You've almost made it through the winter, despite icy, snow covered roads. But the woes of winter linger on to damage your car.

There's a good chance that your car may be afflicted with some rust damage, thanks to the rock salt and liquid de-icers that kept you from sliding off the road."This can be much more than a cosmetic issue. It can also create serious safety issues for drivers by impacting brake lines, exhaust systems, fuel tanks and electrical connections," said John Nielsen, AAA's managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair.According to a recent survey from AAA, U.S. drivers spent about $3 billion a year on repairs for rust damage. While rock salt can cause plenty of issues on its own, the liquid de-icers can prove even more troublesome if they coat the undercarriage, or seep into cracks."Salt is a corrosive material, that's why we use it to melt snow and ice," Ron Young, public relations at PennDOT, said. "But if it sticks to the metallic surfaces of a vehicle, it can corrode it."Young said that the liquid de-icers are convenient for treating the roads ahead of time, rather than having drivers lay down rock salt during or after snow or freezing rain.AAA's report said that the average repair cost for rust damage is around $500."That's an easy amount to reach for rust repair," Penn Forest Garage owner and mechanic Dan Walker said.Walker said that his shop sees rust damage cases on a daily basis, most commonly on fuel and brake lines."The worse case scenario is when it gets inside these fully-boxed frames, and they rust from the inside out," Walker said. "I've seen a Chevy Colorado from '06 have to go to the junkyard because of a hole in the frame."Walker and AAA recommend avoiding the roadways immediately before, during, and after a storm in order to limit exposure to the de-icing agents.Wash that carRoutine car washing goes a long way toward preventing damage as well, but make sure to use a high quality car wash solution and target the undercarriage.Young said that PennDOT always recommends washing your vehicle after a storm, either at home or a car wash.Walker did point out that it could be a difficult thing to arrange for in the midst of the winter, but it does help significantly.Kerry Graver, a partner at Stan Graver Auto Sales and Service, agreed."Clean the undercarriage of your car, especially the places that aren't easy to get at," Graver said. "A lot of car washes have that option, or you could do it yourself with a pressure wand."If you wash your own car, always use a high-quality car wash solution, not a household dish detergent that will strip the wax from your vehicle.Graver emphasized that drivers who often travel on state roads and the turnpike are most prone to rust issues over time, due to the heavy use of de-icers on the roads.Remember to give your vehicle one last thorough cleaning at the end of the winter, too, just to remove any remnants of the corrosive chemicals.Touch up any scratches or dents on the body of the vehicle, as these little problems can grow over time.Before the start of winter, thoroughly wash and clean your vehicle and apply a coat of wax to protect the finish.These treatments can be especially important for older vehicles, as even the best preventative treatment can only slow down the onset of rust."Most new car manufacturers have some type of rust-proof undercoating, and some people get even more put on," Young said, indicating that additional coating is not absolutely necessary.Graver said that the damaging effects of rock salt and de-icer often result in damage to the undercarriage, because it is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind issue. You may not think about it since it's not readily apparent, but the problem is still there."It's not something that happens immediately, it usually happens over time," he said. "It's very gradual. It will keep eating away at it. You can have a car that looks shiny on top, but it's rusted underneath."So, take some time on a nice afternoon to give your car a thorough spring cleaning for rust prevention. Your vehicle, and your wallet, will thank you.