“My buddy mentioned to me that my car was looking faded – the paint just isn’t as vibrant as it used to be. My parking spot does get a lot of sun. Could this be sun damage?” Greg asked. “And if it is, what will it take to get my car looking good as new again?”
The Sun Is Bad News For Your Car’s Finish
The sun’s UV rays can cause all kinds of damage – they’re even the leading cause of skin cancer. The sun can also damage a car’s paint job. This is because the UV rays cause the paint to oxidize, which makes it fade faster than expected.
This type of sun damage fading is more prevalent in areas with a vey sunny climate, such as California and Arizona, but it can happen anywhere – especially if a car is parked in a sunny area for a prolonged period of time (weeks, months, even years) without being moved. Sun fading is not necessarily even over the body of the car – areas that receive more sun exposure can fade much more dramatically than those areas of the car consistently protected by the shade.
The decision to repair a sun faded car depends a lot on the car’s value and the owner’s attachment to its appearance.
Restoring A Sun Faded Car: What’s Involved
As a collision auto body shop in Massachusetts, we see a few sun faded cars each year. The obvious issue is paint. Always choose experienced, well-trained professionals to paint your car, especially if you’re having a thorough repaint done. Additional concerns from sun damage can include faded upholstery & interior surfaces. To truly achieve like new condition, these issues can be addressed.
Ways to Protect Your Car from Sun Damage
The best way to protect your car from sun damage is to park it in a garage, carport, or other secure shaded location. If you can’t park your car indoors, look for parking spaces that minimize the amount of time your vehicle spends in direct sunlight. If you know you’re going to leave your car parked for a prolonged period of time – weeks and months – invest in a car cover to protect the paint job.
On an ongoing basis, keeping your car washed and waxed helps protect the finish from UV rays.