Are rodents chewing your car’s wiring & more? Stop them!
Rodents do extensive, expensive, potentially dangerous and immobilizing damage by chewing on automobiles’ wiring and more. They can also spread disease. This problem has only gotten worse since automakers switched over to more environmentally-friendly soy and other plant-based wiring insulation (arguably less expensive than petroleum-based insulation).
Rodents chew on the wiring as a food source and to sharpen their teeth. The wires, nooks and crannies in engine compartments provide warm, convenient, protected places to build their nests, from which they will inevitably increase in number and continue to do damage.
The most effective way to stop rodents (as well as snakes and other pests) from doing this damage is to prevent them from getting into your vehicles in the first place, but this is hard to do. Vehicles are not sealed at the bottom. There are lots of openings for them to get in.
With that in mind, I was intrigued by information that I was sent about CoverSeal covers. Not only are they water-resistant to provide weather protection, as well as dust resistant and offer protection from the sun, but they also provide exceptional protection against rodents.
CEO Ken Huening explained that “I created CoverSeal after experiencing rodent damage, not once, but twice on the same vehicle.”
CoverSeal tells us that their heavy-duty vehicle covers are engineered with a patented Ground Seal technology, providing a 360-degree weighted bottom that eliminates the potential for the cover to blow off in strong winds or for rodents to breach the cover and gain access to the vehicle. A 360-degree flexible tube filled with sand along the bottom of the CoverSeal cover eliminates the need to use bungee cords or straps to secure the cover to the vehicle. From every angle, the cover is resistant to wind, rain, dust, dirt, snakes, rodents, spiders and other pests. The loose-fitting design of the cover is intentional. It allows the cover to move in the wind so water and moisture pooled in folds and crevices of the cover can drain.
They go on to tell us that the material is a heavy-duty DWR-coated polyester, ripstop fabric that reflects 90% of sunlight. CoverSeal safeguards vehicle paint, windows and tires from sun damage and fading, while ensuring the longevity of the cover. CoverSeal vehicle covers are lab-tested to withstand winds up to 40 mph. They can also protect vehicles from ash during a wildfire. Capable of enduring ash up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, the cover will not ignite. With all of that in mind, I asked CoverSeal to send me a review sample for my 2021 Toyota RAV4.
I am impressed. The cover comes in a sturdy duffel bag.
Due to its weighted skirt, it is — of necessity — very heavy. CoverSeal car covers weigh between 32-45 pounds and truck covers weigh between 48-60 pounds, depending on size.
Before covering your vehicle, I strongly recommended that you wash it. Since the cover is very heavy, a dirty car could get scratched.
If you lay the cover out on the ground first, be sure to put the top side facing down, so that the inside will stay clean.
One end is conveniently marked as “FRONT” and the CoverSeal logo is on the other end.
Despite its weight the CoverSeal cover goes on easily, in part because it fits. As they say, simply drape the CoverSeal on one side of the vehicle, pull it up to halfway on the hood and roof, walk around the other side and give a gentle tug.
Its heavily weighted skirt will then pull it down all around to the ground, sealing itself to a level surface.
The fabric is strong and reflective. CoverSeal covers are available in standard 300D polyester water-resistant fabric or premium 420D water-resistant fabric with ripstop, and air ventilation pockets for sports, mid-size, full-size cars and SUVs as well as larger sizes for short- and long-bed pickup trucks.
They also make covers for grills, smokers, tractors and patio furniture.
For more information and to purchase covers, visit CoverSeal at https://www.getcoverseal.com. They are also available on Amazon.
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Copyright © 2025 by Jan Wagner – AutoMatters & More #869
Jan, very interesting. Fortunately I’ve never had a vehicle attacked by rodents, probably because I’ve kept my cars in garages all these years. A few years ago, I did have some squirrels chew through a cable I had lying on the ground for lighting decorations.
I can see that the Cover Seal is cleverly designed for placing on and taking off, but its sheer weight and bulkiness would deter me. Especially since being retired, I tend to use my vehicle for numerous but short jaunts. The Cover Seal would be permanently stuffed in a corner of my garage.
Have you purchased one? If so, what are your day to day real life experiences?
David.
Thanks, David.
Undoubtably the CoverSeal for my Toyota RAV4 is large and very heavy. It also should be put on a freshly-washed vehicle, to avoid scratching the paint.
As for me, since I have my review sample, I have no need to buy one.
Jan
Jan,
Great article and a must-have for vehicle owners experiencing issues with rodents eating up wires.
Cover Seal will be a good investment for sure.
Jaynald
Thank you for your comment. This is a heavy-duty car cover and the skirt is weighted pretty heavily. It should certainly be a deterrent to rodents.
Jan