You care about your car, right? Between the monthly payments, the insurance, the maintenance, and keeping it clean, owning a car is a long-term investment! Unfortunately, there are a lot of dangers out there just waiting to do some damage to your car’s exterior. That’s why it’s important for you to think a little bit about preventive maintenance. With a little forethought and planning, you can take some easy steps to help protect the body of your car, regardless of where you might find yourself.
Man-Made Dangers To Your Car’s Body
As much as you try to protect your car’s exterior, there are people out there who just might do some harm. No, I’m not talking about random jerks keying your car–while that can happen, there’s very little you can do to prevent those sorts of malicious attacks in the grand scheme of things (and before you start talking about car alarms, please remember that those are so common-place nowadays, and go off so often for no reason, that literally NO ONE even pays attention to those things). I’m talking about random, accidental mishaps. Dings in the parking lot. Random scratches from foreign objects. So, what can you do to prevent these from happening?
Park Smart
Much can happen in a parking lot, so it’s important to park in such a way that you minimize the risk. Avoid parking next to cars that are crookedly parked, as you increase the chance of an errant door slam. Don’t park close to pedestrian areas. Even well-meaning people can accidentally scratch your paint as they walk by carrying groceries or packages. Do NOT, however, be that guy that parks sideways and takes up two or three spots. Remember that keying I mentioned earlier? Some people may find this a totally justifiable excuse for keying.
Drive Smart
It’s pretty obvious when you think about it: cruising down the highway at 75 mph can put your car in a dangerous spot. Bad drivers aside, there are plenty of opportunities for your car to get damages while on the road. Tires can kick up rocks or other road debris, and quick changes in traffic can result in fender benders if you’re not paying attention. Driving the speed limit and driving more smoothly can protect your car’s body.
Take Care of Your Car
You probably already wash and wax your car pretty regularly, but if you don’t, remember this: dirt and grime can corrode your paint and scratch the surface. Those scratches can lead to rust spots and other imperfections. Washing, though, is not enough. Take care to avoid other scratch-causing situations. Do you place a coffee cup or other objects on the hood or roof while going for your keys? Do you park under a tree that’s dropping acorns and other things? Those quick touches can quickly lead to more scratches, so take care! Keep up with the washing and waxing. Get a high-quality covering and cover up your car when not in use. Park indoors when possible, and don’t place anything on top of it. Ever.
While you can’t possibly plan for and prevent every single risk to your car’s exterior, a little forethought and preventative planning can go a long way. Follow these tips, and add a good dose of common sense, and you can go a long way towards helping to keep your car looking brand new for a long time!
