Our Comprehensive Guide to the Best Indoor Car Cover in 2024
An excellent selection of indoor car covers for classic cars and unique models. Choose a soft indoor car cover for your storage space, car type, and individual preferences.
A common misconception among car owners is that vehicles don't require any protection indoors. After all, what could possibly damage your car? There's no rain in your garage, dusty desert storms, or birds flying around looking for the perfect target to leave their mark on. What could go wrong?
You'll be surprised to discover that the answer is - many things.
Storing your car indoors doesn't make it immune to damage; it simply prolongs the process. Since indoor hazards aren't as clearly visible as outdoor ones, many car owners fall into the trap of storing their cars in their garages or indoor spaces for years without a cover, only to notice a faded paint job, scratches, dents, and even mold accumulation years down the line.
Thankfully, investing in a durable, breathable indoor car cover is an efficient and affordable preventative measure. Depending on your storage conditions and car model, Car Cover offers an excellent selection of premium indoor car covers for automobile owners nationwide.
This article will walk you through all the steps of purchasing the best indoor car cover for your needs, including common indoor hazards, key terminology, and the best indoor car cover options in 2024.
Let's dive in!
Why Cover Your Car Indoors?
Initially, purchasing an indoor car cover may seem counter-intuitive. After all, you've already invested in a safe, secure place to store your vehicle. What else is there to do?
Just because indoor hazards are less apparent than outdoor conditions doesn't mean they're not hidden in plain sight. From dust and debris to UV exposure to potential scratches and dents, a garage or indoor storage space does not guarantee full protection.
Before we discuss indoor car cover terminology and the best options on the market, we should familiarize ourselves with some of the most common indoor hazards and how car covers can protect your prized possession from these pesky risks.
Dust and Debris Protection
Even when parked indoors, your car is not immune to accumulating dust, dirt, and debris over time - especially when kept stagnant for long periods. These particles can settle on the surface of your car and in crevices, negatively impacting the paint job, detracting from overall appearance, and leading to scratches and abrasions during cleaning.
By investing in a durable indoor car cover, you shield your vehicle from various airborne particles, improving its external appearance and reducing the frequency of car cleaning days.
Scratch and Dent Prevention
Whether you share a parking space or storage area with neighbors or keep several vehicles parked in the same indoor space, the risk of scratches and dents is always present. Likewise, curious children who prefer playing in the garage aren't known for being the most careful, increasing the risk of your prized possession being accidentally poked or scratched.
Although storing your car outdoors increases the risk of more notable scratches and dents, a garage or storage space doesn't offer complete protection. Covering your car with a durable yet breathable indoor car cover reduces the risk of surface damage, leading to less time, resources, and effort spent on correctional paint jobs.
General Indoor Hazard Protection
The great indoors are not as harsh as the elements, yet are still capable of damaging your car over time. It's no secret that the same garages we use to store our vehicles are also spaces often used for manual household jobs and equipment repairs and sometimes double as indoor gyms.
Indoor storage areas often contain various hazards, including tools, equipment, and chemicals that can eventually come into contact with your vehicle, regardless of how careful you are. It only takes one wrong move or chemical spill to send you to the car repair shop, looking to fix a new set of scratches, stains, or dents. Covering your vehicle indoors provides an additional layer of protection, allowing you to attend to your garage duties in peace.
Sunlight Protection
A common misconception regarding UV rays is that they pose no harm indoors. In reality, ultraviolet rays are powerful enough to penetrate closed spaces through windows and skylights and easily seep through door cracks and gaps.
UV rays are not only harmful to our flesh but are equally capable of damaging your vehicle in several ways. Prolonged UV exposure can cause fading, discoloration, deterioration of upholstery, and dashboard malfunction if your vehicle begins to trap heat inside. Using a UV-resistant car cover is an excellent way to prevent sun damage and keep your car looking shiny and new for longer.
Privacy and Security
Concealing your vehicle's appearance adds an extra layer of privacy and security, especially if you're sharing a storage space or tend to keep your garage door open during the day. By covering your vehicle's make, model, and value, you incorporate an additional security blanket, deterring thieves, carjackers, and vandals from stealing or damaging your car.
Value Maintenance
Similar to outdoor covers, using an indoor cover allows you to maintain your car's appearance and condition, helping preserve its resale value. Even if you're not planning to resell your car in the near future, life can be unpredictable. A few years down the line, you may be preparing to relocate abroad, upgrade your current car model, or choose an entirely different vehicle.
Moreover, a car's condition is often associated with the owner's personal qualities. A well-maintained car suggests you are responsible, attentive, and put-together, while a tattered-up or faded vehicle indicates the opposite. Don't underestimate the social power the condition of your vehicle holds, and invest in a high-quality car cover to maintain its value.
Defining Our Terminology
Now that you're aware of the various indoor factors that could be contributing to your car's deterioration, it's important to explore the specific terminology used to describe indoor car covers. Learning the terms below will help you pick the best option for your storage arrangements, individual requirements, and car model.
Soft Lining
Indoor car covers often feature a soft interior lining, usually crafted from materials like fleece, cotton, flannel, or satin. The soft lining provides a gentle, protective layer that preserves the car's paint finish and prevents scratches and abrasions during cover installation and removal.
Soft Fabric
Indoor car covers are often made from softer, thinner fabrics than outdoor car covers. They offer gentle protection for your vehicle's paint finish and maximum breathability. Common materials used for indoor covers include cotton, flannel, satin, or microfiber. These soft fabrics help prevent scratches and abrasions while providing a luxurious feel and excellent exterior layer protection.
Scratch Resistant
Indoor covers are commonly designed with minor hazards and risks in mind, such as scratches and abrasions. While the best outdoor car cover will often feature a thicker material layer, indoor covers are crafted with a soft layer to prevent exterior damage during installation and removal while protecting your vehicle from other potential paint job threats.
Dust Proof
While outdoor car covers are designed with weather hazards in mind, indoor car covers are crafted to repel the number one indoor offender from settling on your prized possession - dust. Although less aggressive than rainstorms and hail, dust has a sneaky way of getting into your vehicle's little crevices, resulting in the need for more frequent and meticulous car cleaning sessions.
Likewise, sharper dust and debris particles can cause micro-scratches on your car's paint finish, resulting in a tattered, faded exterior. If you store your car in a garage, you must invest in a dust-proof indoor car cover to keep it dust-free.
Breathable
Aside from dust and debris, moisture buildup, condensation, and mold are major contributing factors to the slow deterioration of your car's paint finish. When searching for an indoor car cover, it is crucial to invest in one that allows for the free circulation of air underneath the surface. This feature is especially important for humid climates.
Thankfully, most indoor car covers, including the ones we're about to list below, are designed to be breathable, preventing any moisture-related damage to your vehicle's paint.
Custom Fit
If you own a unique car model, consider indoor car cover sellers offering custom-fit options.
Custom-fit indoor car covers are tailored to fit your car's make, model, and year. These covers provide a snug and precise fit, covering the entire car surface without leaving any excess material or gaps. These attributes protect your vehicle from dust, debris, and any other risks that come with an ill-fitting cover.
A custom-fit cover ensures maximum coverage and protection while minimizing any potential for movement or billowing, which can occur with generic or ill-fitting covers.
Indoor Use Only
While some car covers, including those available in our store, offer indoor and outdoor protection, others are intended for indoor use only. These covers include specific features optimized for indoor storage environments, such as garages or other closed spaces. Instead of protecting from outdoor hazards, indoor use only covers protect your vehicle from common hazards found in garages or other storage facilities.
The Best Indoor Car Covers in 2024
Now that you're more familiar with common indoor hazards and indoor car cover terminology, it's time to proceed to the most critical stage: choosing the best indoor car cover for your vehicle. This is where the Car Cover team enters to introduce the top indoor car cover options for 2024.
With over 25 years of experience catering to car owners nationwide, Car Cover's dedicated team of automobile experts has tested and highlighted two specific indoor car cover models that provide the ideal durability, thickness, and materials to keep your vehicle in top-tier condition.
Below, you will find our top pick and our runner-up for the best indoor car cover models currently available on the market. After careful testing and quality control checks, we're proud to offer the models detailed below.
Our Top Pick: The Black Satin BL Car Cover
Type: Indoor only
Warranty: Lifetime Warranty
Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary: The Black Satin BL offers the ideal combination of elegance and durability. Designed using a single layer of sleek yet robust satin, this cover provides all the necessary features for complete protection against all possible indoor hazards (and looks immaculate while doing so).
Accessories: This model also comes with a free antenna patch and a free storage bag. Shipping is free.
Product Details
Elegant, durable, and light as a feather, the Black Satin BL is undoubtedly the best indoor car cover option currently available on the market.
Crafted from just a single layer of high-quality satin, this indoor car cover guarantees total defense from scratches and abrasions during installation and removal while protecting your automobile from the myriad of indoor hazards detailed above.
This cover's deep black shade and glossy finish are also excellent choices for all car owners. They add a hint of elegance to any indoor vehicle storage space, from personal garages to shared spaces.
Regardless of your car's make, model, and size, the Black Satin BL is designed to fit your car's shape like a glove, providing additional stretchiness for a snug fit. Ideal for complete protection against dust accumulation, debris, garage equipment, curious children, and pets, you can't go wrong with this indoor car cover.
Lastly, the Black Satin BL also offers complete defense against UV rays and moisture buildup, ensuring your vehicle stays dry and fully protected from sun exposure, mildew, and mold.
Key Takeaways
- The Black Satin BL model is elegant, sleek, and highly durable.
- It includes a single layer of high-quality satin for scratch and abrasion prevention.
- This cover protects against all indoor hazards and keeps your vehicle looking salon-fresh.
- It's incredibly lightweight and easy to install in just a few seconds.
- This model fits all car makes, models, and sizes like a giant custom glove.
Runner Up: The Bronze Shield 2L Car Cover
Type: Indoor/Outdoor
Warranty: 3-Year Warranty
Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary: Doubling up as an outdoor car cover, the Bronze Shield 2L is a multi-purpose winner on the indoor car cover market. Designed with two durable yet breathable layers of Polypropylene PLUS for maximum protection and mildew prevention, you can't go wrong with this option.
Incredibly lightweight, the Bronze Shield 2L is an excellent travel companion for your vehicle. It guarantees a solid defense from common indoor hazards and mild weather conditions.
Accessories: This model comes with a free antenna patch and a free storage bag. Shipping is free.
Product Details
The ideal choice for a lightweight indoor car cover, the Bronze Shield 2L also doubles as an outdoor cover, protecting your vehicle against minor weather disturbances.
Although thin, this cover is also durable. It is crafted from two layers of Polypropylene PLUS to protect your car from common indoor hazards such as dust, debris, scratches, and adhesions. This model also has a custom fit feature, allowing the cover to fit snugly over your car and preventing excess material or gaps.
The Bronze Shield 2L's thin yet durable material protects your paint job while preventing moisture buildup and mold accumulation, making it the perfect choice for a predominantly indoor car cover that can occasionally be used outside.
This model's lightness makes it ideal for on-the-go use, including road trips, camping trips, and any other plans that require you to store your car outdoors for a short period. Installation and removal only take a few seconds, providing you with the perfect hassle-free car cover experience.
Key Takeaways
- The Bronze Shield 2L doubles as an outdoor car cover, perfect for milder weather hazards.
- Lightweight yet durable, this model is double-layered for extra protection against manual damage.
- This highly breathable cover prevents moisture buildup and mold in humid climates.
- It's easily adjustable to fit your vehicle like a glove.
- The material is thin enough to avoid scratches and abrasions during installation and removal.
Verdict
There you have it! Two of the best car cover options for your prized possession, packed with all the features necessary for ultimate indoor protection. As we mentioned in the beginning, an indoor car cover is an absolute must if you're leaving your car stagnant in an indoor storage space for an extended period. However, depending on the humidity levels and storage environment, purchasing a cover for cars driven daily is also a good idea.
Either way, you can't go wrong with a super soft custom cover for your vehicle, and Car Cover offers the best options on the market.
Each car cover available on our storefront is designed with individual car models, makes, and sizes in mind. These features guarantee a perfect fit for your exact vehicle. Additionally, we have incorporated an elastic hem, taped seams, buckles, and straps underneath the cover to ensure an ideal fit.
Ready to make your ideal indoor car cover purchase?
Explore Our Car CoversFAQs
Why do I need to cover my car indoors?
When people think of car covers, they usually associate them with outdoor car storage, assuming that parking a car indoors is enough to keep it in good condition.
This assumption, however, is a common misconception. Indoor hazards often cause the most damage to vehicles over time since they are not as apparent at first glance. Whether you've decided to store your car in a private garage, shared storage space, or any other indoor location, a durable and lightweight indoor car cover is an absolute must! This point is particularly relevant for cars that remain stagnant for long periods.
Common indoor hazards include dust, debris, excess moisture due to humidity, scratches, abrasions, and even UV damage. Likewise, family garages and other storage spaces are often used for various purposes, such as equipment and household item fixes, indoor gyms, and extra play space for children and pets.
Consequently, it's highly recommended for all car owners to invest in soft, high-quality car covers for indoor use.
What are the main differences between the Black Satin BL and the Bronze Shield 2L?
The main difference between these two car cover models is that the Black Satin BL is designed for indoor use, while the Bronze Shield 2L can double as an outdoor cover in milder weather conditions.
Another key difference is the material used: the Black Satin model is crafted from a thin, durable, and sleek satin fabric, while the Bronze Shield includes two layers of Polypropylene PLUS for a thicker, sturdier defense.
And finally, the Black Satin model is a lighter, softer indoor car cover, while the Bronze Shield model is slightly heavier and sturdier. Depending on your indoor storage conditions, both are excellent choices to ensure ultimate indoor protection and paint coat damage prevention.
How do I choose the best indoor car cover?
When searching for the best car cover for indoor storage, it's essential to consider several key factors:
Storage conditions: While private garages don't usually require thicker coverage, a shared storage space often will due to the increased risk of potential manual damage to your vehicle.
Humidity levels: If you reside in a particularly humid climate, it's best to opt for thinner coverage to prevent excess moisture buildup, mildew, mold, and rot.
Individual requirements: Depending on where you usually store your vehicle/s, you may need to opt for indoor-only covers like the Black Satin BL or indoor/outdoor models like the Bronze Shield 2L.
How do I install an indoor car cover?
Once you've purchased and received your indoor car cover, installing it is easy. Most covers, including the ones on our website, are designed to be simple enough for one person to handle.
Just follow these steps:
- Lay the cover flat next to your car and unfold it. Locate the front and back ends.
- Place the cover over your vehicle, ensuring it fits on both sides and is centered.
- Secure it using the straps and buckles. Fasten the straps under your car's bumpers or in the wheel wells.
- Smooth out any wrinkles to keep dust and moisture at bay.
- Double-check everything to ensure the cover is placed snugly and fits your car's shape adequately.
What additional benefits do you offer to car cover customers?
CarCover.ca offers a wide range of additional benefits alongside our high-quality and durable car cover models. We differentiate ourselves from other car cover retailers on the market by providing the following benefits to both new and loyal customers:
Free and fast shipping, with most of our orders being fulfilled in under three days.
A price protection guarantee in case you find a similar model for less. Not only will we match the price of the suggested model, but we will also give you a 10% discount.
A perfect fit guarantee, ensuring your chosen cover fits your vehicle ideally.
Secure warranties in case of any unexpected damages.
A 30-day money-back guarantee with a hassle-free return process.
Remarkable customer service, including 24/7 customer support.