The Best Car Seat Covers to Save Your Interior

Jason Siu
by Jason Siu
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An affordable way to protect your seats and maintain a higher resale value.

Car seat covers are a practical, stylish accessory; they can also add value by keeping your interior in top-notch shape. A removable car seat cover can have fancy patterns and colors that spice up your interior, but its main purpose is to keep your car’s seats clean. Whether you want to protect protecting against spills, dirt, mud, or sweat, car seat covers come in a variety of prices and materials, so they’re not as easy to shop for as you may initially think. If you have a truck or large SUV, we cover those in a separate article.

Before we dive into our picks, we should address one of the biggest issues when it comes to purchasing car seat covers, which is that most products are designed to be a universal fit. While this works great for most applications, some owners don’t experience the same fitment as others due to how different seats can vary from vehicle to vehicle. Several companies make custom-fitted seat covers but may not have your particular model in stock and have to make them to order. They can also cost hundreds of dollars more than a basic universal set. If you’re buying a custom set, always check in with other owners, or contact the manufacturer to see if a particular product fits your vehicle’s seats before you purchase.

You’ll have many materials to choose from when shopping for a car seat cover. There’s everything from leather to cloth, neoprene, and many different styles of PU simulated leather. There are styles that cover the entire seat front and back, or just strap on to the front, as well as multi-piece sets that cover everything, front and back, including armrests.

In this article, we’ll take a look at our picks of the best car seat covers and what makes them so popular, as well as explain the different types of materials and what to look for when shopping for a car seat cover.

For more information on car seat covers, refer to our Table of Contents.

1. Editor's Pick: FH Group Universal Fit Flat Cloth Car Seat Cover

FH Group makes car seat covers in a variety of colors and styles, and we like the universal seat covers that include two front bucket seat covers and two headrest covers. Designed to fit almost all seats, these covers are made from durable, comfortable, and breathable high-quality polyester fabric with 3mm foam padding. It's easy to clean since they’re machine washable and air dry. You can choose from 13 different colors.

These seat covers feature a concealed Velcro opening and have adjustable straps that make for easy installation and removal. In addition, this product will not interfere with heated seats. Best of all, they’re one of the most affordable seat covers available on Amazon.

While this is one of the most popular items on Amazon, and it’s our pick, it does have a fair share of negative reviews. Not surprisingly, given the cost of the product, some owners complain that the material feels cheap. Positive reviews note how easy these covers are to install and how they accurately match the color shown in the product’s photos. More importantly, however, these seat covers do a proper job of protecting your car’s seats at a much more affordable price. We recommend them due to their variety of colors and styles, along with their price.

Pros

Price, variety of colors and styles, easy to install, adjustable straps

Cons

Cheap material, may slide on leather seats

Fabric seat covers won't keep a spilled cup of coffee from reaching your upholstery, but outside of perforated real leather, they're the most comfortable and easiest-to-maintain option available. They're cooler to the touch in summer and won't leave you in a pool of sweat, warmer in winter, and most importantly, you're less likely to slide around.

Leader is a large manufacturer of interior accessories, and we like their pair of front seat fabric seat covers because of their combination of construction and thoughtful design. To fit them on, you unroll them over the seatback and bottom, and they strap on tightly with a series of velcro flaps. A set of headrest covers completes the installation.

They're only available in one dark gray check color, but it's tasteful and should work with most interiors. The fabric is soft and machine washable and will help protect your seats from dirt and stains. They're thick enough that they should catch light spills, as well, as long as you don't let them soak in for too long.

Users report they can be an extremely tight fit, which will make installation challenging if you have thick seats, or limited headroom to get them over the top. Once they're on, the material and fit do a great job of keeping them from slipping during driving or when getting in and out of the car.

Pros

Won't slide around, washable, soft but durable material

Cons

Can stretch with use, tight fit on larger seats makes installation hard, only one color

3. Aully Park Waterproof Universal Car Seat Cover

These seat covers are also designed with the athlete in mind, protecting car seats from stains, sweat, dirt, and odors while wicking away moisture. Available in gray or black, they're machine washable and are the ideal car seat protector for all sporting and fitness activities. They’re easy to install since the headrest just clips into place and aren't intended to be used permanently. When they’re not being used, they fold up for easy storage.

Manufactured from comfortable and durable polyester terry and EVA, these seat covers are dual-layer and have anti-skid protection. They come in regular and large sizes.

Like similar products, many owners use this cover after an intense, sweaty workout to protect their seats. Their easy-to-install process makes it convenient for those specific owners since they can simply slip it on when needed. Some owners, however, have fitment issues with their particular vehicle, saying that the seat cover doesn’t fit well and slips. There are some complaints of tearing after extensive use. Aully Park offers a quality guarantee and money-back warranty, but no details on duration or criteria.

Pros

Machine washable, designed for sporting and fitness activities, easy to install, polyester terry and EVA material, anti-skid

Cons

Some complaints of tearing, not a snug fit on some applications

If you’re looking to add some luxury to your car, artificial leather is one way to go. OASIS AUTO offers several different styles of car seat covers, depending on your personal taste, and they’re available in a variety of colors, including black, black/red, burgundy, and tan. This way, you can get a shade that matches the rest of your interior. You can also choose between covers just for your front seats, or a full set to cover your rear seats, as well. The only catch is that you’ll have to make sure the bottom cushion of your rear seats is less than 57 inches.

These covers do a great job protecting your entire seat, and the company provides installation videos, so you get step-by-step instructions on how to install them. They won’t be as quick and easy to install as other seat covers on our list, but they offer more comprehensive protection, and you won’t have to worry about them slipping or sliding off. Users do say that the rear seat covers are a bit difficult to install, depending on your vehicle. A 30-day money-back guarantee is included if you buy a set with Amazon Prime.

This is a more premium option that can upgrade the look of your interior. The artificial leather is soft and comfortable, which is an improvement from some factory cloth seats.

Pros

Artificial leather, available in a variety of styles and colors, offers rear seat coverage, installation videos

Cons

Rear seat covers are difficult to install, universal fitment isn't great for some vehicles

Goodyear knows a thing or two about cars, considering it’s one of the world’s most well-known tire manufacturers. It also has a wide assortment of branded car accessories, including these neoprene seat covers. Offering water resistance to protect your seats, these seat covers will fit most vehicles (Goodyear says 92 percent of cars) and are side airbag compatible. The company says they’ll cover seats up to 46 inches tall by 18 inches wide, while the headrest cover will accommodate headrests measuring 10 inches tall by 11 inches wide. Both pieces are constructed from neoprene, so you’ll get full water-resistant protection from top to bottom.

This is a two-piece set and to install the covers, simply slip them on over the seat and the headrests. Again, they are designed as a universal application, so expect them to fit better on some cars and worse on others. If you do run into a mess and the seat covers did their job in protecting your seat, you can pull them off and toss them in the washing machine to get them clean and ready for your next drive.

The company also offers a padded sport seat cover if you have a feeling the fitted seat covers won’t work well on your car. The padded sport seat cover essentially drapes over the front of your seat and is constructed from PVC leather.

Pros

Neoprene, water-resistant material, side airbag compatible, two-piece set that also covers your headrests, Goodyear branding

Cons

Universal application means they won't fit well on every vehicle

6. Black Panther Car Seat Protectors

Sporting a luxury-themed diamond pattern, these seat covers are available in black, beige, gray, and black/burgundy. These are more like seat protectors than seat covers since they don’t offer full coverage. This also means they are airbag compatible, so you don’t have to worry about them interfering with any side airbag deployment. Made from polyurethane leather, the back of the protector features a non-slip rubber fabric that won’t damage your seats. This recommendation also incorporates a pair of pockets on the front for extra storage inside your cabin. They come in eight colors, including blue, orange, pink, mint blue, and wine red.

These covers install with a buckle and an elastic band up top, while plastic buckles and metal hooks are used to fasten the cover to the seat. Designed as a universal cover, the company says they should fit 95 percent of the vehicles out there.

Users say the material is soft and pliable, but the attachment hooks aren’t the greatest quality.

Pros

Soft and comfortable material, luxury diamond pattern, airbag compatible, PU leather construction, adds pockets to your seats

Cons

Installation hardware isn't the greatest quality, doesn't offer full coverage for your seats

Available in black/beige and black/gray are BDK Advanced Performance’s car seat covers. Designed for easy and quick installation with no frustrating backing, these seat covers ensure the back buckle is easily accessible, while sideless coverage provides easy access to armrests, controls, and side airbags. The product includes two front seat covers that require removable headrests.

This product has a sporty yet luxurious design and includes mesh texture panels. Installation is very straightforward. Owners simply cover the seat, tuck the bar, snap the strap, and cover the headrest.

These are relatively inexpensive seat covers, and most owners find them to fit well on their seats. They also found the cover to be comfortable and easy to install. There are several complaints about this product’s quality, saying the material is thin and the elastic is loose. Many owners say it didn’t fit their seats very well.

Pros

Price, easy to install, comfortable, fits well on some applications

Cons

Questionable quality, thin material, possible tearing issues

If you want something more stylish, Copap offers a lineup of seat covers in a variety of different designs. These seat covers feature premium saddle blanket material with 3mm foam padding and will fit most seats with built-in or adjustable headrests. The material is breathable and comfortable, and Copap includes a disc-style hook for easy installation.

These Baja-styled seat covers are available for front and rear seats in an assortment of colors to fit your style. This a great recommendation if you want something more colorful to accent your interior.

Pros

Variety of styles and colors, premium saddle blanket material, 3mm foam padding, disc-style hooks for easy installation

Cons

Does not fit well on larger seats, not waterproof

Different Types of Car Seat Covers

Carseat covers are made from a wide variety, and quality, of materials. Many of the recommended products use neoprene, which is mainly known for being water resistant. It’s essentially the same material used on scuba suits, so neoprene seat covers offer great protection against liquids, sweat, and other similar substances. This material is also great for those who want go off-roading and want to protect their seats from mud or rain.

There are some also some seat covers that use faux leather, giving your seats a more high-end appearance while protecting what’s underneath. These are typically more expensive and won’t have the same quality as real leather, but are cost-efficient seat covers that do more than just protect your factory seats.

Other seat covers will use materials such as polyester, resulting in a soft touch seat cover that’s highly absorbent. These tend to be machine washable and require a bit more maintenance than simply wiping down neoprene or faux leather, for example.

Cloth seat covers are often the softest and can often be tossed in a washing machine. It can sometimes be hard to get them to fit tightly, and the cheaper ones will stretch with time.

How to Choose the Right Car Seat Cover

Choosing the right seat cover for your vehicle largely depends on what you need it for. Is your intention to protect your seats from UV rays and possible spills? Or are you looking for added comfort? Some may even be shopping for seat covers to protect their seats from constantly absorbing sweat, after a rigorous workout at the gym.

Those looking to simply protect their seats from wear and tear and harmful UV rays and dirt can opt for any of the different seat covers available. You don’t need something particularly absorbent, which means you can choose from faux leather options or even more premium covers that use real leather.

If you often travel with pets and don’t want your car seats getting damaged, you will want to look for a seat cover that is easily washable, preferably with a machine. Those covers tend to be absorbent, so you’ll want to keep them clean and smelling fresh.

For those that want protection against rain, mud, or sweat, you’ll want to choose a seat cover that focuses on being 100 percent waterproof. These are often neoprene seat covers, which are fairly easy to maintain and install. You may not necessarily keep these seat covers on year-round, and they tend to be foldable and compact so you can keep it handy for when you need it.

Lastly, you may want to purchase a seat cover so that your seats aren’t hot to the touch during the summer, especially if you have leather. The opposite is true, as seat covers can also keep your seat somewhat warmer during winter seasons.

Like many auto accessories, choosing the right seat cover boils down to your needs. Make sure you get the proper material when picking a seat cover and look for reviews or contact the manufacturer to sell how well it fits your particular vehicle. Most importantly, you’ll want to avoid products that could stain your seats, especially if you have leather.

Can I Use Seat Covers on any Seats?

There are only a couple of situations where you might think twice about using a seat cover. If you have heated seats, check to make sure your seat cover is compatible. A thick, solid surface like neoprene or PU leather might trap too much heat in your seat, potentially damaging it. You shouldn't be in any danger of melting the seat cover, as car seats can easily reach over 125° in summer sun, and your seat heaters shouldn't get anywhere near that.

If your seat covers are washable, it's good idea to wash them before use. A hot, moist environment, like under your butt, is ideal for transferring dye. Take extra care to avoid this if you have Alcantara or suede upholstery. If there are seams, straps, or buckles under the bottom or back of your seatcover, these could also damage the upholstery.

Recent Updates

January 3, 2023: Removed promoted product recommendation.

December 28, 2022: Expanded introduction, updated images and product links.

December 20, 2022: Updated product links.

November 30, 2022: Updated product links.

December 3, 2021: Replaced discontinued Leader Accessories seat cover with an updated version. Updated descriptions and links. Expanded FAQ.


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Jason Siu
Jason Siu

Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.

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