Protecting your car’s paint from North Devon’s coastal salt air

North Devon’s coast is beautiful, and brutal on car paint. Salt in the air and on winter roads speeds up corrosion and dulls paintwork. A few habits and the right protection make a big difference.

What salt does

Salt holds moisture against paint and metal, which speeds up oxidation and corrosion, and it etches clear coat over time. Wheels, arches and lower panels take the worst of it.

How to protect against it

• Wash regularly. Rinsing salt off before it sits is the single most effective thing you can do.
• Keep a protective layer on. A wax or, better, a ceramic coating gives salt and water far less to grip.
• Don’t forget the underside and arches. That’s where salt collects most.
• Decontaminate now and then. An iron fallout treatment removes bonded contaminants a wash leaves behind.

A full valet with fresh protection, or a ceramic coating, is the most reliable defence for a car that lives by the sea. Tomasz can advise on the right level for your car and how you use it.

Ready to book? See our pricing or book your detail online. We’re in Bideford and look after cars from across North Devon.