Salt Corrosion & Rust by State

Snowy and icy roads create some of the worst road conditions for car and truck owners — and when salt gets dispensed onto the highway, it can cause rust on certain areas of vehicles.

The purpose of using salt on roads during the winter is to lower the freezing point of snow and ice. When states add salt to the roadway, the freezing point drops from 32 degrees to 20 degrees or lower. Salt also helps drivers to gain more traction during severe weather situations.

Although salt increases the friction between your truck’s tires and the road when inclement weather hits, it is a cause for concern because it can promote rust on your truck or car. Salt buildup can occur on just about any area of your truck, but it is especially common on areas affected by the spray from road. This includes fenders, wheel wells, fuel tanks, rocker panels and more.

Worst States for Road Salt

The worst states for rust come from an area known as the “Salt Belt”. State government trucks dump large amounts of the chemical compound onto roads in certain areas of the United States, causing cars to experience more destruction and rapid rusting compared to other parts of the region. States in the “Salt Belt” are:

• Alaska
• Connecticut
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Delaware
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Washington D.C.
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Missouri
• Maine
• New York
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• West Virginia
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

The worst states for rust are primarily located in the Northeastern portion of the U.S. As you can imagine, the “Salt Belt” also includes some of the worst states for car rust.

Parts Typically Damaged by Salt and Rust

The average truck suffers from salt damage in more places than one. As a key factor in preventing rust from overtaking your vehicle, it’s a good starting point to know which areas of your truck are more prone to corrosion. Take a look at the parts of your truck that may rust the most:

• Brake lines
• Cab corners
• Fenders
• Fuel tank and components
• Lower rear quarters
• Paint
• Rocker panels
• Struts and shocks
• Wheel wells

How to Protect Your Truck from Rust

While you may not be 100% guaranteed to avoid truck rust in the winter, you can take several steps to protect your vehicle from severe damage. Every truck in the Salt Belt region suffers from roadside salt, but here’s how to prevent rust on your truck in the winter:

• Clean the exterior and undercarriage of your truck: This should be part of regular maintenance, especially during the winter months with heavy snow and ice.
• Touch up damaged paint spots: Make sure to use a matching color.
• Apply wax: Apply it to both the cavity and exterior of your truck along with an undercoating.
• Use an anti-rust spray: This should be used after you perform each sealant job.
• Spray a coat of linseed oil: This will reduce the risk of your truck rusting for up to a year.

Rely on Body Shop Price to Help You Defeat the “Salt Belt”

If your truck experiences regular salt and rust damage, Body Shop Price can help you find replacement panels and parts to restore your vehicle and extend its life. Whether it’s your fenders, rocker panels, cab corners, fuel tank or something else, we can help you repair the necessary components of your truck that suffered from salt corrosion and rust.

Body Shop Price has a large inventory of high-quality body panels to keep your truck at its best. Contact us today or check out our inventory of body parts and panels to help repair and protect your truck from rust.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.