As you consider putting your vehicle into long-term storage, you probably have many questions: Do you need a car cover if you store your vehicle indoors? Do car covers damage paint? What different cover options are available for long-term storage?

Unfortunately, even if your car is stored indoors, there are still dangerous elements in the atmosphere that could do it harm. A quality car cover will not damage the paint of your vehicle. Therefore, it is better to have one than to allow your car to remain naked, as it were, in storage.

As for the long-term indoor storage options available, in addition to traditional covers, there are also zip-up covers and car bubbles. Both a car cover with zipper and an inflatable capsule can protect your vehicle from corrosive elements when it is stored indoors. A car bubble offers the additional advantage of deflecting projectiles exerting force of up to five pounds. This helps to protect not only the paint job but the body of the vehicle from dents and dings.

Another advantage of a car bubble is that it is an evaporative system, meaning that you do not need to use desiccants or drive the car in dry. It is transparent, so you can see the car while it is in storage, almost as though it were in its own giant display case. A zip-up car storage bag takes up less room than a bubble and is less expensive. Each is a good option for long-term indoor storage depending upon the level of protection you need.

What Do Car Covers Protect From?

When you store your vehicle indoors, it is true that it is less exposed to the elements than when you store it outdoors. Nevertheless, there are still corrosive elements present that could damage your vehicle unless you invest in camper covers for sale.

Dust is everywhere, and it is nearly impossible to remove from the environment where your car is to be stored. It consists of tiny particles that can come to rest on your vehicle. If moved around, they can then scrape at the paint job, working on it similar to the way that sandpaper does.

However, the biggest danger when storing your vehicle indoors is moisture. Like dust, it is nearly impossible to completely remove moisture from the air. It gets into your indoor storage area from the outside, and when it comes in contact with your car body, it forms rust via the chemical process of oxidation. Car covers form a barrier that prevents the moisture from coming in contact with your vehicle. It is important to use covers intended specifically for indoor use if keeping your vehicle in a garage for long periods.

Car Bubbles Explained

A car bubble consists of several different parts:

• Herculite base
• Dual-layer nylon covering
• High-pressure, 12-volt fan
• Heavy-duty nylon zipper

You drive the car onto the base material, pull the cover over the vehicle, and zip it up. Once the vehicle is inside, you turn on the fan to inflate the cover. This encloses your vehicle inside a protective cushion of air that extends out approximately one foot from the sides. The fan runs continuously, keeping the air circulating and preventing condensation.

Talk to a reputable dealer about whether a car bubble or zip-up cover would better suit your needs. Both can be purchased online.