Exterior Accessories

Accessories for the outside of the car: breathable car covers for cars kept on the drive, roof bars and roof boxes for holidays, mud flaps, door-edge and bumper guards, number-plate surrounds, mirror covers and trim. British weather is hard on paint and rubber, so we lean towards covers with a soft inner layer and UV-stable outer, and towards fittings made of stainless or coated steel rather than bare mild steel.

What to look for: a cover sized by your car’s length and body style rather than a “one size” claim; roof bars matched to your roof type (raised rails, flush rails, fixed points or a bare roof); and, for anything that attaches with adhesive, a surface primer or at least a promise that the tape is 3M-grade. Anything electrical on the outside should carry an IP rating.

Related: lighting and bulbs, car care and caravan and touring.