Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between a Ready-fit Cover and a Custom-fit Cover? - First off, a Ready-fit cover, sometimes referred to as a "semi-custom" cover,  is a universal type cover that accommodates a variety of vehicles within a certain size group. A Ready-fit cover offers a general fit and does not offer a custom tailored look. The Ready-fit Cover may or may not be a suitable solution for your needs. A Ready-fit cover may be a little large, a little small, or it may not cover the vehicle as completely as you like. Mirror pockets and Navigation Antenna Pockets are not included with a ready fit cover. If you want the custom tailored fit for your specific year, make, and model, we suggest ordering the Custom-fit cover. Ready fit covers are shipped as both WC (white carton) and RB (retail box). They are the same cover, just packaged differently. If you have any questions, please call our office for more information.
2. What fabric should I select for my vehicle and climate conditions? - We have a comprehensive fabric guide to help you with your selection. For Indoor/Outdoor protection: click here. For Indoor Storage: click here.
3. What does a car cover actually do? Are they Waterproof? - Car covers offer many protection solutions. Obviously, this depends on the type of fabric selected and intended use. An indoor car cover protects your vehicle from dust and dirt while in your garage or in long term storage. An outdoor car cover offers various degrees of weather protection from dust, dirt, the sun's harmful UV rays, rain, snow, and "dings". Some folks want to know if our covers are totally waterproof. The answer is no. Outdoor car covers offer different levels of water resistance. (Note: Indoor car covers offer little to no water resistance.) Car covers must "breathe" and therefore cannot guarantee total freedom from water saturation. Anyone who advertises their covers as waterproof is selling an inferior product. Without breathability, a cover will cause serious condensation buildup and mold between your vehicle and the cover. If a waterproof solution is your goal, then your needs are best served by storing your car in a clean, dry, garage. Covercraft Covers are the very best covers you can purchase for your vehicle. With over 40 years of building covers, you are assured of a quality product. Our covers are built in the USA (Oklahoma and Texas) by over 500 dedicated employees.
4. Can a cover help prevent my vehicle from being stolen? - Yes, it certainly can. A thief wants to get into your vehicle, start it, and drive off as quickly as possible. As soon as a thief starts to make an entry, they are exposed. A car cover takes a few minutes to remove, so the thief's exposure time is increased. With so many cars uncovered, why would a thief want to increase the risk of being caught? A cover also helps protect the contents of a vehicle. We also offer an optional cable lock kit for additional security.
5. Is there a correct way to install a cover? - In general, always cover the front and rear bumpers as the last step. If the cover has mirror pockets, place the pockets over the mirrors first. If you have an old car you should cover the roof and windows first, and then the front and rear of the car. On some coupes and roadsters made prior to 1932, you might be unable to install the cover at all if you start with the front or the rear bumper.
6. What is the best way to fold a cover when taking it off the vehicle? - The easiest way I've found is the way we picture it in our instruction sheets. Simply fold each side up onto the roof and refold it as necessary so the material ends up about 2 feet wide. Then, starting at the front of the vehicle, fold the cover towards the back in increments of about 3 feet. This way you don't drag the cover over the vehicles surface, and it's easy to reverse the process for installation.
7. Can I put a wet cover on a vehicle? - If your vehicle is clean, it's actually the best way to dry the cover. If it's a Covercraft cover, as the temperature warms up, all the moisture will evaporate, since all of our fabrics are breathable. In very cold weather, it is possible that a wet cover could freeze to your car. Please take precautions as your cover could tear or rip when taking off if frozen. This damage is not covered by Covercraft's Warranty. Repairs can be made for a modest cost.
8. Any suggestions on how to keep my vehicle cooler when I use a car cover? - Other than parking in the shade, because most of our better fabrics will protect against bird droppings and tree sap, the Best thing to do is to lower your side windows about two inches. Ambient temperature builds inside enclosed spaces, and if you open the windows slightly you'll allow air to circulate, just like it circulates under the cover. Some of our fabrics offer more heat insulation than others, simply because they are multi-layered and are more effective at keeping heat away from the vehicle surface, but any cover will help reduce the vehicle temperature on a hot day.
9. What are UVR inhibitors? - Most fabrics are degraded by Ultra Violet Rays (UVR) from the sun. To slow down the degradation process, chemicals are added during the production of the fabric. You won't be able to see them, smell them or feel them. The chemicals are expensive so your Best bet is to buy a cover from a reputable manufacturer who believes in quality. To reduce cost, one of the first things a mill will usually cut is the percentage of UVR inhibitors being used.
10. How often should I wash my cover? - There is no magic number since it depends on where you live and how you use the cover. Don't be afraid to wash a car cover! Dirt particles can compromise the effectiveness of the water resistance of the fabric. Be sure to follow the washing instructions for the cover you own.
11. Will treating my car cover with Scotchguard® make it more water resistant? - In almost every instance, a good car cover fabric has been treated with some sort of DWR (durable water repellency) treatment during it's manufacturing process. The effectiveness of such a treatment will also depend on the construction of the fabric. If you can hold the fabric up to light and see small open areas between the yarns, no treatment will increase the fabrics water resistance. Adding additional treatments will not help and aren't worth the cost.
12. My wife is about 5 feet tall and wants a cover for her car. What fabrics would you suggest? - First off, lighter is not necessarily better. A thin nylon cover or plasticized paper type cover can be very difficult to use in any kind of breeze. A heavy cover is also difficult for a person of small stature to handle. Fabrics that weigh between 4 and 7 ounces per square yard are considered ideal, and that is our target weight for most Covercraft covers. The other property that is important to consider is bulk. Bulky covers are hard to handle and hard to store.
13. What about my hot exhaust pipes? - We do not recommend putting covers over hot exhaust pipes. Please allow the exhaust pipes to cool down before installing your cover. If the exhaust has not sufficiently cooled, you may damage the cover and/or create a fire hazard. Car Cover World is not responsible for this kind of damage. Please contact us if you have any questions.
14. Can I use use my cover in a windy area? - Like any fabric, a car cover is also susceptible to the wind. Heavier covers are better suited to windy areas and are more likely to stay on the car better. In some environments, additional tie downs are suggested. Storm and wind damage is not covered by warranty service. Damaged covers can usually be repaired by Covercraft. Call us for more information.
15. Can I use my cover on a towed vehicle? - We do not recommend using a cover on a towed vehicle or a vehicle on an open trailer. In addition to the flapping of the cover on the vehicle's paint finish, road dirt and debris may become trapped between the cover and the finish, causing damage to your paint.
16. How do I accommodate my antenna with my car cover? - Each cover order includes a two-piece, non-scratch, plastic grommet for your convenience. For customers who do not want to remove (or can't remove) their antenna, the grommet will solve the problem of accommodating your antenna.

Here's how you install the two-piece antenna grommet on your cover:

1. Remove your antenna, if possible.
2. Cover the vehicle with your cover.
3. Mark the cover (with chalk or something that washes off) at the antenna location.
4. Snap the two-piece grommet onto your cover from each side at the location you marked.
5. Use a knife to make a cut in the fabric inside the grommet.
6. Install antenna.

The plastic grommet will hold the fabric tight and keep the hole from enlarging or ripping. When installing your cover after the grommet is installed, start by placing your antenna inside the grommet, then fold the sides over the mirror pockets, followed by securing the front and rear of the cover to your vehicle. To remove your cover, just reverse the process.

If you have any questions about your order, need a UPS tracking number, or need assistance in any way, please call our customer service office at 888-270-0411 during our regular business hours of 9am-5pm M-F EST or see our Ordering Information page. You can also send an email to: service@carcoverworld.com.