The heat is on and it is summer time.  I fact, August is often one of the hottest months of the year.  70, 80, even 90 degree weather means that a closed vehicle is going to heat up quickly. A car sitting in a parking lot all day can reach temperatures well over 100 degrees F.  Nothing is more uncomfortable to climb into your car only to sit on hot seats and breathe in the stifling air.  However, in hot weather there are ways to minimize a cooking car. You may even want to think about this while shopping for your vehicle.  Cloth seats are better than leather as far as heating up, and some luxury models even come with air conditioned seats, where small refrigerant units are actually built into the seats. Follow these tips and you may be better off:

Windows Shields

Aftermarket windshield shields that block out the sun’s rays are widely available. Not only do they lower interior temperatures, but they also stop the UV rays from damaging dashboards and fading fabrics.

 Find some Shade

If any shade is available where you will be parking, this is great way to lower the rate at which the vehicle heats up.  If there is no shade, park so that the sun comes in the back window. This will keep the front dash, steering wheel, and seats from getting so hot.

Crank the A/C

Once you enter that hot car, turn on the air conditioner and open your windows a couple of inches. This will efficiently lower the interior temperatures because the cool air produced will displace the hot air, pushing it out the windows. As soon as it’s cooled off, close the windows.

Vent the Windows

Lower the windows at least a half-inch to allow some airflow. This will slightly reduce the temperature, and allow for less stifling air.

Tinted Windows

Window tinting is very effective in lowering interior temperatures, but there are different rules regulating window tinting for every state. Some states prohibit tinting of the front windows, some states allow tinting, but the degree of tinting is defined, which varies from state to state.