You’re visiting a friend in McHenry and will park somewhere in the street out front of their house. Now, you have a choice to make; should you park under a tree or in the sunlight?

If you’re car will sit there long, you may want to consider your options with some degree of care.

If you park in the shade under a tree …

Trees can sometimes drip sap. 

Willows and Poplars are trees that are notorious for dripping a lot of sap. Magnolia and Oak trees are also known to drip a bit. But even trees that are less inclined to do so may soil the shiny finish on your car.

Other than trees that drip, trees can also have insects and birds that do a, shall we say, different kind of dripping. The potential for these elements to mar your exquisite finish is distinct. Of course, if you don’t leave them on your finish to dry too long, you can generally wash them off.

Another risk is that, if you’re car is under a tree when a storm blows in, branches can fall on your vehicle and do significant damage. Branches, depending on the size and the orientation of the projectile, can scratch and/or dent the finish. They can also bust the windshield or other windows. These are problems you can’t necessarily wash off. Fortunately, they’re not that common.

Parking in the sun also comes with potential drawbacks

The risks parking in the sun are even harsher than what you’ll generally find under a tree. The sun bakes down on your vehicle with something called Ultra-Violet rays. Over time, UV rays will bleach the color out of a vehicle. And, keeping in mind that birds can fly, they may leave droppings on your car even when you’re parked in the sun.

Another difference between parking in the sun or the shade in the summer is obvious; in the sun, the inside of the car is liable to reach extreme temperatures even if you lower a couple windows slightly to let some air in. The shade will help to keep things cooler in the car while you’re away.

Wherever you park, the solution to protecting your car’s finish is to wash it regularly. And, when washing, apply a protective finish. There are protective finishes that will block most of the UV rays thereby substantially retarding the sun’s ability to bleach your car’s paint.