How to Protect a Car From Rust
Select a Parking Spot Carefully
Park on a paved surface, because this exposes a car to less moisture than does dirt, grass or snow. Cracked asphalt exposes motorvehicles to more moisture than necessary, so perhaps consider repaving or resealing a damaged driveway.
Use caution when parking in a warm garage without washing a car first after exposure to salt air or slush. Otherwise, a motor vehicle can rust more quickly.
Parking in a location that’s near the ocean is bad because salt water is a powerful electrolyte. The metal in a car is both the anode and the cathode, and when these two combine with an electrolyte, rust attacks metal over time.
Wash the Car Regularly
Car owners who live where salt is used to de-ice winter roads and driveways must thoroughly wash the salt from their cars. Be sure to remove salt and grime from garage floors and remove snow and salt from behind wheels before parking.
Winter in some locations promotes rust because salt is used often in a moist environment. During any season salt can be a problem, so avoid parking near a beach because of the salt in the air. Also, remember that salt from beach sand can migrate to roads.
Dirty cars retain moisture. Wash a car at least every two weeks, but in winter, a weekly wash may be necessary. Be sure to wash under the body of the car if you live near the ocean or in an area where salt is used to melt ice and snow.
Moisture that is inside a car may migrate to the exterior, so keep the interior dry. After washing the exterior, wipe the inside surfaces down with a towel.
Read on the next page for even more useful tips on keeping your car rust-free.