We've all seen it: a cracked, faded dashboard peering sadly through a car's windshield. Haggard and worn, it looks like it could tell more war stories than your grandpa. Worse, upon closer inspection, you find that the seats, carpet, and door panels aren’t in much better shape.
What could cause all this damage? The sun!
Just like too much sun exposure can harm your skin, UV rays will do a number on the delicate materials that make up your car’s interior. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to prevent it from happening, though—nor to address its after-effects.
In this guide, we’ll explore the impact of UV rays on car interiors. In addition to providing practical tips for UV protection and restoration, we’ll also direct you to some quality solutions available right here on Parts Via.
What is UV Damage?
In simple terms, UV damage is harm done by the sun's rays. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light causes materials to deteriorate. This type of damage can significantly impact your vehicle—and not just its paint job.
Think about how many times you’ve hopped into your car after it’s been parked in a sunny spot on a hot day. How unpleasant did the steering wheel or seats feel against your bare skin? Multiply that kind of exposure over the lifetime of the vehicle, and it’s easy to understand why interior components grow faded and brittle over time, sometimes even cracking or flaking.
Just as we take measures to protect our skin from the sun with sunscreen, we should do the same for our cars. Thankfully, the aftermarket has you covered (literally).
Easy UV Protection For Your Car
Obviously, no one wants UV rays to destroy their car’s interior. The idea of the sun being a threat can be particularly unnerving for people who don’t own garages or who work long hours at places with uncovered parking lots. Luckily, there are many products available that can help keep your car’s interior protected. Better yet, most are far simpler than you might think and can be seamlessly incorporated into your regular routine.
Windshield Sunshades
Remember that sad-looking dashboard we described at the beginning of this post? Well, a windshield sunshade would have gone a long way to preventing much of its damage.
Sunshades are foldable or rollable screens that you place on the inside of your vehicle’s windshield to protect the car’s interior from harmful UV rays. Since the dashboard is often the most exposed component, these accessories are great at mitigating the fading and cracking that often occurs to the plastic as a result of intense heat. Seats, consoles, steering wheels, and other interior appointments also benefit from blocking the worst of the sun’s rays.
A bonus benefit of sunshades is their ability to reduce heat buildup inside the car, ensuring that you don’t step into a hotbox after a long day parked in the sun. Plasticolor, Weathertech, and Covercraft all make quality, custom-fit sunshades that are available here on Parts Via.
Did you know…? Windshield sunshades are great accessories on chilly days too. They can warm up interiors and help avoid frost build-up.
Seat Covers
Seat covers are another excellent option to consider when protecting your interior. Once installed, they keep UV rays from ever reaching your seats in the first place by shielding the original upholstery.
Look for a set that are specifically noted as being “UV-treated,” so you know they’ll stand up to long-term sun exposure. Additionally, opt for covers that are custom-fit. Universal covers tend to slide around, causing unnecessary wear and tear. With these features in mind, Covercraft or Coverking are your best bet. If your daily driver doubles as a work vehicle, check out TigerTough. Their heavy-duty covers are regularly used in industrial and law enforcement settings.
Dash Covers
While not as popular as sunshades, dash covers provide more targeted protection for your vehicle’s dashboard. Often made of velour, suede, or a polycarpet material, they are designed to fit over the dash and block harmful ultraviolet rays. Many drivers also like that these covers can help reduce windshield glare. If you’re wondering where to start, Covercraft’s DashMat has been the best-selling dash protector since 1979.
Protective Coatings
If physical covers aren't available for the parts you want to protect, or you just don't want to use them, protective coatings are your next best bet. Many interior cleaners and protectants, like those offered by Meguiar's, 303 Products, Mother's, and Stoner will also provide UV protection for your car. We recommend checking the labels first to ensure the solution is safe for the material you’re looking to protect, like leather, vinyl, plastic, and rubber.
Window Tint
Tinting your windows cuts down on how much sunlight can pass through to your car’s interior, effectively mitigating potential UV damage—and reducing interior temperatures by as much as 10-20 degrees in hot weather.
Just be sure to stay within your local area's legal limits, as many regions have laws regulating how dark you can go. Additionally, while DIY window tint kits are readily available, be aware that they have a learning curve. So, if you want picture-perfect results, leave it to the pros.
UV Damage Restoration
Car interior restoration can address existing UV damage without the need for costly replacements. While severe cases might require new components, many situations allow for more affordable solutions. Fortunately, there are effective methods to reverse some UV damage, preserving your car's interior and saving money in the process.
Leather conditioner is great for keeping leather seats from drying up and breaking down. It can also help to undo some damage caused by UV rays, including fading and light cracking.
Plastic restorers and trim shines are designed to help old trim parts look new again. They work very well at reversing the chalky fading that happens over years of UV exposure.
Vinyl and rubber dressings can work the same as the prior two entries, as many are formulated with conditioners that address drying, fading, and cracking while they clean.
Repair kits can be helpful for more serious cracks and tears, with options ranging from simple patches to specialized fillers.
Tips to Prevent UV Damage
While UV damage is often easy to manage with simple restoration and prevention methods, those seeking extra protection for their car interiors can try out some of the additional strategies below.
Clean Regularly: First and foremost, clean your car regularly. You can see above that most of the protective and even restorative measures are built right into the cleaners you use on your car's interior. For them to work, you need to apply them regularly. So, if you're not already, be sure to clean your car's interior frequently.
Park in the Shade or Indoors: Parking in shaded areas will make a major difference over the years. It's always best to find the part of a parking lot that has coverage of trees if a parking garage isn't available. Even if it means walking a little further, it's worth making a habit in the long run. Your car interior will thank you.
Use Car Covers: If your car's stored outside in areas where shade isn't available, you can use an outdoor car cover. Many car covers are designed to keep out UV rays, along with other elements that can be harmful to the exterior. This is another step you can take to protect the entire car, not just the interior.