How to cool your car down fast in summer

RACV Motoring Editor, Andrea Matthews, says that while it’s easy to blame the weather, there’s a combination of factors that contribute to the rise in temperature inside your car.

“Where the vehicle is parked, its body style and even the materials used within the cabin [can make a difference],” says Matthews.

Additionally, dark paint colours will absorb more heat than white or silver cars, which will deflect heat, and the type of glass your car windows are made from can also influence temperature.

“Solar attenuating glass, for instance, can reflect sun rays and can make a real difference in helping keep a car cool once it’s on the road.”

And, while generally the hotter it is outside, the hotter your car will be, Matthews says that temperatures don’t need to be overly high for the inside of our cars to feel the effect.

“Tests conducted by RACV have shown that vehicle interiors can reach more than 70 degrees Celsius in just minutes when the outside temperature is only 30 degrees Celsius,” she says.

This can impact your safety and driving.

“It’s critically important to keep a car cool to keep passengers comfortable and reduce the risk of heat stress,” she says.

“You’ll also drive better and be more attentive if the cabin is at a comfortable temperature, as it will help you stay more alert.”

The good news is, we can prevent our cars from getting too hot – at least most of the time. Here’s how:

“Obviously, the best way to keep a car cool is parking in shade but if you’re unable to do that, there are other solutions such as getting a legal tint on the windows,” says Matthews.

“Using a sunshade is also a great way to keep a car cooler – just make sure that the reflective side is facing outwards.”

“If you have a sunroof, make sure the shade is always closed when parked, this can help keep it cooler too, and with more cars having sunroofs as standard, it’s important to check if the car has a thick screen – some have a very flimsy one, which means it will heat up more quickly in the summer,” according to Matthews.

You can also tilt the sunroof while driving, which will improve air flow.

“However, driving with the roof open fully is likely to heat up the cabin and can expose passengers to the sun. It’s important to be aware of the impact this can have on young children who aren’t able to alter their position within their seat.”

Of course, there are times when there are no shady parks to be found and sunshades are forgotten, so what is the most efficient way to cool your hot car down in these situations?

If your car doesn’t have air conditioning, she suggests:

“RACV encourages motorists to wind down the windows to release the hot air from the cabin and open the sunroof if you have one. You can turn down the air vents to stop the flow of hot air within the cabin.”

If you choose to use a seat cover over the upholstery to keep the seat cool, ensure it won’t impact the operation of the airbags.

“Although fixing the air conditioning should be the priority, as it can also impact the operation of the car’s demisting system once the weather cools down, and you must be able to keep your windscreen clear while driving,” says Matthews.

But if you’ve got functioning air-con – crank it, or even better, if you have an electric vehicle or app functionality, Matthews says this is where “they come into their own.”

“If you have an EV, you can leave it plugged in and charging while it cools to the desired temperature without taking charge from the battery,” she explains.

“App-enabled cars can allow drivers to pre-condition the cabin for a comfortable temperature prior to departure. For everyone else, the air-con system will operate most effectively if you leave the windows up and crank to maximum power.”

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