In today’s world, having a car is something of a necessity, depending on where you live. While there is a wide range in terms of pricing, if your car is any good at all, it didn’t come cheap. Because of the sizable amount of money you’ve spent on your car, it only makes sense to take steps to protect it. So how do you go about doing that when it’s on your property?
In some areas, warmer weather brings with it an increase in criminal activity, specifically in terms of theft. You already know there are security systems you can install in your home to protect your household and belongings. Did you know you can get a security system for your car too? You don’t have to just rely on the car alarm to alert you and scare off a criminal. Of course, figuring out how to choose the best system for your car will take some research. That said, the extra security and peace of mind should be worth the time and effort, especially if you have one of the more commonly stolen vehicles.
While a security system may make your car a less attractive target to break into, that doesn’t prevent people from getting to the car itself, nor does it prevent various substances from making their way onto your car, potentially damaging your paint. You can significantly reduce the risk of either of those things happening by moving your car into your garage if you have one. A garage provides shelter from the elements for your car and puts it out of sight for would-be criminals. Even a carport can offer a measure of protection, though obviously not as much as you would get from a garage. If you don’t have a carport, but do have available space, you can buy one, or you could even build a carport yourself if you feel so inclined.
People aren’t the only thing you need to protect your car from. Many people park under trees in an attempt to beat the summer heat, but if you want to keep your car in good condition, that’s definitely something you should avoid. Trees are host to a variety of things that can damage your car. Tree sap, bird droppings, and even the sticks and twigs that fall from the tree can pose a danger to your car’s paint. These things are more than just a visual nuisance and will need to be cleaned off properly and promptly. Cleaning off tree sap can be a sticky situation, and if you don’t clean off bird droppings properly you could cause unnecessary damage. Make sure you have the right supplies on hand before you get started.
While parking under a tree could put your car at risk for some aesthetic damage, parking it in the sun isn’t necessarily a good idea either. The sun can damage your paint as well as your interior. If you have an electric vehicle, you can count on an additional level of complications brought on by the sun’s heat. Delicate electric components may be fried by heat from the sun, which is why you might find your car’s AC running even when the car is turned off. To protect your car from the sun, you might try using a sunshade. That can help and is an economical option, but it’s only going to go so far. Tinting your windows as dark as you’re legally allowed to in your state may be a more effective approach to take. You can reduce solar heat by 98% with window tinting.
Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones. When it comes to protecting your car from criminals who are interested in stealing it or the valuables you have inside, one of the first and most basic things you should be doing is locking your car. It sounds dumb, but it might surprise you how many people fail to lock their car just because they think they live in a safe area. The bad news here is that criminals don’t necessarily stay in one place, and they’re looking for easy targets. The good news is that you make your car less of an easy target simply by locking it.
While you’re at it, remove any and all valuables from your vehicle. Leaving things like your purse, wallet, cell phone, electronics, or anything else in plain view is like an invitation to criminals to break your window and nab your stuff. It only takes seconds, and unless your vehicle was under surveillance, you probably won’t catch them.
While we’re on the subject of locking up, take the time to lock up your garage too. Putting your car out of sight in the garage can help, but if you don’t lock your garage then the only thing standing between a criminal and everything in the garage, including your car, is an unlocked door. If your door is locked, criminals are more likely to test the door and then move on. If you have any windows in your garage, make sure those are locked too. It might be a good idea to install some window coverings to make it less easy to look inside. If you don’t have floodlights installed, consider getting them installed. Bright lights that illuminate the space outside your garage when they sense movement can be another good way to scare off criminals.
You’ve put a lot of money into your car, and you probably rely on it to get from place to place. You’d be in a tough spot without it, so taking measures to protect your car really is the smart thing to do. Take stock of the risks and dangers to your car that are present around your property (or that could become present in the case of thieves and vandals). When you know the risks, you’ll know how to best take care of and protect your car.
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