Vehicle Exterior Care in Winter: Car Insurance in New Bedford
Winter can be extremely harsh on your car or truck, regardless of how frequently you drive it. Your local New Bedford insurance agent wants to help you discover new ways to protect your vehicle’s exterior to reduce chances of corrosion and other types of damage. While you might not think about washing your car when it’s 38 degrees and the roads are full of snow and ice, getting into the habit of cleaning winter debris off your vehicle is essential. When you think about all the snow, ice, slush, and sludge that you drive through in the winter, combined with all of the rock salt and de-icing chemicals used by cities, towns, highway road crews, and even folks in your own neighborhood, the potential for damage adds up quickly. This time of year, you can never be too careful when it comes to taking care of your vehicle. Millions of dollars in damages are reported to MA auto insurance companies each winter, and some of those claims could be avoided through proper care.
Keep Your Vehicle Clean
While we already discussed that the first and most essential step in preventing weather-related damage from impacting your vehicle’s exterior is to clean it, there are other things you can do to keep it clean besides a regular car wash. Massachusetts auto insurance providers often stick with the manufacturer’s recommendations to apply wax after car washes, especially during the winter, and to protect your vehicle from sun damage in the summer. To reduce the amount of cleaning you need to do and keep your vehicle clean between washing and waxing, consider parking your vehicle inside a garage, under a car cover, or using a fabric car cover designed for your vehicle’s make and model.
More advanced products, services, and methods can also be used, especially for vehicles that cannot be parked indoors during the winter. A paint protection film can be added at your local body shop or dealership that will create an extra layer of coverage. Make sure to have a soft brush or broom on hand for removing snow – never use a rough brush or ice scraper on the paint. Many vehicle owners inadvertently make scratches and cause damage to their own car or truck just by bad habits or using the wrong tool in an emergency. Check to see that you have all the supplies you need at the beginning of the snowy season to ensure that you never resort to using the abrasive materials to clear the snow and ice off of your vehicle.
What to Do About Damage
If you notice damage has already occurred to your vehicle, don’t wait until spring to get it fixed. Make sure to have any rust spots or damage to the metal fixed as soon as possible to avoid further corrosion. At the end of the season, make sure to clean and detail your vehicle, taking time to look closely for any bits of rust or damage that you might have missed during the winter. Once again, be sure to get that taken care of right away before any more corrosion or damage occurs. Rock salt and some de-icing chemicals can speed up the rusting process. This type of corrosion doesn’t just stop at the exterior of your vehicle – it can also spread inside to affect certain components.
Other types of damage can come from rock salt as well, such as grains flying up on the road and hitting your vehicle as you drive. When cleaning your car, make sure to pay special attention to the undercarriage, which can receive a lot of damage during the winter months. Rock salt, de-icing chemicals, snowdrifts, ice chunks, random rocks, twigs, and other debris often litter the roads just out of sight, ready to wreak havoc on unlucky vehicle owners who drive over them. The more you can do to prevent damage or check for it frequently, the less you will need to worry about filing significant claims with your New Bedford insurance agent. Take time to discuss what you would need to do in the event of a claim, and make sure to have contact information for your car insurance in New Bedford readily available in your vehicle and your wallet if you need it.
Get a FREE Quote for Car Insurance in New Bedford
If you are interested in learning more about the types of policies and coverage available at Borden Insurance Agency or if you would just like a FREE quote, contact our team by calling 508-999-3636. Since 1909, we have provided top-quality Massachusetts auto insurance to customers throughout the SouthCoast region. Call today and speak with a local New Bedford insurance agent about your policy.