(NAPSI)-Just as people can change their clothes to match weather conditions, car owners now have the option of matching different materials and designs for car covers to the environment when protecting a car against the weather.

Here are some options:

Let the Sun Shine

Some areas of the country see 200 or more days of sunshine each year. Unfortunately, exposure to ultraviolet rays and radiant energy from that much sun can cause a car's paint colors to fade, and the clear coat to cloud, crack, dry out and deteriorate.

Also, heat trapped inside a car can dry out and deteriorate vinyl, leather, plastic and rubber. It can also break down foam padding and adhesives and can "cook" audio components, tapes and disks.

Vehicle owners in areas where these conditions occur may want to look for a car cover that offers a high UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rating. Covers with the Evolution® Fabric label are said to offer the highest UPF rating possible. The fabric is the first to offer a UPF rating.

Rainy Days and Mondays

While an occasional rainstorm won't destroy a car's paint job, corrosion begins any time a car is subjected to extreme moisture, as it can be in some of the rainier areas of the country. Moisture can seep into tiny cracks and dings and work against the paint from the inside out, separating the paint from the metal and causing the metal to oxidize.

Experts say the best car covers for wet and rainy conditions are made of fabric with a microporous film middle layer that provides a water-stopping barrier but allows evaporation of trapped condensation, such as Noah® Fabric made by Kimberly-Clark.

Snow, Beautiful Snow

If you live where there's a lot of snow, you know what a hassle it can be to clear away frost, ice and snow from a car before driving away.

Using a car cover when your vehicle is parked outside lets you avoid that time-consuming de-icing routine-not to mention the danger of driving with a frost-covered windshield.

In less than a minute-the average time it takes to put on or take off a car cover-you can be ready to drive away. In snowy climates, many look for covers with the Block-It® Fabric label to make sure the cover is designed to protect a car from the wet winter elements. For more information, visit www.block-it.com.


Some car covers now offer protection against the sun's ultraviolet rays. This can protect both the car's interior and its paint job.