If you take a look at the bottom of your car, truck, or SUV, you will see that there is really not a lot in the way of protection in a lot of cases. Because the underside of your vehicle is in the closest proximity to the roadway, it can be most vulnerable, but a lot of vehicle owners completely disregard this fact. While you may hear of having your vehicle treated with undercoating for added protection, you may never really consider the idea thanks to some fairly common misconceptions. Here are a few of the biggest misconceptions about car undercoating and the real facts you should know. 

Misconception: Car undercoating and rust protection are basically the same thing. 

Fact: Car undercoating and rust protection are actually two totally different products. Rust protection applications are primarily designed to ward off corrosion by offering a sealant layer that is resilient to things like roadway salt and water. The application is thin (typically just sprayed on) and may even have to be reapplied over the course of a car's lifespan. On the other hand, undercoating is a thicker, almost rubber-like, material that does provide corrosion protection, but also creates an insulating layer between the bottom of the vehicle and the roadway. This layer of insulation keeps roadway noise down, absorbs shock, and just makes the underside of a vehicle more resilient in general. 

Misconception: It is fairly easy to apply undercoating to your vehicle on your own. 

Fact: You can actually buy the supplies that you need to apply an undercoating to your car on your own and there are even some pretty good products. However, the process of applying an undercoating can be daunting, messy, and difficult to accomplish if you don't have a vehicle lift in your garage. You will have to clean the underside of the car completely, scraping and sanding away any debris or rusty areas, apply a primer coat, and then paint the undercoating compound onto the undercarriage. 

Misconception: An undercoating will just make components harder to get to if something goes wrong. 

Fact: Car undercoating is somewhat thick, but not so thick that it will change either the appearance or function of any of the undercarriage components of your car. Furthermore, it is rare that you would ever have to perform work on the areas where the undercoating is applied, such as the axle or bottom of the fuel tank.