During the winter, drivers’ concerns about road safety are understandable. State and local officials use plows, sand, and salt to reduce water freezing points and prevent dangerous ice buildup on roads. Although salting is necessary to keep roads safe during the winter, it can also cause serious damage to vehicles. If you’ve noticed car corrosion due to salt damage, you might wonder if your car insurance can cover it.
Car insurance does not cover damage caused by prolonged exposure to road salt, as it is considered normal wear and tear. Most auto insurance policies only pay for unforeseen losses, like those caused by natural disasters or accidents. Your car insurance provider might not cover the expense of fixing salt damage because it is an expected occurrence.
How Does Salt Damage Cars
States like Massachusetts use a lot of road salt to melt ice and snow on the roads. Salt damages cars by chemically reacting with air and water, accelerating the oxidation process and causing rust. If left unchecked, rust can harm the car’s external paint job and gradually erode the metal body.
The deterioration of other materials used in important internal car components, such as the brake and fuel lines, is usually found on the undercarriage. In addition, it may also be caused by similar processes. Furthermore, the corrosive effects of those delicate parts can be costly, hazardous, and even cause a car accident.
How Long Does It Take for Salt to Damage a Vehicle?
The development of rust in an automobile is dependent upon numerous factors, making it impossible to pinpoint a precise timeframe for the onset of rust. Salt speeds up the process, but location, climate, car storage space, and vehicle specifications such as condition, options, and age all have an impact on the outcome. Whatever the specifics, rusting takes time. Winter rust and other salt damage can be successfully avoided with proper maintenance.
Which Risks Are the Most Significant That Salt Poses to Automobiles
Corrosion to the car’s visible exterior is the most noticeable damage, but it’s also frequently the least significant. Though it’s usually only cosmetic, salt can lead to some pitting or other damage to the paint. More severe damage occurs when salt comes into direct contact with metal, such as the car’s undercarriage.
Because the undercarriage is close to the road, unpainted, and hard to see, it is especially vulnerable to salt damage. According to EPA estimates, road salt damages cars and roads by $5 billion annually.
How to Safeguard Your Car from Salt Damage
You can stop salt from causing more damage to your car, even though there is nothing you can do about it. The following five tried-and-true methods will shield your car from salt damage:
Regularly wash your car
To give your car enough time to dry before the temperature drops, do it during the day. Additionally, any salt on its outside can be removed with a thorough rinse.
Put some wax on top
Waxing protects your car’s exterior from corrosion by forming a barrier between the paint and salt. Therefore, remember to wax your underwear as well. This allows you to protect your engine and other rust-prone parts.
Resolve sizable paint chips
When washing your car, keep an eye out for paint chips, particularly those larger than the tip of a pen. This blog will provide you with advice on how to repair the scratches.
Deep snow can pack salt into your car’s undercarriage, causing corrosion and making driving difficult. In addition, it may leave you stranded and stuck on the highway. Also, water puddles are a whirlpool of dirt and road salt during winter. Therefore, you should avoid them when driving.
FAQs
Does salt cause damage to automobiles?
Occasionally, yes. This is because salt reacts chemically with air and water, speeding up the oxidation process that causes rust, which can damage cars. If a car is not properly maintained, rust can erode its metal frame.
Does car insurance cover salt damage to automobiles?
Car insurance does not cover salt-related damage because it is considered normal wear and tear. Insurance claims usually cover unexpected events, but salt damage does not. Furthermore, regular maintenance is the best defense against salt and brine damage to vehicles.
Which is the best method to protect cars from salt damage?
Drivers should thoroughly wash and dry their vehicles, as well as consider pre-winter inspections, to prevent rust. Waxing before the winter season can provide additional protection.