New cars are around $10,000 more than before the COVID-19 pandemic. This is especially unwelcome when prices are higher for many household essentials. Keeping your existing vehicle on the road for longer can be a smart way to ease your household budget concerns. According to edmunds.com analysis, new car payments are around $730 on average which can be a budget buster for many people even without factoring in higher insurance costs due to additional safety and technology features. 

If you live in an area which is prone to frequent snowfall, you have probably experienced vehicle rust. At the beginning stages of rust, it is superficial, and fairly harmless. If left untreated, rust can lead to the eventual deterioration of the vehicle’s structure, rendering it unsafe to drive, and the vehicle needing to be scrapped. No one wants to replace their car for rust reasons, so take steps to minimize the damage. Although we are experts in rust prevention, we don’t make Rust Prevention Vapor Capsules large enough to handle an entire car. Our car covers are great for vehicles that are stored all winter, but not really practical for a daily driven car in the winter that is frequently used. Here are some tips to minimize rust for your winter daily driver!

What is the cause of vehicle rust?

Salt and humidity is the main cause of rust on vehicles. By far the most common cause of rust is the salt and deicer used on roads in the winter months in colder climates. The salt and water brine mixture gets sprayed underneath and all around the vehicle while driving, accelerating the chemical reaction that causes rust. Due to the cold temperatures, this brine mixture hangs around longer on the vehicle surfaces, leading to a slow and inevitable decay of the steel and metal surfaces. This effect is most pronounced on bare metal surfaces, which is why rust is worse underneath cars, where parts are not always coated, and are out of sight and harder to see, and clean. 

Salt and water brine can cause rust issues near the ocean, although to a lesser degree than the road salt in snowy climate. Airborne salt water can cause vehicle corrosion, especially when vehicles are exposed to persistent high humidity.   

What are the best steps to take to minimize vehicle rust?

The most foolproof way to minimize rust is for your vehicle to never see road salt at all. This is the reason that some people own a “winter-beater”, an older and less valuable car that is sacrificial to the rusting processes that are inevitable during winter driving. The more valuable, nicer vehicle can sit at home, safe from the dangers of heavily salted or icy roads. For most people, it’s impractical to own more than one vehicle, so the next best solution is to take proactive measures to preserve your ride.

Wash Your Car Regularly

Salt can accumulate on the undercarriage and other exposed areas, accelerating rust. If the weather is permitting, wash your car every 1–2 weeks in winter, especially after driving on salted roads. Focus on the undercarriage, wheel wells, and crevices where salt collects. If the weather is warm enough to wash the car in the garage or driveway,  use a pressure washer, especially on non sensitive areas underneath the car to blast out salt and debris. Washing your car while the weather is freezing can lead to dangerous ice forming on the driveway surfaces.  During these time periods, visit a car wash with undercarriage cleaning that can spray directly underneath the car chassis. 

Apply a Protective Coating

A barrier prevents salt and moisture from reaching the metal. Use wax or ceramic coatings to protect the car’s exterior paint. Apply rust-proofing sprays or oil-based products to the undercarriage and metal components. This step is best done prior to winter months. Applying these products will be more difficult and ineffective when the weather is cold and/or wet.

Inspect and Repair Paint Damage

Scratches and chips expose bare metal to moisture and salt, accelerating rust. Check for paint damage regularly. Touch up scratches and chips with matching paint, clear coat and sealant.

Use Rubber Mats and Guards

Protects areas prone to salt exposure and corrosion. Use rubber mud flaps to shield the car body from salt spray. Install floor mats to prevent salt and water from damaging the interior. We’ve seen daily driver vehicles form rust on the interior from shoes bringing snow into the interior, where the water tends to collect along the floorboards and seat rails that are often unpainted metal. It’s best to keep these areas dry if possible.

Undercoat Your Vehicle

Undercoating adds an extra layer of protection to the underside, which is highly susceptible to rust.  Apply a undercoating treatment before winter. Look for products like oil-based rustproofing or rubberized undercoatings. Even products such as boiled linseed oil can make an excellent rust preventative for uncoated metal. 

Park Smartly

Salt residue on roads can linger and continue to corrode your car. Park in a garage to avoid prolonged exposure to salty slush. If using a garage, ensure proper ventilation to reduce humidity. There is some controversy about whether or not a daily driven in winter car should be parked in a heated garage. Some people feel that heated garages can actually be counterproductive when trying to prevent rust due to the increased temperature accelerating the chemical reactions that cause rust. 

Avoid Driving Through Salt Puddles

Puddles often contain concentrated salt and moisture that splashes onto your car. Steer clear of standing water on salted roads. 

Pre-Winter Prep

Starting the season with a clean, protected car helps reduce damage. Wash and wax your car before winter. Apply a rust inhibitor to vulnerable areas, including the undercarriage.

Consider Alternative De-Icing Methods

Reduce direct exposure to road salt if possible. Inquire whether your local area uses alternative deicers like brine or sand. Adjust routes to avoid heavily salted roads when practical.

Perform Post-Winter Maintenance

Residual salt can linger on your car even after winter ends. Thoroughly clean and inspect your car once the snowy season ends. It’s a good time to thoroughly clean the underbody of the car, including deep in the wheelwells, on suspension and exhaust parts, and inside frame rails and underneath the bumper covers where the steel beams often rust due to trapped moisture. Reapply protective coatings as needed.

Corrosion and rust on vehicles in inevitable in many places, but you can prevent or delay corrosion using basic preventative measures.

cu*************@ze************.com“>Contact Zerust for information on VCI products to help with car rust prevention by emailing us or calling (330) 405-1965.

Additional Resources:

When Will New Car Prices Drop?, Kelley Blue Book 11/14/2024

More Blog Entries:

Rust Protection for Cars Essential After Road De-Icer Exposure. Zerust Blog, March 29. 2018