It doesn’t matter how much you love this beautiful season, when it’s a scorching 95+ degrees outside, everything becomes downright unpleasant - especially when you open that car door. It certainly does feel like you’re being roasted alive. And the scalding seatbelt buckles, sizzling hot leather seats, steering wheel too hot to touch, and the toasty little dash cam that has now shut down because of the built-in overheating mechanism - all just makes the whole situation even more dreadful.
A Stanford University study found that on a sunny day with temperatures ranging from 72°F to 96°F, the temperature was an average of 40°F higher inside cars. In other words, when it’s a mere 90°F outside, it can get up to 130°F inside your parked car.
Park in the shade or in a garage. This is a no-brainer. If you have the chance to park under the shade or in a garage, you should definitely do so, even if it means walking a little further for that shade. Even if it is an outdoor parking structure, being out of direct heat is better for your car than in the sunlight. You should also try your best to keep any personal belongings out of direct sunlight. These things can get hot, fade, melt, and ruin the items or the car interior itself.
But what if you can’t find a shady parking spot?