How to protect your car from the sun this summer

At a Glance 

• Simple habits, like shaded parking and crack-open windows, can drop cabin temps and protect interior trims 
• Quality sunshades, coatings and tint reduce UV damage to paint and plastics 
• Tyres, batteries and wheels can suffer in heat, so basic checks and cleaning go a long way 

The Australian summer sun is unforgiving. A car parked in full sun can hit cabin temperatures up to and above 60°C, which is tough on plastics, electronics, and upholstery. Even tyres and rims cop it on a day of extreme heat. Add hot tarmac, long holiday drives and beach trips, and you have a recipe for faded paint, chalky headlights and tired batteries. 

The good news is you do not need high-end gear to minimise the damage. A mix of smart parking choices, basic cleaning, decent sunshades and the right products used at sensible intervals can help your car age more gracefully. 

Below, we run through key concerns people have about how to protect cars in summer. 

How to protect your car from summer heat 

In peak heat, even short stops can turn the cabin into an oven. Here’s some tips to keep the cabin temps down:  

• Choosing the shady side of a street, a covered car park or a tree line can cut surface temperatures significantly. 
• Use a windscreen sunshade to stop the sun beating down through the windshield. 
• Leave windows open just slightly where it is safe to do so, to allow hot air to vent. 
• If your car has remote pre-conditioning, set it to cool the cabin before you climb in. 

Making sure your car’s refrigerant gas is kept topped up also helps your air conditioning work more efficiently, and minimises long-term wear on trims and electrical systems. Most manufacturers recommend topping up the A/C gas every one to two years. 

Should I use a windscreen sunshade? 

Yes, a windscreen sunshade is one of the easiest ways to cut cabin heat and UV damage. A good shade can drop dashboard surface temperatures, slow fading of plastics and leather, and make the car more comfortable to return to after work or a beach run. It is cheap, easy to store and particularly helpful for cars parked out on the street or in open work car parks. 

Pop-up or concertina-style shades are fine, provided they cover as much glass as possible and sit snugly against the windscreen. While the panoramic car sunroofs that have proliferated are typically tinted, an internal roof shade screen can help keep temperatures down also. 

If you often park nose-to-sun, add small side-window shades for the front doors to protect the steering wheel, seat upholstery and the centre console from direct UV. 

How can I protect my car paint from the sun? 

Keeping your car parked out of the sun is the best way to protect its paint from the sun. Modern clear coat still suffers from constant UV load and heat cycles. A protective layer helps repel grime and slows oxidation, keeping colour depth and gloss for longer, especially on red, black and darker finishes that absorb more heat. 

For city commuters who garage their car, simple wax and sensible washing may be enough. Avoid harsh automatic washes that can be abrasive, and park in shade where you can. Gentle two-bucket washing with a soft mitt reduces swirl marks that make paint look dull. Follow with a spray sealant or traditional paste wax to give the clear coat an extra sacrificial layer. 

If you are near the coast, rinse off salt spray after beach trips, especially from horizontal surfaces like bonnet and roof that cop the brunt of the sun. 

Does a car cover protect from heat? 

A quality car cover can reduce heat build-up and UV exposure, especially if it is light coloured and designed for outdoor use. It helps shield paint, headlights and interior trims from direct sun. However, cheap covers that trap moisture or flap in the wind can mark paintwork. For daily drivers, shaded parking plus a windscreen sunshade is often more convenient than using a full cover every day. 

Covers suit cars that sit for long periods, such as a second vehicle or a classic car. Look for breathable, UV-resistant fabric, soft inner lining to avoid micro-scratches, and a proper fit and fixings so it doesn’t get blown off on a windy day. 

If you live near the coast, rinsing the car occasionally, then letting it dry, before refitting the cover helps avoid salt and grit rubbing against the paint. 

Is car paint protection worth it? 

For those parking outside in harsh coastal or inland conditions, a reputable coating applied by a qualified detailer can help preserve resale value, but outcomes vary. Professionally applied ceramic or graphene-style coatings offer stronger chemical and UV protection than basic wax, and make washing easier. However, they do not make a car scratch-proof and still need maintenance washes, occasional top-up products, and regular recoats. 

Neither are ceramic coatings UV-blocking as some brands may suggest, but they do protect by bonding chemically with your vehicle’s clear coat, which does contain UV blockers. Ceramic coatings need to be redone every two to five years and can be expensive, however, starting from around $1000. 

Table 1: Ceramic coating UV protection: marketing claims vs. scientific reality 

If you choose a dealer package when you purchase the vehicle, compare it with independent detailers on price, warranty terms and what is actually covered, rather than assuming all products perform the same way. Weigh the cost against how long you will keep the car, the climate you live in, and whether you are willing to follow the care instructions. 

Should I wrap my car? 

A PPF wrap can be an effective option for paint protection from UV rays, as well as from chips and scratches. This is different from a vinyl wrap, which is primarily used for aesthetic reasons (eg changing the colour of the car or adding advertising.) PPF also has self-healing properties: minor scratches disappear when exposed to heat from sunlight or warm water, restoring a flawless appearance.  

However, PPF is significantly more expensive than ceramic coatings. In Australia, full-vehicle PPF installation typically costs $5,000-$10,000 or more, whilst partial coverage (bonnet and bumper) runs $1,000-$2,500, making it a more suitable option for high value vehicles. 

Are car windows UV protected? 

All vehicle glass in modern cars already block almost 100% of UVB, according to the Cancer Council. However, how much UVA passes through depends on the type of glass. Factory tint and laminated glass can help reduce this almost completely, greatly reducing UV damage to your car’s interior – and its occupants. Quality aftermarket window tint with proper certification can increase UV rejection, reduce cabin heat and protect skin and interior trims.  

If you spend long hours driving in summer, particularly in stop-start traffic, higher UV rejection will also reduce sun exposure to your face and arms. For parents, tint can also help keep rear seats cooler for kids, while protecting fabric or leather from drying and cracking over time. 

Always check that any tint meets Australian regulations for visible light transmission (VLT).  

Should I protect my car’s battery from the heat? 

Auxiliary car battery failures can tend to spike during heatwaves. Extreme temperatures can affect battery health and older units can finally give up under high load from air conditioning, fans and traffic. To protect a car’s battery from heat, park in the shade, avoid repeated short trips, and have the battery tested before and after summer.  

High temperatures accelerate wear in both 12V and high-voltage EV batteries, but EVs typically have sophisticated battery management systems looking after their “State of Health” (SoH). For 12-volt batteries, keeping terminals clean, charging an infrequently driven car with a smart charger, and following manufacturer guidance on fast charging in hot conditions all help extend battery life. 

EV owners should avoid repeated DC fast charging sessions back-to-back in extreme heat, where practical, giving the battery time to cool and keeping the car plugged in when parked so the thermal management system can do its job efficiently.  

How can I protect my car’s engine in summer?

Extreme temperatures in summer also increase the amount of work your radiator has to do to keep the engine cool. Check coolant levels, particularly before heading off on a long drive. It's also a good idea to have your mechanic give the cooling system a once over before summer hits. 

How can I protect my car wheels during summer? 

To help protect car wheels during summer, regularly wash off brake dust, road tar and beach sand, check tyre pressures when tyres are cold, and inspect sidewalls for cracks or bulges. Heat and UV accelerate tyre ageing and can weaken rubber. Avoid hitting potholes and kerbs on hot days when sidewalls are already stressed, and rotate tyres as recommended. Clean wheels and healthy tyres improve safety and help the car track straight on long holiday drives. 

A mild wheel cleaner and soft brush help keep clear coat on alloys in good shape, making it easier to spot damage before it becomes a safety issue.  

Tyres work harder on hot bitumen, with contact patches heating up over long highway runs. Setting pressures to the manufacturer’s recommended figure when tyres are cold, rather than bleeding air out after a long drive, prevents underinflation and excessive shoulder wear.  

Final thoughts 

Summer is tough on cars, but small, consistent habits do a lot of heavy lifting. Shade, sunshades, basic washing, tyre checks and sensible use of air conditioning all add up. 

You do not have to spend big on every product on the shelf. Start with the easy wins, then decide whether tint, coatings or a cover suit your situation, your car’s value, your budget and how long you plan to keep the car.