Ah, winter. A time of fulfillment and joy, Christmas spirit and wrapping toys. Holiday cheer and good times abound, short days and long nights with fluffy white all around. Winter’s great, isn’t it? Well, until you’re stuck shoveling snow and scraping your car every morning in the frigid cold.
If you aren’t looking forward to snow shovels, slick roads, and frosty windshields, you’re in good company. We can’t shovel your driveway for you or clear the roads, but when it comes to frost guard windshield covers, we’ve got you covered.
- Factors to Consider When Buying a Frost Guard Windshield Cover
- Top 10 Best Frost Guard Windshield Covers 2024
- 1. Best Overall Frost Guard: OxGord Windshield Snow Cover
- 2. Best Premium Frost Guard: Laptom Windshield Snow Cover
- 3. Best Budget Frost Guard: Shynerk Magnetic Edges Car Snow Cover
- 4. Best Magnet-Free Frost Guard: Fedciory AutoClub Car Windshield Snow Cover
- 5. Easiest Frost Guard to Use: FrostGuard Plus Winter Windshield + Mirror Covers
- 6. Best Frost Guard for Large Vehicles: Marksign Windshield Cover
- 7. Most Stylish Frost Guard: FrostGuard NFL Windshield Cover
- 8. Best Magnetic Frost Guard: Ice King Magnetic Windshield Cover
- 9. Best Frost Guard for Year-Round Use: Cosyzone Windshield Snow Ice Cover
- 10. Best Universal Fit Frost Guard: SnowOFF Windshield Snow Ice Cover
- Everything You Need to Know About Frost Guard Windshield Covers
- Final Thoughts
Factors to Consider When Buying a Frost Guard Windshield Cover
The first thing you should consider when deciding whether or not to buy a frost guard windshield cover is deciding if you actually need one or not. To help you figure this out, we have a short checklist that can help you decide if such a product is right for you:
- Do you want to protect your windshield and windshield wipers?
- Do you live somewhere where you could be fined for idling your car too long?
- Do you want to avoid costly idling waiting for your vehicle to thaw?
- Do you want to spend less time in the cold clearing snow and ice from your windshield?
If you answered yes to at least one of these questions, then you might want to consider buying one. Now assuming you do, there are a few things you should consider when looking for a frost guard.
Types of Fittings
You’ll want to pay attention to the type of fittings it comes equipped with. Many guards come equipped with multiple styles, each of which will determine how well it stays secured to your vehicle through hail and gale, snow and rain.
Side Mirror Straps
The most common type of fixture for frost guards, these are usually elastic straps that either loop around your mirror or attach to built-in mirror covers. Be wary of guards that only utilize these elastic straps, as they are susceptible to failure from cold and direct sunlight.
Magnets
Frost guards sometimes utilize small pouches that contain magnets that stick to the metal body of your vehicle. These will not only help keep the guard in place, but they’ll also prevent the cover from ballooning under windy conditions.
There are potential issues with magnets, so you’ll want to check out our section on these issues if you’re considering a guard that utilizes magnets.
Door Flaps
Door flaps are a standard on most frost guards. They help keep the guard in place, but they don’t just keep the wind from taking your guard – they help prevent people from taking it as well.
Like magnets, they are commonly effective, but they present a unique danger to your car under certain weather conditions. With the potential for water to make its way inside your vehicle, you need to be careful about when you choose to use them.
We’ll talk about this more later, but if you want a frost guard that doesn’t have this issue, you might want to check out the Marksign Windshield Cover.
Wheel Hooks
To add extra stability to the cover, some frost guards utilize hooks that attach to the rims of your wheels. Having an extra point of contact with your vehicle will help ensure the wind doesn’t undermine your efforts to keep your window clear of snow and ice.
Size
How many times have you heard the phrase “size doesn’t matter”? Well when it comes to frost guard windshield covers, size certainly does matter. It can mean the difference between buying an effective frost guard and a frigid fight with your vehicle to reclaim your frost guard.
The size of the guard not only impacts how much of your windshield it covers, but how well it adheres to it. A guard that’s too big or small might allow water to permeate the underside of the guard, and in cold conditions, that means the guard may freeze to your windshield.
To ensure you’re getting a properly fitted frost guard, remember to always measure your vehicle’s windshield before buying one. We sincerely can’t stress this enough.
Material
Many frost guards are made from similar materials, mostly consisting of PVC, PEVA, and sometimes nylon. A lot of them also contain cotton for insulation. Sometimes aluminum foil is also used as a reflective outer material and works well for guards that aim for year-round use.
Ease of Use vs Stability
While all frost guards are relatively easy to use and will save you the hassle of scraping your windshield, some may require more work than others. If you live in a more temperate climate, you might want something that’s easier to use. Conversely, if you live somewhere that’s frequently windy, you might consider stability over convenience.
Ease of Use
We consider a frost guard easier to use when it utilizes fewer connection mechanisms that make setting it up more difficult and time-consuming. Something like the FrostGuard Plus only has door flaps, decreasing the time you’ll spend adding or removing it from your vehicle.
Stability
A guard that has more connection mechanisms, though, such as the Laptom Windshield Snow Cover, is more stable than a guard like the FrostGuard Plus. This stable cover is capable of withstanding high winds and blizzards better than a guard that only secures with door flaps. The trade-off here is that more stable guards take longer to put on or take off.
Something like the FrostGuard NFL Windshield Cover is a good middle ground option that effectively balances ease of use with stability.
Now, let’s review the best frost guard windshield covers we’ve found.
| Product | Fittings | Size | Material | Anti-theft protection | Storage bag | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OxGord Windshield Snow Cover | Side mirror straps, door flaps | 75”L x 42.25”H | 600D polyester and PVC | Yes | Yes | 5 |
| Laptom Windshield Snow Cover | 2 tire, door, and side mirror straps (with mirror covers), 4 magnets, interior buckle | 85″L X 50″H | PEVA, cotton, and non-woven fabric | Yes | No | 5 |
| Shynerk Magnetic Edges Car Snow Cover | 2 tire straps, door flaps, 4 magnets | 82″L x 48.8″H | Polyester | Yes | Yes | 4.5 |
| Fedciory AutoClub Car Windshield Snow Cover | 2 tire, door, and side mirror straps (with mirror covers), interior buckle | 87″L x 50″H | PEVA, cotton, and non-woven fabric | Yes | Yes | 4.5 |
| FrostGuard Plus Winter Windshield + Mirror Covers | Door flaps, mirror covers | 61″L x 41″H (standard)/68″L x 41″H (XL) | Polyester and PVC | Yes | Yes | 4.5 |
| Marksign Windshield Cover | 4 wheel hooks, interior door flaps | 90”L x 60”H | Aluminum foil lamination, PEVA, microfiber cotton | Yes | Yes | 4 |
| FrostGuard NFL Windshield Cover | 4 side mirror straps (with mirror covers), 2 door flaps | 60″L x 40″H (standard)/68″L x 40″H (XL) | PVC | Yes | Yes | 4 |
| Ice King Magnetic Windshield Cover | Door straps (with interior tie straps), 13 magnets | 70″L x 50″H | PVC | Yes | Yes | 4 |
| Cosyzone Windshield Snow Ice Cover | Side mirror straps, door flaps, and 3 magnets | 58.6”L x 47.2”H | Aluminum foil and cotton | Yes | No | 3.5 |
| SnowOFF Windshield Snow Ice Cover | Side mirror and wheel straps, door flaps (with interior suction cups), magnets | 62″ x 50″ (Medium)/74″ x 57″ (Large) | Nylon | Yes | Yes | 3.5 |
Top 10 Best Frost Guard Windshield Covers 2024
1. Best Overall Frost Guard: OxGord Windshield Snow Cover
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Fittings: Side mirror straps, door flaps
- Size: 75”L x 42.25”H
- Material: 600D polyester and PVC
- Anti-theft protection: Yes
- Storage bag: Yes
The OxGord Windshield Snow Cover is a frost guard that promises to be both durable and simple to use. The company also has a rear window guard available separately, something other manufacturers on our list don’t appear to offer. Making this additional purchase can further reduce the amount of work you’ll need to do to clear your car in the cold weather.
Ease of Use
Thanks to its simplicity, all you need to do is loop the side mirror straps around the mirrors and shut the flaps into the door. With no magnets or hooks, you don’t have to worry about it scratching your vehicle’s paint.
Stability
Made with 600D polyester and PVC, the windshield cover portion of this frost guard is tough and should weather any storm, but its elastic straps are concerning. Since they are one of two points of contact, it means that if they break, the cover loses a lot of effectiveness. This is a problem with all elastic bands, so you’re essentially trading stability for convenience with a cover like this.
If convenience is a secondary issue for you, you may consider another frost guard, such as the Laptom Windshield Snow Cover. Having extra connection mechanisms, Laptom’s guard is not quite as convenient as this guard, but its added points of security can ensure it stays effective for longer.
Additional Considerations
In addition to its high price, the sizing of this guard is concerning. Like us, the company recommends you measure your windshield before making a purchase. However, the company’s measurement of 75 inches in length includes the door flaps, meaning the windshield portion of the guard is actually smaller.
It’s also not suitable for larger vehicles, such as a Ford F-150. In that case, you might consider a larger guard like the Marksign Windshield Cover. Like our previous recommendation, it might not feature the same convenience as this guard, but it will provide better coverage for large vehicles.
Pros
- Made of thick, strong polyester
- Outer layer traps heat to keep windshield from freezing
- Quick and easy to use
- Company also makes a rear window cover
Cons
- Doesn't provide accurate measure of windshield guard
- Not as stable as some other guards
- Not suitable for larger vehicles
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Fittings: 2 tire, door, and side mirror straps (with mirror covers), 4 magnets, interior buckle
- Size: 85″L X 50″H
- Material: PEVA, cotton, and non-woven fabric
- Anti-theft protection: Yes
- Storage bag: No
Of all the frost guards we’ve reviewed on this list, the Laptom Windshield Snow Cover has to be the most stable and well-rounded product on the list.
Ease of Use
The major drawback to this guard is that it’s not as easy to use as other guards on the list. While frost guards like the OxGord Windshield Snow Cover are super quick and simple to use, this guard from Laptom is a bit more of a pain.
Using the interior buckle is optional, but having to properly secure tire straps, mirror covers, and properly placing the magnets on your vehicle means it’ll take a bit longer than simply slipping a couple of elastic bands over the mirrors and shutting a couple of flaps into the driver and passenger doors.
Stability
What it lacks in convenience it more than makes up for in stability. The part that covers the windshield is a 3-layer combination of PEVA, cotton, and a non-woven fabric. With multiple points of contact with your vehicle, as well as an easy-to-use interior buckle providing extra security from both high winds and theft, it can easily justify the added inconvenience if it means you’re left with a more effective guard than others on the list.
Additional Considerations
We really like that this guard includes magnets on both the top and bottom of the guard, rather than just one or the other. However, it would benefit from including at least one more on each side, for greater security and to prevent ballooning during windy conditions.
Still, it’s one of the best frost guards we’ve found in terms of stability. At its competitive price, it’s well worth the investment to avoid needing to scrape your windshield.
Pros
- Has many points of contact to keep it stable
- Magnets on top and bottom
- Luminous mirror strips for street parked cars
- Interior buckle for greater security
Cons
- Takes longer to set up than some other guards
- Not enough magnets on each side
3. Best Budget Frost Guard: Shynerk Magnetic Edges Car Snow Cover
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Fittings: 2 tire straps, door flaps, 4 magnets
- Size: 82″L x 48.8″H
- Material: Polyester
- Anti-theft protection: Yes
- Storage bag: Yes
If you’re a thrifty consumer who wants to avoid shelling out some cash as much as you want to avoid scraping your windshield, then the Shynerk Magnetic Edges Car Snow Cover is a worthy consideration. It’s light, portable, and works well during both the cold and warm months. For the price it’s also quite large, and should work well with all but the largest vehicles.
Ease of Use
With its inclusion of both magnets and tire straps, it’s fairly easy to use. Since this guard is rather thin, it can make it a bit of a pain to put on during windy conditions. By including a couple of side mirror straps, this issue could easily be mitigated, but it’s relatively easy to put on during windless weather conditions.
Stability
In terms of stability, this guard works adequately. With a combination of tire straps, door flaps, and roof magnets, it should withstand all but the worst storms, making it a great choice for moderate climates.
Additional Considerations
Despite this guard having 4 magnets, all of them are located near the roof. This guard could stand to include more, particularly on the bottom half, to help decrease the likelihood of ballooning. Because of this, we can’t really recommend this if you live in a windy area. (Instead, check out the more expensive Laptom Windshield Snow Cover.) However, if you live in an area with a more forgiving climate, then this guard from Shynerk is a great budget option for you.
Pros
- Inexpensive for thrifty consumers
- Suitable for year-round use
- Larger than a lot of other guards
Cons
- Difficult to put on in windy conditions
- Susceptible to ballooning in high winds
4. Best Magnet-Free Frost Guard: Fedciory AutoClub Car Windshield Snow Cover
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Fittings: 2 tire, door, and side mirror straps (with mirror covers), interior buckle
- Size: 87″L x 50″H
- Material: PEVA, cotton, and non-woven fabric
- Anti-theft protection: Yes
- Storage bag: Yes
The Fedciory AutoClub Car Windshield Snow Cover is another great frost guard that aims to keep your windshield clean. It’s another competitively priced offering that has a few minor benefits and drawbacks over competing products.
Ease of Use
Since this guard is very similar to the Laptom Windshield Snow Cover, it’s safe to say it’s equivalent in terms of ease of use. It trades convenience for stability, which is great if you’re looking for a guard that utilizes multiple points of contact to keep it secured to your vehicle.
Stability
In terms of overall stability, this is where the guard shines. With tire, door and side mirror straps, and the internal buckle for extra security, this cover should remain attached to your vehicle through the windiest conditions. With interior buckles it will be difficult to steal, and it won’t blow off of your vehicle.
However, unlike the Laptom guard, it does not have any magnets in it – this could be either good or bad, depending on your preferences. Having no magnets, it leaves a greater possibility of ballooning that could allow water to find its way under the guard.
Additional Considerations
One significant drawback we’ve noticed with this guard is that the interior buckles aren’t adjustable. For large vehicles, this likely isn’t a problem. But it may cause problems with smaller vehicles, as it can cause the cover to sit loosely against the windshield, thereby increasing the likelihood of ballooning in windy conditions.
Pros
- Priced competitively with other guards
- No magnets means no damage from scratching
- Highly stable
Cons
- Interior buckles aren't adjustable
- Water can get inside in windy conditions
5. Easiest Frost Guard to Use: FrostGuard Plus Winter Windshield + Mirror Covers
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Fittings: Door flaps, mirror covers
- Size: 61″L x 41″H (standard)/68″L x 41″H (XL)
- Material: Polyester and PVC
- Anti-theft protection: Yes
- Storage bag: Yes
Another offering from FrostGuard, the FrostGuard Plus Winter Windshield Cover makes it simple to keep you from having to scrape your windshield in the blistering cold of winter. Available in two sizes and three colors, this cover is slightly larger than its NFL counterpart and comes with a 3-year warranty.
Ease of Use
Perhaps the simplest frost guard we’ve found, the FrostGuard Plus only has one connection mechanism: door flaps that shut in your driver and passenger side doors. With PVC tubes on the left and right sides of the cover, you won’t have to worry about fighting with a guard that doesn’t want to stay unraveled in the wind as you put it over your windshield.
Stability
Just as the other FrostGuard product on our list, the windshield cover is stable. However, unlike the NFL-themed guard, the FrostGuard Plus only secures via door flaps. This seems like a strange design choice for stability, having fewer points of contact with your vehicle. This means the guard solely relies on the door flaps and tubes to keep the guard firmly secured through hell and high wind.
Additional Considerations
The included mirror covers are a nice touch to keep your mirrors clean and clear, though they’re not attached to the rest of the guard. This guard is also a bit short, considering it should cover not only the windshield, but the windshield wipers as well.
That means that for larger vehicles, you may not have the same luxury of keeping your wipers snow and ice-free as smaller cars, especially considering the XL design is no taller than the standard size. Finally, considering the simplicity and oversights of this guard’s design, we expect that it would be more competitively priced.
However, it’s rather expensive for what it is, and at its price-point, it’d be worth considering something a bit more well-rounded. Other options may better suit your needs, such as the Laptom Windshield Snow Cover (if you don’t mind sacrificing a bit of convenience) or the OxGord Windshield Snow Cover (if you want to retain similar convenience with slightly more security). Neither of those guards come with the same stellar warranty as the FrostGuard Plus, but they’re worthy considerations if the price and design flaws of this guard are a concern.
Pros
- Easier to put on than any other frost guard
- PVC tubes make it easy to put on
- Includes mirror covers
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Sizing is confusing
- Mirror covers aren't attached to guard
6. Best Frost Guard for Large Vehicles: Marksign Windshield Cover
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Fittings: 4 wheel hooks, interior door flaps
- Size: 90”L x 60”H
- Material: Aluminum foil lamination, PEVA, microfiber cotton
- Anti-theft protection: Yes
- Storage bag: Yes
The Marksign Windshield Cover tackles windshield coverage a bit differently than other frost guards on our list. That’s because instead of simply covering the windshield, it covers a sizable portion of the roof, hood, and front door windows of your vehicle as well.
It also comes with separate mirror covers, yet utilizes the side mirrors to help anchor the guard in place. Finally, Marksign offers a 3-year warranty on this frost guard, a significant indicator of quality and how well the company believes in its product.
Ease of Use
This frost guard is rather easy to use, thanks to the way it’s designed. It should even be easy enough to put on in windy conditions, thanks to the mirror slots, which will help stabilize the guard while you attach the wheel hooks and door flaps.
Stability
Since it utilizes your side mirrors and wheels to keep the guard on, it should maintain its integrity and stay intact through high winds and bad weather. The hooks are rubber, meaning they might have durability issues compared to metal. But they’re still quite durable, and they’re less prone to scratching your rims.
Additional Considerations
Instead of magnets, this guard has an elastic lining around the edges to keep wind from pulling it up. It’s not totally fail-safe, and you might still find that snow or water can find its way under the cover if conditions are right. On that note, there is one major concern here.
The underside of the guard is a microfiber cotton lining. This is great for your vehicle’s paint, as it’s soft and won’t cause scratching. However, if water makes its way under the cover and freezes to your vehicle, you’re going to have a bad time trying to free it from your roof.
Another noteworthy feature of this guard is its interior door flaps. While most guards have them to prevent theft, Marksign accounted for a common problem with this security measure: water leaking into the car through the door flaps. The flaps being on the underside of the cover means that water won’t have a chance to make its way into your vehicle, should you have the guard on during periods of rainfall.
Pros
- Larger than other frost guards
- Interior door flaps prevent water from running in vehicle
- Cotton lining is safe for vehicle's paint
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Cotton lining can easily freeze to vehicle
- Outer elastic lining may be ineffective
7. Most Stylish Frost Guard: FrostGuard NFL Windshield Cover
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Fittings: 4 side mirror straps (with mirror covers), 2 door flaps
- Size: 60″L x 40″H (standard)/68″L x 40″H (XL)
- Material: PVC
- Anti-theft protection: Yes
- Storage bag: Yes
If you’re looking for a frost guard that’s effective, stylish, and brandishes your love for football, then look no further than the FrostGuard NFL Windshield Cover. This PVC-based cover amalgamates stability and convenience in a way that few other guards do. In addition to the team logo-adorned windshield cover, it also comes with a matching storage bag. There’s also two sizes available: standard and XL.
Ease of Use
One of the biggest advantages that FrostGuard’s NFL cover features over other frost guards is that it does not sacrifice convenience for stability or vice versa. Despite having multiple mirror straps, it’s really simple to use, even when you’re putting it on by yourself on a windy day, thanks to the weighted rods.
Stability
Those weighted rods we mentioned? They’re great for not only making it easy to put on, but for also keeping the guard stay flush against the windshield. Combined with the thick fabric, multiple mirror straps, and door flaps, it makes for a really solid frost guard that lives up to its promises of keeping your windshield frost-free.
Additional Considerations
Despite the superior combination of convenience and stability this has over other frost guards, the FrostGuard NFL cover is not without its flaws.
First, if you’re considering this product, then you’re probably a football fan. Unfortunately, you might not find a variant of your favorite team. Of the total 32 NFL teams, there are only 17 team variants. Furthermore, if you’re in the market for an XL guard for a larger vehicle, your choices are even more limited, with fewer team variants available in this larger size.
Aesthetic complaints aside, there seems to be an issue with sizing. While many frost guards aim to cover the entire windshield of your vehicle, this one seems to leave a gap on both sides of your windshield – a rather strange design choice. Fortunately, FrostGuard has very clear and concise sizing charts, but even at 68 inches in length for the XL variants, it seems rather small for large vehicles.
Pros
- Stylish, stable, and easy to use
- Weighted rods help keep it in place
- Comes with an NFL bag
- Multiple mirror straps for extra stability
Cons
- Not all NFL teams are available
- Sizing not adequate for all vehicles
8. Best Magnetic Frost Guard: Ice King Magnetic Windshield Cover
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Fittings: Door straps (with interior tie straps), 13 magnets
- Size: 70″L x 50″H
- Material: PVC
- Anti-theft protection: Yes
- Storage bag: Yes
The Ice King Magnetic Windshield Cover is the king of magnetic frost guards. Featuring 13 rare N52 earth magnets, extremely powerful magnets to keep it attached to your vehicle, this guard is built to withstand high winds and extreme weather. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you’ll have ample time to try it before fully committing to it.
Ease of Use
The Ice King guard is a fairly simple cover that’s easy to use as long as you’re not working with it in windy conditions. Since the cover itself is rather thin, it can be difficult to put on during windy conditions.
Stability
This guard is stable enough to weather most storms. The powerful magnets are where this guard really shines, as they should remain in place during blizzards and freezing rain. Combined with the door flaps and interior tie straps, it’s fairly stable.
The only thing we see wrong with this guard is the durability of the fabric separating the magnets from your vehicle. The fabric is rather thin and may wear out quickly compared to other magnetic guards, perhaps from prolonged use in high winds.
Additional Considerations
One of the biggest reasons this guard isn’t higher on the list is because of the dangers it presents to your vehicle’s paint job. With many other frost guards that include magnets, the most common problem is the magnets not being strong enough to weather storms.
Contrarily, the magnets on the Ice King are actually so strong, they can cause deep scratches to your vehicle’s paint if the wind manages to move the guard. Furthermore, the magnets may also lift paint off of your vehicle during the removal process. This isn’t a common problem, but it presents a risk you should consider.
If you have an old beater of a car, or you just don’t care about the paint on your vehicle, then this product is hands-down one of the best on the market. But if you have a shiny new car and want to keep it looking new, you might want to search for something less prone to scratching your vehicle.
For example, the Marksign Windshield Cover might not weather high-wind storms and blizzards as well as the Ice King, but it also presents less of a risk of damaging your vehicle’s paint job.
Pros
- Works reliably in windy climates
- Lots of strong magnets that keep it in place
- Tie straps help prevent theft
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Can be difficult to put on in windy conditions
- Magnets are strong enough to cause damage
- Material covering magnets may wear out quick
9. Best Frost Guard for Year-Round Use: Cosyzone Windshield Snow Ice Cover
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Fittings: Side mirror straps, door flaps, and 3 magnets
- Size: 58.6”L x 47.2”H
- Material: Aluminum foil and cotton
- Anti-theft protection: Yes
- Storage bag: No
The Cosyzone Windshield Snow Ice Cover is another frost guard that’s extremely convenient to use. Built for all types of weather, it works well for both summer and winter months, and comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Ease of Use
In terms of simplicity, this guard places an emphasis on convenience. It might be difficult to put on in windy conditions, but in fair weather conditions, it’s easy and effective. Since it’s a sun-shield too, you won’t have to switch it out seasonally like you would the other guards on this list.
Stability
It’s thicker than some guards, and sure to withstand heavy snowfall and scorching heat, but windy conditions may render it ineffective, especially compared to a guard like the Ice King Magnetic Windshield Cover. While its weak magnets may not work well to secure it in high winds, the magnets also aren’t strong enough to ruin your paint job.
Additional Considerations
This frost guard doesn’t come with a storage bag, so you’ll want to find something to store it in when it’s not in use. It’s also rather small, and thus it’s most appropriate for smaller vehicles. If you own a large vehicle like a truck or SUV, you’re better off with something like the Marksign Windshield Cover.
Pros
- Great for year-round use
- Good for use in calm weather
- 90-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Doesn't come with a storage bag
- Not suitable for large vehicles
- Won't hold up in windy climates very well
10. Best Universal Fit Frost Guard: SnowOFF Windshield Snow Ice Cover
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Fittings: Side mirror and wheel straps, door flaps (with interior suction cups), magnets
- Size: 62″ x 50″ (Medium)/74″ x 57″ (Large)
- Material: Nylon
- Anti-theft protection: Yes
- Storage bag: Yes
The SnowOFF Windshield Snow Ice Cover is another frost guard that comes in multiple sizes, both of which are larger than other similar guards we’ve found. Additionally, it’s long enough to cover your windshield wipers, and is the only frost guard with suction cups for your interior. This will help keep the guard secure and will go a little further in preventing theft.
Ease of Use
This guard is fairly simple to use in fair weather, but it may prove problematic in windy weather. With the various mounting methods this guard features, it will also take you more time to put on or take off the guard than others, like the FrostGuard Plus Winter Windshield Cover. However, the multiple mounts will keep it on your vehicle more securely than simpler guards like the FrostGuard Plus.
Stability
While the cover itself seems rather thin, albeit durable, there is a concern with the magnets not being strong enough to hold well on the vehicle. Since there are other mounting mechanisms, it should remain fairly stable, but high winds can render the magnets useless.
Additional Considerations
It comes with bonus gifts that other guards don’t: a microfiber cloth and an emergency thermal blanket. Who doesn’t like free gifts? Unfortunately, it feels as though its inclusion of these gifts are an unnecessary justification of the guard’s high price.
Pros
- Larger enough for most vehicles
- Comes with free microfiber cloth and thermal blanket
- Has suction cups in addition to other mounts
Cons
- Expensive, and free gifts feel like an unnecessary justification for higher price
- Weak magnets
- Relatively thin
Everything You Need to Know About Frost Guard Windshield Covers
So far, we’ve covered most of what you need to know about frost guard windshield covers. However, there are a few more things you should consider. We’ve outlined some potential problems and tips on avoiding common problems.
Problems to Watch Out For
As much as we’d love to suggest that these covers are foolproof products that’ll ensure you’ll never have to scrape ice off your windshield again, that’s simply not true. While they can curtail frosty windshields, problems may still arise.
Here are a few problems you should watch out for, and some solutions to them.
Door Flaps and Water Leaks
Door flaps are a great security measure, both against high winds and petty theft. However, they present an unforeseen problem in the presence of rain.
Because they go into your car doors, they can diminish the effectiveness of the rubber gaskets that keep your doors sealed. This can result in water finding its way into the interior of your car, leading to mold and mildew growth, among other things.
You might think this issue is limited to people with older cars, faulty seals, or loosely closed doors. But even brand new vehicles are susceptible, since vehicles aren’t designed with frost guards in mind.
For this reason, we recommend you try to avoid using these guards during rainfall as the best method for deterring this issue. However, that doesn’t account for unexpected overnight rain or high crime areas where door flaps are necessary. Not using the flaps can also diminish the effectiveness of the guard in general.
An alternative solution would be to test the flaps in a more controlled manner. Dumping multiple large cups of water on the secured door flaps, to simulate the effects of heavy rainfall, can help you determine whether this issue is present for you.
If you find water does not wick into the car through the flaps, then you’re presumably safe. If you do, then you can figure out if there’s a better way to position the flaps to prevent the issue.
Alternatively, you could choose a guard like the Marksign Windshield Cover to bypass this issue completely. It has door flaps located under the exterior cover, preventing water from making contact with the flaps and giving you peace of mind in knowing your cover and vehicle’s interior are safe.
Magnets
Magnets can be a great way to help secure your frost guard to the hood or roof of your vehicle. This can help prevent the guard from ballooning in high winds and help keep water from finding its way under the cover. However, weak magnets may be ineffective and may not hold up against strong winds.
Strong magnets do a better job of keeping the guard in place. However, they can present an issue with scratching or taking paint off of your vehicle. This is most likely to occur if debris sits between the magnets and your vehicle, or if the magnets are drug across the hood or roof.
Like the issue we outlined with door flaps, the best way to bypass this issue is to avoid them altogether. If you’d rather not risk magnets scratching your vehicle, then you might want to consider a guard like the Fedciory AutoClub Car Windshield Snow Cover.
However, you can further alleviate the risk of damage by ensuring the vehicle is free of debris when you place the magnets. You’ll want to avoid dragging the cover across the hood or roof when the magnets are engaged. You should also always check the cover for worn fabric where the magnets are located to ensure the magnets don’t come into direct contact with the vehicle, which may pull up paint or cause scratching.
Elastic Bands and Cold Weather
If you haven’t noticed, none of the covers we’ve included on this list solely rely on elastic bands to keep them in place. This is not only because elastic-only guards would present the risk of theft, but also because the rubber in elastic bands can suffer in cold weather and direct sunlight, and may not hold up to strong winds.
Because of this, we recommend using a frost guard that utilizes multiple points of contact with the vehicle and has a good warranty, such as the FrostGuard Plus Winter Windshield Cover. While the straps aren’t likely to break, you’re covered for 3 years after your purchase in case they do, to ensure you get your money’s worth.
Tips for Frost Guard Windshield Covers
Life is full of little things that we sometimes lose track of. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here are some common sense tips and reminders to help you with your frost guard windshield cover.
Remember to Measure Your Windshield Before You Buy
We mentioned this earlier, but we can’t stress how important it is to get a frost guard that’s appropriately sized for your vehicle. If you buy a one that’s too large or small, then it won’t work effectively, so measuring your windshield could save you money and hassle down the road.
Apply the Cover to a Dry Vehicle
You should make sure your vehicle is dry when putting your frost guard on. That means you might need to wipe down the areas where the cover will sit. If it’s raining or snowing and you can’t keep your windshield dry, think twice about putting it on. Otherwise you might end up with a frozen frost guard.
Freeing a Frozen Frost Guard
Listen, we understand that bad things happen regardless of how many precautions you take. The wind catches your frost guard just right, water makes its way in, and you wake up to your frost guard frozen to your windshield. What do you do?
You certainly don’t want to pull on it too much! Trying to rip a frozen frost guard off your car can ruin your cover and your mood. Instead, try warming your car up as normal and letting the heat melt the ice. If that doesn’t help or you simply can’t wait that long, you can also use a de-icing spray to help with the process (remember to wipe off the guard afterward).
Getting Frozen Wheel Hooks Unstuck
Just like your doors and locks can freeze shut, wheel hooks can freeze to your rims after freezing rain or other severe cold weather. You might be tempted to try to pry them off, but this could be seriously dangerous to you, your frost guard, and your vehicle. Instead, we recommend using a de-icing liquid to safely melt the ice and free the hooks.
Storing Covers That Don’t Come With a Bag
Almost all the frost guards on our list come with a storage bag. However, if you decide on one that doesn’t, you can simply store it in a grocery or garbage bag. It’s certainly not the neatest way to keep your frost guard stored, but it sure beats wet seats. There are also waterproof bags available online, if you’re so inclined.
Final Thoughts
Don’t forget to measure your windshield before buying and consider exactly how much protection you need. Whether you’re looking to protect yourself from a seemingly unending harsh northern winter or just a few weeks of sub-zero temperatures, there’s a frost guard on this list that should fit you and your vehicle perfectly.
Scraping a frosty windshield every morning before work can sure be a pain. That’s why you might want to consider a good frost guard windshield cover. Now that you have an idea of what’s available and what might work best for you, you can find the right cover to keep your windshield frost-free!
