sun damage occurs slowly over time and not in an isolated incident, it is considered normal wear and tear, which isn’t typically covered. However, if you carry comprehensive coverage and your car’s exterior is damaged in a severe weather event or storm, your insurer may approve your claim. Additionally, if your car overheats and breaks down on the highway, carrying roadside assistance will help get you the mechanical help you need.

Want to learn more about car maintenance projects that you can do at home? Visit the DIY section of our blog to discover more articles on how to keep your car looking—and performing—its best.

The information in this article is obtained from various sources and is offered for educational purposes. Furthermore, it should not replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

According to an American Pet Products Association survey, 66% of U.S. households have at least one pet. As a pet owner in a rental property, you likely already carry renters insurance but may wonder if your coverage extends to your pets. Thankfully, a standard renters policy should provide some liability protection for your furry friend in specific situations. Still, a renters insurance policy won’t cover your pet in the same way as a specialized pet insurance policy. Let’s explore some differences between these two insurance types and how they can work together to keep you and your pet protected.   

What’s the Difference Between Renters Insurance and Pet Insurance?

As a renter, renters insurance provides you with liability protection and covers your personal property from unexpected events or covered perils. Although not legally required, renters insurance is often an inexpensive way to safeguard your belongings and liability exposure. 

Like human health insurance, pet insurance helps cover medical expenses related to your pet’s healthcare. Although a pet can be any animal, most providers typically only have coverage options for cats and dogs. Still, it’s possible to find specialty insurers that can cover additional animals such as horses and reptiles. Pet insurance usually relies on a reimbursement-based model, meaning you must pay the vet bill out of pocket before submitting a claim.    

You may not think about renters insurance when discussing pets, but there is a connection between the two, especially for dog owners.

How Does Renters Insurance Cover Pets

A standard renters policy typically includes the following four coverage types: 

• Personal property: covers your personal belongings from covered perils like theft, fire, and vandalism. 
• Loss of use: pays for additional living expenses, including temporary housing, if your rental home is deemed uninhabitable due to a covered peril.
• Liability: covers third-party injuries or property damage you are responsible for.
• Medical payments: pays for medical expenses if someone injures themselves at your rental home, regardless of fault.

Although a renters insurance policy won’t pay your pet’s veterinary bills, it can protect your liability as the owner. Because a standard renters insurance policy includes liability, you’ll likely have coverage if your pet injures someone or their property. Always remember that policies can vary between insurers. In fact, some may even have restrictions on certain dog breeds. 

Does Renters Insurance Cover Dog Bites? 

In most cases, your liability protection through a renters insurance policy should provide coverage if your dog bites someone on or off your property. However, this isn’t always true. Some insurance providers aren’t as pet friendly as others and may have coverage restrictions on larger dog breeds. Although the complete list can vary between insurers, the following dog breeds are typically excluded from coverage: 

Suppose your renters insurance provider does not cover the dog breed that you own. In that case, you can purchase a separate pet liability policy from another insurer to fill any gaps in coverage.

Aside from insurance companies, rental properties may also have their own breed or size restrictions for certain pets. Always refer to your lease agreement before getting a new pet to avoid potential issues. 

Will Renters Insurance Cover Pet Damage?

Generally, a standard renters insurance policy will not cover personal property damage caused by your pets. For example, renters insurance will protect you in the event of named perils, such as a fire or vandalism, but won’t help pay for a new sofa if your cat rips the cushions apart.

If a pet damages your personal property or property that is rented to you by a landlord, you’ll likely have to pay for damages out of pocket or through a security deposit. However, if your dog runs outside and knocks over your neighbor’s expensive statue, you may be able to file a claim using your policy’s property damage liability coverage.

Keeping Your Household Protected 

Neither pet insurance nor renters insurance is required by law. Still, both insurance types can play a role in keeping you and your four-legged friend protected in various situations. You can start a free renters insurance quote here. And, if you don’t already carry pet insurance, AIS partners with Embrace to offer pet owners fully personalized coverage options for their pets. Plus, with multiple plans to choose from and the industry’s only diminishing deductible feature, Embrace can easily fit with any budget. Start your quote online today, or call our insurance specialists at (888) 772-4247 to learn more.

The information in this article is obtained from various sources and is offered for educational purposes. Furthermore, it should not replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.