Leaves and pine needles can clog rain drains, causing water to back up and seep into the passenger compartment. Clean these drains regularly.

Bird droppings are acidic and should be cleaned from your vehicle's finish immediately, before they cause damage. Because many species of birds ingest sand as an aid to digestion, their droppings can be abrasive, so be careful during removal.

Christmas trees tied to roofs and trunks can cause scratches, scuffs and dents. After getting your tree home, promptly remove ties, string or rope from your vehicle.

Salt, sand and gravel flung up from street salting can chip glass and scratch paint. Chips near the windshield edges are hard to see, and especially prone to cracking with temperature changes, since stresses are highest near the seals. These small chips should be repaired as soon as possible. To improve your odds, keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.

Take care removing snow and ice from your vehicle's finish, and use scrapers only for windows. They can scratch paint surfaces, window tint and rear view mirrors.