Keep Your Interior As Good As New With The Best Car Umbrellas

Last Updated: May 3, 2024, 1:32 p.m.

A car is an expensive part of everyday life. The better you can maintain your vehicle, the more value it will have when it is time to trade-in for an upgrade or sell it second-hand. After your vehicle has been parked in a sunny spot for a while, it can be unbearable to get back inside and the steering wheel becomes unpleasantly hot to handle. Not only do the sun’s rays make for an unpleasant ride, but they can cause irreparable damage to the interior of your vehicle. Upholstery starts to fade and you will start noticing cracks or peeling on the cabin finishes. A car umbrella is a solution to all these problems. Not only can it keep heat out and lower your car temperature by up to 70°F, but it prevents damage to your interior and upholstery. Considering the value you’ll maintain on the resale of your car, we’d say that a car umbrella is a must for anyone who parks their car outside, even if only on occasion! Here’s what to know when looking for the leading car umbrellas in 2023.

Your vehicle works hard to get you from A to B and keep you safe while doing so. Keeping your ride in mint condition includes taking care of both the interior and the exterior. Using a car umbrella is one of the easiest and quickest things you can do to help maintain its flawless finishes and upholstery. Unlike their outdated counterparts, modern car umbrellas fold into a compact size that can easily be stored in the glove box or door compartment. They also don’t flake, tear, or wear easily. When choosing the right umbrella for your car, there are a few things to look out for. In this guide, we’ll help you pick the perfect windshield sun protector for your vehicle type.

Car Umbrella Design and Materials

Unlike a regular rainy-day umbrella, a car umbrella has a fairly flat rectangular design to fit the size and shape of your windscreen. Its large size requires extra reinforcement, meaning it usually comes with a skeleton of 10 metal rods for a sturdy and durable canopy once opened. Some umbrellas feature suction cups to prevent them from slipping; however, with sun visors down there should be no need for extra measures once you have the correct fit. When choosing your car umbrella, check that the umbrella fabric is heat-resistant and reflective. Although older versions of windscreen shield covers are heat resistant, not all of them are reflective. Non-reflective materials will allow a lot of heat to build up inside the vehicle. Reflective materials will bounce the heat back off, keeping your car a whole lot cooler than it would have otherwise been.

Ease of Use

The umbrella should be as easy to use as any regular rainy-day umbrella. Push forward to pop it open and retract to close the shade. It should remain open securely without any problems. Check that your car umbrella comes with a pouch to store it in. This will prevent any damage while not in use and stop it from getting stuck or hooked on other items.

Size

The similarities between different car model windshields start and end with the fact that they are mostly made of laminated glass. Other than that, they can vary according to size, thickness, weight, and other factors. Sedans, sports cars, and trucks are the three main model categories that feature some kind of similarities, especially with regard to size. Car windshields are designed to fit a specific model to the T. Most sedan manufacturers stays close to the industry standard which is 59 x 31.5 inches. However, depending on the height of the roof, the window height is the most variable factor. Having a car umbrella that is either too short or not wide enough could be problematic in keeping it in position as well as letting sunlight in through the open edges. Sports cars are built to have a more compact and sleeker body to enhance their aerodynamics. Windshields are therefore smaller than standard sedans with enhanced curvature to reduce blind spots and improve safety. They are also not quite as thick to reduce the car weight. Since trucks and SUVs are taller vehicles, the windshield used can vary quite significantly depending on the design and size. Although most manufacturers provide a general indication of vehicle suitability for their car umbrellas, it is always recommended to measure your interior windscreen width at the bottom end for more accurate sizing.

Keeping Cool with a Car Umbrella

A car umbrella is a great tool for protecting your car from heat and sun damage; however, taking extra precautions to keep your vehicle cool in extreme heat may be worthwhile. There are a few things you can do to ensure your car does not overheat while using a car umbrella. Whenever possible, park in the shade on a very hot day. There is a big temperature difference between the sun and shade, and your car can feel it as much as you do. If you’re stuck without a shady spot (or even if you do have some shade), a car umbrella makes a big impact in keeping the interior of your vehicle cool and protected. Keep in mind that the sun (and therefore shade) will move throughout the day. You may leave your vehicle in a lovely shady spot but return to a blistering hot sauna. It is best if you keep the car umbrella up regardless of where you are parked. Although leaving your car windows open won’t keep UV rays out, it will allow a little air circulation by allowing hot air to escape. A car umbrella with a reflective surface will also help reduce the temperature of the air inside the car. Note that your windows shouldn’t be left open far enough for anyone to reach through and that this might not be a good idea in potentially stormy weather. If you find yourself getting into a very hot car, instead of turning the dashboard vents on full blast, direct the air through the bottom floor vents. Turn the floor vents to the maximum to push the hot air out as it rises. Once the car starts cooling, switch back to the top vents. While doing this make sure you’re using the fresh air setting as opposed to the recirculation A/C setting. Recirculating the hot, trapped air is not going to help much initially. Let your car cool down first by allowing fresh air in, and then change the setting. Your engine is probably feeling the heat big time, too. Keep your eye on the vehicle temperature gauge. If at any time it indicates that it is hot, you need to pull over and let the engine cool. Even though the last thing you want to do on a hot day is switch on the heater, doing this can pull warm air from the engine allowing it to cool.

Top Picks

• Best Overall: Moyidea Car Umbrella
• Runner Up: Aikesi Car Umbrella
• Honorable Mention: Jasvic Car Umbrella
• Best Multipurpose: Allstar Innovations Car Umbrella
• Best Small Size: Helloleiboo Car Umbrella

Reviews

Can I use a regular umbrella as a windshield sun umbrella?

A regular umbrella will most likely not fit in your vehicle and does not have any UV protection or reflective properties. It is best to get something designed specifically for your vehicle as the two products are very different in their function.

Should I use a windshield car umbrella in winter?

As you drive your car in winter it starts to heat up. Using your car umbrella can help to keep the warmth in longer. It will not be effective in preventing ice. For that, you will need an exterior cover.

How can I prevent ice on my vehicle's windshield in winter?

There are a few ways to do this. You can wipe the windshield with vinegar or salt and alcohol. An exterior car cover, cardboard, carpeting, or plastic bag will all be effective to prevent ice.