For many consumers, aside from their home, their car is the most expensive thing they own. People are often trying to find ways to protect and customize their investment, by purchasing accessories that help them personalize their vehicle, in addition to helping them protect the factory-installed materials. One popular accessory that is both protective and customizable is a dash cover.Dash covers are manufactured and sold by a variety of different companies, and no two are alike. The main purpose of a dash cover is to protect the factory-installed dashboard. The sun beating down on a dashboard can result in fading, cracking and other signs of wear and damage, and Dash covers can help to protect the original material from these issues.

Also, a dash cover can help to reduce the temperature of a vehicle's interior, particularly in the summer months, and protect the driver from harmful ultraviolet rays, by reducing glare and absorbing the sun's rays instead of reflecting them. Dash covers are made in a variety of materials, and each serves a different purpose. Basic Dash covers will simply cover and protect the dashboard, and can be made of vinyl, molded plastic, or other similar materials. These won't be as decorative as some other options, but they will be durable and stain-resistant, easy to clean, and will do an adequate job of protecting the factory-installed dashboard material.

There are also high-end covers that are made of carpeting, velour, or even brushed suede; these are protective, but also highly decorative, and are commonly purchased by people who are looking for not just the aforementioned benefits of a dash cover, but also to customize their vehicle, and have a luxurious and high-quality dash cover. The drawback of these materials is that dashboards get dusty, as any vehicle owner knows, and while plastic simply wipes clean, microfiber or other velour or suede-like materials can be difficult to clean. Many companies, especially online, will sell the dash cover, and ship it to you, at which point you are responsible for installing it. In many cases, unless you have experience with such installations, it may be better to have the dash cover professionally installed, to avoid potential complications from having it improperly installed. Applying the dash cover improperly can result in a product that doesn't last as long, protect as well, or look as good as it otherwise would; however, more importantly, it can also result in damage to the factory-installed dashboard.

Ideally, you should find a company that will not only sell you the dash cover you want, but which will also install it for you, as they will have a great deal of experience doing so and will be able to accomplish it more quickly, and with more skill, than other automotive detailers or repair shops might. Ensure that you purchase the correct dash cover for your make and model as well, because not only will it be ill-fitting otherwise, it may interfere with the operation of the airbags, or other important components of the dash.