Tips on How to Protect your Car without a Garage

There's a reason why most insurance agencies offer discounts for car owners with home garages: they dramatically reduce exposure and the risk of damage to your vehicle. However, the expense of adding a separate car garage can be tough for tight budgets. If you want to protect your car from potential mayhem, you might have to work a little harder, but the efforts will be well worth it. Here are five tips to get you started.

1. Buy a Car Cover

During windy, rainy, or otherwise hazardous weather conditions, it's especially important to keep your car covered to protect it from falling debris, excessive water exposure, hail, snow, and anything else that can cause damage. Make sure you get a well-fitted cover to be sure it won't blow off with strong winds.

2. Erect a Carport Cover

If you're a handy person, you may even be able to fashion your own carport cover. If not, you can purchase one for a little over $100. These shelters would provide added protection for your vehicle, and even some shade to prevent excessive sun and heat exposure during the summer season.

3. Look Up

Wherever you park your car, look up and all around it to make sure there aren't any hazards nearby. Avoid low-hanging branches, or really all tree branches when you're parking your car. If you think the trees in your own yard might have hazardous branches, contact a tree specialist to have them diagnosed and removed if necessary.

4. Know Your Coverage

You don't want to be surprised when you come into the insurance agency's office after a tree branch falls on your car only to find out that your plan doesn't cover this type of accident. Find out beforehand exactly what your plan covers. Talk to your insurance agent about what specific scenarios would be covered. If you're unsatisfied with the coverage you're receiving, consider shopping around.

5. Give Your Car Regular TLC

A healthy person is less likely to get sick-- and the same goes for a healthy car. The better you take care of your car, the less likely it is to incur damage. Make sure to have your car regularly washed to keep dirt, grime, and other foreign materials from sticking to your vehicle and eating away at the paint. Waxing is another important maintenance task that is too often neglected. However, regularly waxing your car gives it a smooth surface that prevents debris from sticking to it in the first place.

Talk to your insurance agency about whether or not any of these preventative measures can get you a discount on your car insurance. One often overlooked fact for saving on car insurance is to make sure that you aren't paying too much already. Insurance rates change often, and certainly fluctuate from agency to agency, so be sure to shop around for the price that fits your budget. Get quotes online using this website in order to research and find out the best coverage and rates suitable for you.