The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Covering all the angles for best protection choice Your vehicle is constantly exposed to the sun, rain, birds and who knows what. You don't have a garage to park it in, so what can you do to protect it? Try using a car cover. Make sure you use it properly or you could cause as much damage as not using one. Here's some advice on car covers and the proper way to use them. The one-size-fits-all car covers are cheaper and more readily available. However, there is a major problem with these. During high winds and rain, they may flap around and scratch your paint. Ordering a custom car cover designed specifically for your vehicle's make and model will prevent this from happening. Covering a dirty vehicle can also cause scratching. To prevent this, make sure your vehicle is clean when you put the cover on. Also make sure the cover has a bottom locking system that will hold it on snugly and prevent wind from getting underneath. There are three types of car covers: waterproof, water resistant and non-water resistant. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Waterproof covers are plastic and are designed to keep the rain off your car. However, they can trap air in, causing condensation which can damage the paint finish of your vehicle. Plastic covers work best if you are storing your vehicle inside a garage. Using a flannel cover underneath the plastic one will help prevent condensation from forming. Water resistant covers come in all types. They repel water and allow air to circulate, which prevents condensation from forming. Most are also resistant to mildew and sunlight degradation. Covers that are more of a filter are made of breathable nylon or a polyester outer layer with a foamed acrylic inner lining. They let the good water in and keep the bad out. However, they do not keep acid rain from getting in. Rip-stop nylon, synthetic sail cloth and boat canvas are other types of filtering material that can be found in one-size-fits-all. Non-water resistant covers are made from 100% cotton or a cotton/polyester blend. Polyester may scratch the paint, so any type of polyester cover should only be used for a short period of time. Putting on and taking off your car cover is not as hard as you might think. The easiest method is the roll on/roll off method. Put the cover on the roof and roll one end toward the front and the other end toward the back. Then unfold the sides and fasten the ends. To take it off, just reverse the steps. Taking care of your car cover is easy and should be done periodically. Most can be washed in the washing machine with mild detergent, but read the directions for your individual cover to be sure. Make sure the cover is dry and never store one wet. There is no end to what can harm your vehicle. A car cover will help protect its finish for a long time. The secret is choosing the best one for the job. By Ronda Addy, special