Best Waterproof Car Covers for Hail, Rain, Snow and Extreme Sun

Whether for daily use or long-term storage, a quality car cover is wise choice for any car, truck, or motorcycle that sits for extended periods. While a cover can protect your car from summer’s heat, frankly, any season is the right season for a car cover.

Indoor Car Covers vs. Outdoor Waterproof Car Covers

Which car cover is best? That depends on the specific conditions where you park your car, whether it’s on the street overnight, or in an extended stay parking lot at the airport for weeks on end. Let’s take a look at the options.

Indoor Car Covers

The primary purpose of an indoor car cover is to ward off dirt and dust while a vehicle is parked in an enclosed garage. These covers are typically lightweight, soft, and perhaps even cushioned to protect against door dings.

While indoor car covers protect against dust and scratches, they are not suitable for harsh weather conditions.

Indoor covers are usually less expensive, often less than $100. But, an indoor cover is not designed to protect against the elements, offering little protection in outdoor settings.

Outdoor Car Covers

Outdoor car covers are designed to take a beating while protecting your car. Most outdoor car covers have at least three layers of material. The inner layer is soft to avoid scratching your car’s paint. The middle layers provide cushioning against minor impacts, while the outer layers are usually waterproof to protect against drizzles and downpours. On high-quality outdoor car covers, the outer layer does not allow water to penetrate even in heavy precipitation. A waterproof cover must also breathe so moisture can evaporate—if trapped water sits on bare metal, rust is inevitable.

An outdoor cover must resist water and moisture.

Waterproof outdoor car covers from quality manufacturers like Coverking and Covercraft commonly cost between $100 and $300. Some examples can run as high as $1,000. The best fabrics allow rainwater to bead up and run off. There’s a good bit of science behind this: Covercraft’s fabric partner Nextec holds more than 50 patents on so-called fabric encapsulation technology.

Prices rise as you add options. High-tech modern fabrics and built-in locks protect your four-wheeled investment, and custom embroidery can add a dash of style.

A Snug Fit Is Best

The best waterproof car covers are not one-size-fits-all. We highly recommend choosing a cover designed specifically for your vehicle’s make, model, and year for a custom-tailored fit. Many popular brands even include pockets for the side mirrors, so the cover fits tight against the body for protection in windy weather. Many have an elastic band around the bottom edge to help secure the car cover.
Sometimes, it might be hard to find a custom-fit cover for older, less popular models, meaning you might have to accept a universal design. If you get a one-size-fits-most car cover, expect to have some excess material.

Security

Most car covers have grommets at the bottom edge. Running a small cable lock through these openings can keep the cover secure against strong winds or nosy creepers.

Car Covers for Extreme Sun

Intense sunlight and heat can take a toll on your vehicle’s paint and interior. Outdoor car covers designed for extreme sun have an external layer that reflects ultraviolet (UV) rays, protecting your paint from fading and your dashboard from cracking in extreme heat. These covers are usually gray or silver to minimize heat absorption, and many can reflect up to 90 percent of sunlight.

The Coverking Silverguard Plus combines the highest level of protection for sunny climates with a shiny silver outer layer and a plush inner layer.

The Odd But Helpful Car Umbrella

Umbrella car covers are odd-looking contraptions that shade the roof and windows from direct sun. While umbrella covers are not made for long-term storage, they can help keep your car’s interior cool when parking outside on a blazing summer day.

Rodent Protection From Car Covers

Rodents are oddly attracted to wiring. Weighted covers are designed to keep them at bay. (Photo: CoverSeal)

Mice, squirrels, and even rats can take refuge in a car that doesn’t get driven, burrowing into the engine compartment or interior and often causing extreme damage. CoverSeal solves that problem by adding a weighted bottom edge along the perimeter of its outdoor car covers. Critters can’t sneak under the cover, and the weight also keeps things secure in windy weather.

Windshield Covers for Snow

Winter windshield covers are often held in place with straps over the side view mirrors.

If you dread scraping snow and ice off your car’s windshield, a temporary windshield cover might be just what you’re looking for. Install it before a snow or ice storm, and when it’s time to drive, simply slide off the cover and all the frozen precipitate with it.

Protections Against Hail

Hail poses one of the most serious threats to your vehicle’s paint and body. An intense hailstorm can slash your vehicle’s value in the blink of an eye.

The best car covers for hail are pricey inflatable capsule units that use electric air compressors to create a protective bubble over your car. These covers can cost $500 or more, depending on the size of the vehicle.

If you live in Hail Alley and you park outdoors, a CarCapsule might be worth the investment. After all, fixing dented bodywork and smashed windows after a major hailstorm is never cheap.