You want to keep your car cool in summer, right? The easiest way is to park in the shade or use sunshades on your windows. If you wait too long, heat builds up fast. Once the outside temperature hits 73°F, the inside of your car can reach 100°F in just 25 minutes. On really hot days, it can soar past 140°F. These high temperatures make driving uncomfortable and can even damage your car’s interior. Take action early to stay safe and protect your ride.
Inside a closed vehicle, temperatures rise quickly:
73°F outside means 100°F inside after 25 minutes.
On hotter days, the cabin may exceed 140°F in minutes.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
Park your car in the shade. This can make your car cooler by 25°F. It helps keep the seats and dashboard from getting too hot.
Use sunshades or interior shades to stop sunlight. These can make the inside cooler by 20 to 30 degrees.
Open your windows a little for air. This lets hot air out and cool air in. It makes your car feel better.
Check your car’s coolant and AC often. Good care stops your car from getting too hot. It helps your car stay cool in summer.
Never leave kids or pets in a hot car. Even a short time can cause heatstroke, which is very dangerous.
Why Keep Your Car Cool
Comfort and Safety
You know how tough it feels to step into a car that’s been sitting in the hot heat of summer. The air feels thick, and the seats burn your skin. When you keep your car cool, you make every drive more comfortable. You also protect your health. High temperatures inside a car can cause heat exhaustion or even heatstroke, especially if you sit in a poorly ventilated space. You might feel dizzy or tired. Sometimes, you can get dehydrated just by sitting in a hot car.
Tip: Always bring water with you during summer trips. Staying hydrated helps you stay alert and safe.
Hot air can also slow your thinking. You may react slower or make mistakes while driving. This can lead to accidents. Keeping your car cool helps you stay sharp and ready for anything on the road.
Why experts say you should keep your car cool:
Summer heatwaves and traffic make driving harder.
Long trips in extreme heat can be risky.
A cool car protects your health and your electronics.
Protecting Your Car from Heat Damage
You want your car to last a long time. Protecting your car from heat damage is key. When car interiors get too hot, the materials inside start to break down. Leather seats can dry out, crack, or peel. Vinyl and plastic parts may fade, warp, or even crack. Fabric seats lose color and can tear more easily.
Problems caused by heat:
Plastic parts can warp or crack.
Electronics, like your radio or screen, may stop working well.
Colors on seats and dashboards fade fast.
If you keep your car cool, you help your seats, dashboard, and electronics last longer. Parking in the shade or using sunshades can make a big difference. You save money on repairs and keep your car looking good.
How to Keep Your Car in the Shade
Park in Shaded Areas
You want to keep your car in the shade whenever you can. When you park in the shade, you lower the temperature inside your car by up to 25°F compared to parking in direct sunlight. That makes a huge difference on a hot day. Look for spots under big trees, next to buildings, or anywhere that blocks the sun. If you have a choice, pick north-facing spots because they get the least direct sunlight. In the afternoon, east-facing spots stay cooler. In the morning, west-facing spots work best.
Parking in shaded areas helps you:
Avoid burning hot seats and steering wheels
Protect your dashboard and electronics
Make your car more comfortable when you get in
Use Covered Parking
Covered parking is one of the best ways to keep your car cool. If you have access to a parking garage or a carport, use it. These options block sunlight almost completely and keep your car much cooler during peak summer hours. Here’s a quick look at how different parking choices help:
Parking Option | Temperature Reduction |
|---|---|
Covered parking garage or structure | Most effective |
Shady parking spot beneath large trees | Up to 25°F reduction |
North-facing spots | Least direct sunlight |
East-facing spots in the afternoon | Moderate reduction |
West-facing spots in the morning | Moderate reduction |
Covered parking also protects your car from UV rays, which can fade colors and damage materials inside.
Use Interior Shades
If you can’t find a shady spot or covered parking, use interior shades and sunshades. These tools block sunlight and keep your car cooler. A windshield sunshade can lower the temperature inside your car by 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Solar shades block up to 99% of UV rays and still let in some natural light. Blackout roller shades block almost all light and give you the best protection against heat. Cellular shades add extra insulation and reduce heat transfer by up to 80%. You can even use exterior screens to stop sunlight before it hits the glass.
Tip: Use sunshades every time you park in the sun. They help protect your seats, dashboard, and electronics from heat and UV damage.
When you use interior shades, you make your car safer and more comfortable. You also help your car last longer.
Maintain Your Car Cool with Smart Tips
Crack Windows for Ventilation
You want your car to stay ventilated, especially during the hot heat of summer. When you crack your windows, you let hot air escape and cooler air come in. Even lowering your windows just a little helps. If you crack the windows before you leave your car, you prevent heat from building up inside. This simple trick makes a big difference when you park in extreme heat.
Why crack your windows?
Warm air escapes, cooler air circulates.
Prevents heat buildup.
Keeps your car more comfortable when you return.
If you drive, set your car’s ventilation system to bring in outside air. This replaces hot air with cooler air and helps you maintain your car cool. You can also use the fresh air mode instead of recirculate. That way, you keep your car cool and ventilated.
Use Solar-Powered Cabin Fans
Solar-powered fans work great when you need other tips to keep your car cool. These fans use sunlight to run, so you don’t need batteries or electricity. Place them on your window or dashboard. They pull hot air out and push cooler air in. If you combine fans with cracked windows, you get even better airflow.
Tip: Solar-powered fans help keep your car ventilated and cool, especially when parked for long periods.
You can find different sizes and styles. Some fans fit right on your window. Others sit on the dashboard. Choose one that works for your car and your needs.
Apply Legal Window Tinting
Window tinting helps block sunlight and reduce heat inside your car. If you tint your windows, you lower the temperature and protect your seats and dashboard from fading. Each state has its own rules for window tinting. Here’s a quick look at legal limits in some major regions:
State | Front Side VLT | Back Side VLT | Rear VLT | Reflective Tint Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
California | >70% | Any darkness | Any darkness | Not permitted |
New York | 70% | 70% | 70% | Not allowed |
Texas | ≥25% | Any darkness | Any darkness | ≤25% reflectivity |
Florida | 28% | ≥15% | ≥15% | ≤25% reflectivity |
Check your local laws before you tint your windows. Legal window tinting keeps your car cool and protects you from UV rays. You also get more privacy and less glare.
Use Seat and Steering Wheel Covers
Seat covers and steering wheel covers help maintain your car cool and comfortable. They act as a barrier against sun damage. If you use UV-resistant fabrics, your seats stay looking newer for longer. Simple cloth covers or hand towels work well for seats. Reflective foil covers for your steering wheel keep it cool and easy to grip.
Item | Benefit |
|---|---|
Seat Covers | Prevent fading and wear, especially in hot climates |
UV-resistant Fabric | Reduce sun damage, keep seats looking new |
Steering Wheel Cover | Reflect heat, improve grip and comfort |
Quick tips:
Use cloth covers or towels for seats.
Try reflective foil covers for your steering wheel.
Choose UV-resistant materials for extra protection.
Monitor Coolant and AC
Your car’s cooling system needs regular checks to keep your car cool. Before summer starts, check your coolant levels. Low coolant makes your ac work harder and cool less. Clean the condenser and evaporator coils to improve airflow and cooling. Make sure vents are open and not blocked. Test your ac before the first heat wave. Listen for strange noises, check for weak airflow, and notice any bad smells. These signs mean your ac might need service.
Steps to maintain your car cool:
Check coolant levels.
Clean condenser and evaporator coils.
Remove debris from around the outdoor ac unit.
Make sure vents are open.
Test your ac for weak airflow, odd noises, or bad smells.
Note: If you see weak airflow, hear strange sounds, or smell something bad from your ac, get it checked right away.
Regular maintenance helps you avoid breakdowns during extreme heat. You keep your car cool, safe, and ready for every summer drive.
Cool Down Your Car Fast
When you return to your car after it’s been sitting in extreme heat, you want to cool down your car as quickly as possible. No one likes stepping into a stuffy, hot cabin. Here are some quick tricks to help you cool the car faster and make your ride comfortable again.
Air Out the Cabin
Start by rolling down the windows on both the front and rear passenger sides. This lets the trapped hot air escape. You can also open all the windows and turn on the air conditioning. Make sure the air circulation setting is off so fresh air comes in. Aim the cool air at the foot wells. This helps push out the heat and brings in cooler air from outside.
Tip: Letting the hot air out before you blast the ac makes a big difference. The air conditioner will work better and cool the cabin faster.
Fanning Trick
If you want to cool down your car even faster, try the fanning trick. Stand by the driver’s side and roll down the passenger side window. Open and close the driver’s door several times. This action pumps out the hot air and draws in cooler air from outside. You can lower the temperature inside by up to 20°F in just a few seconds. It’s a simple move, but it works wonders when you need relief from the heat.
Use Remote Car Starter
Many newer cars come with a remote car starter. If you have one, use it to start your car and turn on the air conditioning before you get inside. This way, the cabin is already cool when you enter. You avoid sitting in a hot seat and touching a burning steering wheel. Pre-cooling your car saves time and keeps you comfortable, especially during the hottest days of summer.
Remember: These quick steps help you cool down your car fast and protect yourself from the dangers of heat.
Special Considerations for Summer
Electric and Hybrid Cars
If you drive an electric or hybrid car, you have some special things to think about in summer. Hot weather can make your car use more energy and go a shorter distance. When it gets hotter than 100°F, your battery works harder to stay cool. This uses up more power and means you cannot drive as far. Sometimes, your battery might not work as well and could lose up to 31% of its power in very hot weather. Cooling systems inside the car help, but you still need to watch the battery and make sure there is good airflow. Here is what you should know:
Challenge | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
Efficiency drops | Range decreases when temperatures rise |
Cooling systems use more energy | Battery cooling can lower available driving distance |
Battery performance reduction | Heat can reduce battery output by up to 31% |
Cooling systems are essential | Prevents overheating and keeps your car safe |
Very hot weather can make your battery get too hot.
Good airflow helps keep the battery at a safe temperature.
Always check your battery’s temperature on long trips.
Legal Window Tinting
Window tinting laws change a lot, especially during summer. You need to know the new rules so you do not get a ticket. In 2026, states like Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia made new rules about how dark your window tint can be. Some states now have tougher rules and new limits for visible light transmission (VLT). Here is a quick chart:
State | Update Description |
|---|---|
Florida | New VLT limits, rules, penalties & expert tips for window tinting in 2026. |
Tennessee | Updated VLT limits, windshield rules, color bans, penalties, and exemptions. |
Georgia | Updated VLT limits, restrictions, exemptions, and compliance tips for drivers. |
Check your state’s laws before you get your windows tinted. Legal tinting helps keep your car cooler and protects the inside from sun damage.
Safety for Kids and Pets
Never leave kids or pets in the car when it is hot. Even a few minutes in a parked car can be very dangerous. Rolling down the windows or parking in the shade does not make it safe. Heatstroke is the main reason kids under 14 die in cars, not counting crashes. Almost 40 kids die each year from heatstroke in cars. In 2025, 14 kids died, and most of these happened in June, July, and August. Young kids get hot much faster than adults. It gets very risky when their body temperature reaches 107°F.
Never leave a child or pet alone in a car.
It is safer to leave pets at home when you run errands.
Most hot car deaths happen to kids under age 3.
About one out of four deaths happen when kids get into the car by themselves.
You keep your loved ones safe by paying attention and making smart choices during summer.
You can keep your car cool all summer if you use smart tips. Try using light-colored accessories to reflect sunlight. Crack your windows a little to let hot air out. Park in the shade whenever you can. Always check your coolant levels so your car does not overheat. Clean your radiator to help your car stay cool. Remember to keep kids and pets safe from heat.
Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
Protecting vehicle’s interior | Stops fading and cracking |
Enhancing passenger safety | Keeps everyone comfortable and safe |
Maintaining vehicle value |
Be proactive and enjoy a cooler, safer ride this summer!
FAQ
How often should I check my car’s coolant in summer?
You want to check your coolant every two weeks during hot months. If you drive long distances, look at it before each trip. Low coolant can make your engine overheat fast.
Can I use towels as seat covers to keep seats cool?
Yes, you can use towels. They block sunlight and keep seats cooler. Choose light colors for better results. Towels also protect your seats from sweat and spills.
Is it safe to crack windows when parking in public?
Cracking windows helps with ventilation, but you should only do this in safe areas. If you worry about theft, use solar-powered fans or sunshades instead.
Will window tinting affect my visibility at night?
Legal window tinting should not block your view at night. Always follow your state’s rules for tint darkness. If you notice trouble seeing, ask a professional to check your tint.
A skilled Mechanical Engineer with a passion for automotive technology, our writer combines technical expertise with storytelling to craft engaging and insightful automotive content. Fascinated by the latest advancements in vehicles, he enjoys exploring cutting-edge innovations and often sets out on early morning drives to uncover scenic routes and fresh inspiration for his writing.