Just like the sun’s harmful UV rays damage skin, it’s damaging to both the interior and exterior of your vehicle, as well.

Protecting your vehicle from the sun’s damaging effects boils down to protection. Here are some tips to keep your car protected from UV rays.

The Potential for UV Ray Damage is Year Round

Even on cool or cloudy days, the sun’s ultra-violet rays are at work. If your car is left unprotected, UV damage gets worse with time.

There are three types of UV rays. Here’s how the sun packs a powerful punch:

UVA

  • About 95% of sun rays reaching the ground are UVA rays.
  • They penetrate deeply into skin layers and indirectly damage DNA.
  • These rays are not blocked by the ozone layer (UVC rays) and easily penetrate through clouds and windows.

UVB

  • Only about 5% of sun rays reaching the ground are UVB rays.
  • UVB rays damage outer – not deep – layers of skin and directly damage DNA.
  • While most UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, the rays that get through cause apparent but delayed damage.
  • UVB rays do not penetrate windows, and clouds offer some protection from damage.

UVC

  • UVC rays are dangerous, but the rays are blocked and absorbed by the ozone layer.

Vehicle Damage Caused by the Sun

If the sun causes such serious damage to your skin, know that vehicles consistently exposed to UVA rays are also prime candidates for its damaging effects. Here are some of the ways the sun wreaks havoc on your vehicle:

  • Fades/discolors dashboard, steering wheel
  • Fades upholstery on seats and carpets
  • Dries out and cracks leather seats
  • Causes cracks and splits in dashboard, weatherstripping
  • Can cause damage to dashboard components
  • Bakes stains or spills into carpet or upholstery
  • Melts gum, food or snack items left in sweltering hot car resulting in hard to remove stains or discoloration after cleaning
  • Creates condensation under gear shift cover
  • Causes damage and breakdown of clear coat and paint, may result in rust and/or permanent corrosive damage to paint
  • Bakes water spots, bird droppings and tree sap into clear coat/paint causing permanent damage if not removed promptly

How to Protect Your Vehicle

Interior

  • Park in shady spots whenever possible to keep the car out of hot, direct sunlight.
  • Use a windshield shade and dashboard cover to block rays from shining through the windshield, where most of the damaging rays enter your vehicle.
  • Protect interior plastic areas like the dashboard and steering wheel with a protective lubricant.
  • Use seat covers to protect upholstery.
  • Treat leather seats regularly with a conditioner to avoid cracks and splits.

Exterior

  • Wash car regularly to remove dirt and items that can scratch or damage the clear coat.
  • Wax car at least every 3 to 4 months. A good wax will take the beating from the sun, so your clear coat doesn’t have to.
  • Invest in a car cover to protect from UV rays from baking rain water spots, bird droppings, leaves and sap into your clear coat and paint

In Sonoma County, we have the good fortune of experiencing a lot of warm, sunny days. Despite your best efforts, there may come a time when those UV rays cause permanent damage to your vehicle.

If and when that happens, reach out to the experts at Downtown Autobody in Rohnert Park for advice and an expert assessment of sun damage and solutions.