7 common causes of car damage and how to avoid them

Cars are sensitive machines that rely on many interconnected parts to function properly. Damage or complete destruction to any of these parts can be detrimental to your vehicle, as well as send repair bills into the stratosphere. No matter how “bullet proof” you think your car is, or how conscientious of a driver you are, there are a number of culprits that can send even the mightiest of vehicles into an early grave. Here, we look at the 7 most common causes of car damage in Hong Kong, and some of the things you can do to avoid them.

Sun damage

Soaking in small amounts of Vitamin E from the sun might seem like a healthy activity to you, but the same definitely does not apply to vehicles. Too much sun can hurt your skin. Likewise, it can cause damage to your vehicle. While modern cars are designed to block sun damage, they’re not fully protected. For example, automotive glass is tinted, but the tint level does not completely protect the interior against long durations of UV exposure. To ensure a higher degree of sun damage protection, we recommend that you:

• Attach a sun shade to your windshield when your vehicle is parked outside on a sunny day
• Cover your vehicle with a car cover if it’s parked outside for extended periods of time

Rain damage

Many people think that when a car sits in the rain, the rain water washes off the dirt from the car surface. This is actually a misconception, as rain collects pollutants and contaminants from the air. When the rain evaporates from the car’s surface, it leaves behind a layer of pollutants that can erode your vehicle’s finish. As such, it’s important that you always wash your car as soon as possible after driving in the rain.

Living near the beach

If you’re lucky enough to live in Stanley, Shek O, Repulse Bay, or any other coastal area in Hong Kong, you’ll enjoy a myriad of perks including the cool ocean breeze, tranquil surroundings, and breathtakingly beautiful views. The coastal environment can, however, cause detrimental damage to your vehicle’s paint, due to the combination of sun and salty air - heat from the sun encourages greater absorption of salty moisture, and eventually more corrosion. Other vehicle parts, such as brake calipers, can corrode as well. To prevent this from happening, be sure to:

• Park your vehicle in an enclosed car park
• Protect your vehicle with a car cover if it’s parked on the road
• Wash and wax the paint on a regular basis

Hot weather

With summer fast approaching, it’s hard to avoid driving in the heat. If you’re driving long distances in sweltering, 30-degrees-celsius heat, it’s important that you stop the car frequently so it can catch a breather. Also, be sure to check your tires regularly, but be careful not to overinflate them; heat increases air pressure in your tires in hot weather, which could have a negative effect on their performance.

Typhoon damage

Anyone who has lived in Hong Kong for more than a year is well aware of the yearly typhoon season, which sees powerful storms bring torrential downpours, wind, and - in severe cases - widespread property damage. We’ve actually discussed this in one of our previous articles before, but there are a number of steps you can take to protect your vehicle from typhoon damage:

• Don’t park your car in risky areas during a typhoon (e.g. flood- and landslide- prone areas)
• If your car is parked outside, make sure the vehicle is adequately prepared for a typhoon (e.g. shut your windows and sunroof completely, and protect it with a heavy-duty, waterproof cover)
• Ensure that your car insurance covers typhoon damage; most comprehensive plans do cover this type of damage, but stipulations and conditions will apply

Parking under trees

While trees offer great shade, it’s not the best idea to park your car under them long term. Parking your vehicle under a tree exposes it to potentially damaging elements that fall from the tree. Bird droppings, for example, can cause paint damage and even erode the bodywork. In even more unfortunate circumstances, something more damaging - such as a heavy tree branch, or the actual tree itself - can total your vehicle.

Traffic accidents

According to the Hong Kong Consumer Council, traffic accidents totaled more than 25,000 cars in the SAR last year. In an article we wrote in 2017, we discussed the top causes of traffic accidents in Hong Kong, and found that the number one contributory factor seen in accident statistics was inattentive driving. Driving safely is therefore the most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your vehicle, and passengers, as well as the pedestrians and other vehicles around you.

To ensure that your vehicle is protected from damage caused by traffic accidents, another essential step is to secure comprehensive car insurance. Offering more extensive cover than third party car insurance, comprehensive policies further protect the insured’s own vehicle, and can also offer a vast array of extra benefits, like vehicle towing coverage if your car has broken down and cannot be repaired. Comprehensive car insurance generally covers things like typhoons and vandalism damage as well, but stipulations and policy wording will vary between insurers and plans.

The bottom line line here is to always make sure you understand what forms of car damage your insurer has you covered for. If you’re still unsure, please feel free to contact Kwiksure today! Our advisors are standing by to lend you a helping hand, and give you a free car insurance quote.