Many vehicle owners who use car covers often find themselves in a puzzling and annoying situation -- no matter how well they take care of their car, they still find scratches and abrasions that spoil the otherwise beautiful finish. Chances are, too, that these minor damages appear in odd locations on the car that cannot be attributed to driving mishaps or parking lot incidents. Surprisingly, many scratches and abrasions are inadvertently the fault of the car owner. By understanding some of the more common reasons for these surface damages, though, a car owner can easily prevent many of them from occurring in the first place.

Covering a Dirty Vehicle

Even if drivers use car covers to protect their vehicles, regular washing is still required to keep the surface of the car clean. Dirt, leaves, or other debris that are sitting on a car when the car cover is placed on top can actually damage the finish. When the car cover rubs against the dirt or debris on the car’s exterior, the dirt acts as an abrasive that causes scratches and other surface damage. Visiting the car wash regularly is an easy solution that can help prevent dirt from building up and creating problems.

Using a Dirty Car Cover

Keeping car covers clean is equally as important as keeping a vehicle's exterior clean. Many car owners, particularly when pushed for time, tend to wad up the cover and toss it in the trunk or on the floor of a garage when it's time to drive. Drivers should avoid the urge to do this, though. Any dirt or debris in the trunk or on the garage floor can become easily attached to the cover and then relocated to the car’s surface when the cover is replaced. Just as with a dirty car, a dirty car cover can chafe against the finish and cause abrasions and scratches. When not in use, car covers should be stored neatly in a bag to keep them clean.

Improper Covering Technique

It's a logical impulse to cover and uncover a vehicle by sliding the car cover across the vehicle's surface. Sliding a cover on and off is an efficient way to do it, but it's also a likely reason for some of the curious surface damages that car owners may find on the vehicle. Yet again, the existence of dirt or debris is to blame. Any dirt or debris on the car’s exterior or on the car cover itself can cause surface abrasions as the cover slides across the finish. Rather than sliding car covers on and off, drivers should roll or fold them as they go. Doing so can prevent damage.

Preventing all car abrasions and scratches from happening is not realistic. Making an extra effort, though, to keep a vehicle clean, to store car covers more carefully, and to use better techniques when covering and uncovering a vehicle can go a long way in preventing some of the mysterious surface damages that appear on a car's exterior.