Preventative measures could save you hundreds in car repairs for sun damage

May 24—Sitting in a hot car on a summer day can be uncomfortable — especially if you've got leather seats — but the extreme heat can even be detrimental to your vehicle's exterior.

According to Remington Couch, owner of Couch Motors and Ideal Paintless Dent Removal LLC, the UV rays from the summer sun can make the appearance of your car go downhill.

"The sun, it'll start deteriorating the clear coat faster, making it blotchy," Couch said. "It can be detrimental in various ways, including like to your paint, dash cracking. It can crack leather."

However, there are steps you can take to prevent hefty damage.

The first is to keep your car clean and stay on top of waxes. By doing this, it will give your car a layer of protection while conditioning the car and keeping it shiny. Materials to do so are available at common auto shops.

"Any auto parts store, Walmart, anywhere really," said Couch.

Couch also suggests keeping your vehicle in the shade whenever possible. Also consider investing in some preventive measures that can potentially save you money in the long run. When it comes to repairing sun-related damages, the price varies, but it typically costs drivers hundreds of dollars, Couch said.

"To protect it, tint your windows, get one of those windshield shade things," he said.

A vehicle's color can even play a role in how much sun damage it receives.

"Black cars, they absorb the most sunlight and they show everything. White vehicles are just opposite because you don't notice nearly as much on white," Couch said.

Going into summertime is also a great time to consider repairing any hail damage from the springtime rainfall. Couch does paintless dent repairs and so far he's seen a lot of cars in need of repair.

"Hail vehicles alone, I've seen about 70 that I've done estimates for and fixed so far. And I still got more to go," he said.