How to keep your car cool this summer

Summer is finally here! There’s never been a better time to refresh your memory, and hopefully learn some new tips and tricks, on how to keep your car cool over the next few months.

But first, do you know how the air conditioning in your car works? 

How the air con in your car works

The compressor, the power unit of the air con system, is powered by the engine, so when you switch the air con on, it uses engine power, ie fuel. 

This means when you switch the air con on full blast, your car can increase fuel consumption by up to 10% when it’s hot outside – not ideal when fuel is on the expensive side.  

Plus, on really hot days, it has to work even harder to bring down the temperature of your car, using up more fuel. 

Why does it always feel hotter in your car than outside? 

The reason your car often feels hotter than outside is because the air inside the car is so still. Therefore, the easiest and quickest way to cool down your car is to move the air.

Tips to cool down your car quickly

Open the windows

When you get in your car, open all four windows before you start driving. After you’ve been driving for a few minutes, all the hot air that was sat in your car will have been forced out and replaced with fresher, cooler air. 

Once that’s done, you can turn your air con on but make sure you close all your windows. That way it should take less time and less power to keep your car cool.

Find some shade

When parking your car try to find a shady spot. Keeping your car out of direct sunlight will help keep it as cool as possible during the day. 

Choose your parking spot carefully. Just because it’s shady in the morning, that doesn’t mean it will be shady all day. Try to park somewhere that will be shaded at midday, when the sun and its radiation are at its highest point. 

Fan the inside of your car 

You might look a little silly, but it’s an effective way of cooling your car down. 

First, open both windows on one side of the car. Then, use one of the doors on the other side of the car to fan the hot air out of the car. It should only take four or five swings to cool your car down enough for you to drive. 

Tint your windows 

Tinted windows can really help reduce how hot your car gets, and they can also help protect your upholstery.  

However, there are strict rules when it comes to how dark you can tint your windows. Most cars (those first used from 1985 or later) must let at least 75% of light through the front windscreen.  

Use the lower air vents 

Open all the windows and switch the air con to the vents in the footwells. 

Hot air rises, so using the lower vents forces all the hot air up and out of the windows. To make the process quicker, close the upper and dashboard vents so the airflow of the car is directed solely upwards.  

Service your air conditioning 

You may find that your car isn’t cooling down quickly because your air con isn’t running 100% effectively.  

Get your air conditioning serviced by a professional at the start of the summer so it’s in perfect working order and will keep you cool during the hot weather. 

Park with your window slightly open 

If you can, and its safe to do so, keep your windows slightly open when you’re not driving. Keeping the windows open slightly will allow air to move through the car, cooling it down slightly. 

Top tip: Do not do this unless it is safe to do so. Some insurers will not accept a claim of damage or theft if your windows were open when something happened to your car. 

Invest in a sun screen 

A reflective sun screen for your car will go a long way in helping keep your car cool.   

Simply put it across your windscreen and it will reflect most of the sun’s rays, keeping your car a lot cooler. 

 If you need some inspiration for your next big drive, check out some of our best UK summer road trip destinations.