There are a lot of car care tips out there for those who are driving around in winter weather, and for good reason. All that snow and ice can be hard on cars, but the warm weather and sun can be hard on cars too. It can only take a few years for your car to look worn and tired, which is absolutely not good if you want to look your best driving around Miami!

Fortunately, making sure your car looks good is as easy as following these tips.

Know How to Drive

It may sound obvious, but it may not be quite as obvious as it seems. If you want to take care of your car, it starts with knowing how to drive it.

That means getting your license, but it also means staying up-to-date on the rules of the road. One great way to do that is to answer road and driving questions online. You might be surprised to discover that you know a lot less about road signage and who gets the right of way than you thought!

It also means following some general driving tips that will help you prolong the life of your vehicle. Be gentle on your brakes, shift gears properly in manual transmission vehicles, and use your parking brake regularly so it remains operational.

Use Car Covers and Shields

The sun can really beat up your car. Prolonged exposure to the heat and the sun can affect your vehicle’s finish, and it can even fade the interior of your vehicle. Not to mention, parking your car in the sun is going to make it unbearably hot the next time you get in to drive!

Car covers are a great way to protect your car when it is parked. They are great when used to store vehicles long-term, and a cover is a must if you park your car for hours or days at a time before driving it again.

You probably don’t want to wrestle with a car cover when you get to work. Instead, park in a garage or in the shade, if you can. If you can’t, at least use a windshield shade to keep the sun from heating up the interior of your car.

Stick to Your Car’s Maintenance Schedule

If you want your car to last for years, and look good, you need to stick to your vehicle’s maintenance schedule. When you’re in a hot, beachy climate, like Miami, that means doing things like:

• Checking your battery regularly. Make sure your battery is securely mounted, and clean corrosive buildup on battery terminals and cable clamps.
• Making sure your engine stays cool by having it flushed periodically and filling coolant to its highest level.
• Changing the oil and filters when it is recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.

Make Sure Your Tires Are Properly Inflated

Cold weather can cause tires to deflate more quickly, affecting control of the vehicle and gas mileage. However, the consequences of not maintaining the air in your tires in a hot climate, like Miami, can be disastrous.

Roadways can reach temperatures so high that you can actually fry an egg. Imagine what temperatures like that can do to your tires!

Tire pressure can build up in high temperatures. Combine that with traveling at high speeds, and your tires could actually burst on the road. Unlike cold weather climates where air has to be put in the tires regularly, you’ll want to check your tires and release some air when the pressure exceeds the recommended amount if you live in Miami.

Take Care of Your Windshield Wipers

Without all the ice, snow, and scraping, you shouldn’t have to replace your windshield wipers very often. Should you?

Rubber blades are susceptible to hot climates too. All that UV radiation from the sun can dry out the rubber, causing it to crack.

If you want to save money on windshield wipers, always protect your car by parking in the shade, using a car cover, or parking it in the garage. This will prolong the life of your existing windshield wipers.

No matter how you choose to store your car when it’s not in use, you should replace your windshield wipers as soon as you notice streaks on the windshield. You don’t want a streaky windshield in the sunshine state to be the reason why your vision is obscured and you find yourself in an accident.

Clean the Interior and Exterior of Your Car Regularly

There’s a lot of talk in cold weather climates about the damage of road salt and for good reason. It can wreak havoc on a vehicle. However, you aren’t out of the clear if you live in the Miami area. Living next to a beach means your car is subjected to salt all year long!

The humid, salty atmosphere can damage cars over time, so it’s important to wash your car regularly. It is especially important to rinse off your car if you drive through ocean water.

Don’t forget about the interior of your car! If you spend a lot of time on the beach, it’s easy for sand to accumulate inside your vehicle.

You Have to Have A/C

Air conditioning can make driving more comfortable, but in cold weather climates, it isn’t necessary. It is necessary in warm weather climates, like Miami.

Miami is hot all year long. Average temperatures reach the 90’s in the summer and still remain in the mid 70’s in the winter. Those in Miami can get away without having functional heat in the car, but going without A/C is going to cause a lot of problems for you and your passengers.

There is an exception. If you drive a convertible, put that top down and forget about the air conditioning!

Miami is full of beautiful people and beautiful cars! If you want to look good driving around town, follow these tips to make sure you always put your best wheel forward on the road.