How to keep your car cooler in the Australian sun: practical tips
The short answer: to keep your car cooler in the Australian sun, park in shade or angle the windscreen away from the sun, cover the glass, and let the hot air out before you drive off. These habits make the cabin more comfortable, but a parked car heats up very fast whatever you do, so never leave a child or pet inside, not even briefly.
Why your car gets so hot so fast
Sunlight passes through the glass and heats the dashboard, seats and floor. Those surfaces then warm the air, and the cabin traps it, much like a greenhouse. The numbers below come from Australian motoring clubs and child-safety groups.
Sources: Queensland Family and Child Commission paper on heat in vehicles (citing RACQ and Kidsafe data) and RACQ.
Two more findings worth knowing: a car parked in the shade can still reach similar temperatures to one in direct sun, just a bit more slowly, and a bigger vehicle makes very little difference. Kidsafe says a parked car can end up 20–30°C hotter than the air outside.
Tips to keep your car cooler in the Australian sun
Pick the situation that sounds like yours and we’ll show you what helps most.
- Park in shade where you can, or angle the windscreen away from the afternoon sun.
- Pop a windscreen sunshade in place. It takes seconds and keeps the dash and wheel off direct sun.
- Take everyone with you, including kids and pets, and keep your keys in your pocket.
- Use a full-size windscreen shield or sunshade so the dashboard, steering wheel and seat tops stay out of the sun.
- Park facing the way that keeps the sun off the windscreen at the hottest part of the day.
- Throw a light towel or cover over the steering wheel and seat so they’re comfortable to touch when you return.
- An external sunvisor shades the windscreen from above while you drive, cutting glare on long highway days. See our guide to sunvisors for Hilux, LandCruiser and Patrol.
- At camp, park so the cab sits in shade and use a shield or shade on the windscreen.
- Carry a spare shade so you can cover the glass at every stop.
- Open the doors for a moment to let the hottest air out before you get in.
- Drive with the windows down for the first minute, then wind them up and use the air conditioning.
- Touch the seatbelt buckles and child-seat buckles before you use them. Hot metal can burn.
Sunshades, shields and external sunvisors: what each does
They’re often lumped together, but they do different jobs. Reports of RACQ testing suggest that sunshades and window tint may slow how fast the cabin heats up, while final temperatures end up much the same, so treat them as a comfort measure, not a safety one.
| Option | When it works | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Windscreen sunshade or shield | While parked | Keeps direct sun off the dash, wheel and seats, so surfaces are more comfortable and your interior is better protected |
| External sunvisor | While driving | Shades the windscreen from above, cutting glare and direct sun on you and your passenger |
| Open windows or a gap | While parked | Only a small effect: about 5°C cooler with a 10 cm gap, and still dangerous |
| Parking in shade | While parked | Slows the heating, but the cabin can still reach high temperatures |
Thinking of fitting an external sunvisor? Check are external windscreen sunvisors legal in Australia? first.
Never leave children or pets in a hot car
No shade, tint or sunshade makes a parked car safe. RACV warns interiors can reach 70°C in minutes, even in the shade. Take children and pets with you every time, and keep your keys out of kids’ hands so they can’t lock themselves in.
If you see a child or animal in distress in a car, call 000 straight away. For a lock-in, RACV and RACQ roadside assistance are on 13 11 11.
Common questions about keeping your car cooler
Does cracking the window keep a parked car cool?
Not enough to matter. RACQ testing found a 10 cm gap made the inside only about 5°C cooler, which is still dangerous.
Does parking in the shade make a big difference?
It slows the heat build-up, but a shaded car can still reach similar temperatures to one in full sun. Shade helps comfort, not safety.
Is a windscreen sunshade worth it?
Yes for comfort and for protecting your dash and seats from direct sun. Just don’t treat it as a reason a car is safe to leave occupied.
What’s the fastest way to cool a hot car when I get back?
Open the doors briefly to let the hottest air out, drive with the windows down for the first minute, then close them and use the air conditioning.
Do external sunvisors help keep a car cooler?
They shade the windscreen from above while you drive, reducing glare and direct sun in the cabin. They’re a driving-comfort accessory and don’t make a parked car safe to leave anyone in.
Stay cooler on the road
Our external sunvisors, sunshades and shields are made for Australian conditions. Find yours:
This article is general information. Figures come from the cited Australian motoring and child-safety sources and vary with conditions. Vehicle rules differ between states and territories, so check with your transport authority before fitting any accessory.
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