BEWARE THE SUN: Protecting your taxi and car from summer sun damage

As summer arrives, motorists are being alerted to the potential damage that bright sunshine and warm weather can inflict on their vehicles. Motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk advise that keeping cars out of direct sunlight is essential to avoid costly repairs.

Exposure to sunlight can wreak havoc on a car's batteries, tyres, paintwork, and interior. Here are the key areas that could suffer:

Dashboard

Without a sunshade, a car's dashboard is exposed to intense sunlight through the windshield. Over time, this can cause the dashboard to fade, and in extreme heat, materials may crack or split.

Tyres

UV rays degrade rubber, leading to dry and cracked tyres, which increases the risk of flats or blowouts. High temperatures also cause tyre air to expand, so regular checks are essential during summer.

Batteries

Prolonged heat exposure can cause battery fluid to evaporate, decreasing the car's efficiency and potentially leading to complete failure. Regular battery checks are crucial in hot weather.

Interiors

Leather seats, especially dark ones, can fade and dry out under direct sunlight. This leads to cracking as the natural oils in the material deplete. Parking in the shade and using a sunshade can help prevent this damage.

Paintwork

Excessive sunlight can damage a car's paintwork, with darker colours being more susceptible. Repainting can be expensive, so using a car cover in extreme heat is a good preventive measure.

Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: “We all love the sunny weather and hot temperatures, but you might not feel the same way if it starts to have a negative impact on your car.

“Extended exposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause costly damage to cars, which motorists will have to fork out the money to get repaired.

“Using a sunshade, car cover and parking in shade are all super easy ways to prevent car issues this summer. These steps can significantly lower the interior temperature of your car, helping both the interior and exterior of your car to look as good as new.

“Avoiding these issues can be very dangerous, particularly damage to tyres and your car’s battery, so if you do experience any heat and weather related problems this summer make sure to get them repaired as soon as possible.”