There is no one single way to install a car cover. However, owners of newly purchased covers can often feel a bit bewildered by it all. After all, it is quite a large piece of material that needs to fit snugly in order to provide the maximum amount of protection for your vehicle. Let's take a look at two of the most common ways of installing a car cover.

Downwards Motion

The most commonly utilized method of installing a car cover is the downwards motion. That is, as the name suggests, owners simply roll the cover down onto the vehicle after laying it flat on the roof. This method is particularly good for those with specialty mirrors, since owners will often have the choice to combine additional mirror coverage for their specific make and model of vehicle when ordering a cover. However, it isn't always the easiest way of accomplishing the job. The end finish can sometimes be loose, which exposes the vehicle unnecessarily to inclement weather and other abrasions as it knocks around in the wind. Similarly, it may leave parts of the vehicle completely exposed.

The answer to using the downward motion is in cable locks. These secure within the car cover in order to keep the cover fitted and stabilized. It does mean owners will need to be confident in their ability to cover the car in the first place though, which is something that will come with practice. Cover users often recommend choosing a lightweight car cover for their first cover, since it will be far more forgiving and malleable than a more heavyweight design.

Front to Back

One of the more precise ways of covering the vehicle is front to back. Many modern car covers allow for this, since “front” is usually stitched into the front of the car cover and guides owners as to where to start and end. Doing this often makes it far easier to get a snug fit in the end, but strafing from left to right can be difficult after securing the cover to the front of the bonnet. This can be eliminated by fastening the car cover a little more loosely in the beginning, then tightening the end result into the snuggest fit available. Similar to the downwards motion, cable locks can be used to secure the cover in place to prevent abrasion-related damage from the weather.