Are your car seats hopelessly stained or torn—or just plain ugly? Learn how to order and install replacement seat covers for both back and front seats. Are your car seats hopelessly stained or torn—or just plain ugly? Whether you fill your vehicle haul kids and grandkids around or just spill lots of coffee, you know how easy it is for factory seat covers to rescuing with an upholstery cleaner and you want to spruce up your vehicle's interior, you have only three options: Pay a professional reupholster your seats (well over $1,000), buy used seats from a junkyard, or buy and install seat covers yourself. cost as little as $50 per seat for a universal-fit style or about $150 per seat for top-of-the- We'll show you how to order and install custom-fit seat similar across makes andThe job takes about two hours for front and rearThe only tools you'll need are a wire coat hanger

and some tape to fish the straps under plastic trim Everything else is included with the seat covers. How to buy seat covers Seat covers come in two styles: universalYou can buy universal seat covers right off the shelf at an auto parts store or order them online. Custom-fit seat covers must be ordered to fit your exact year, make, model andThey're far more expensive than universal-fit seat covers. like a glove, stay put when you slide in and out, and are more comfortable. custom-fit seat covers include breakaway stitching so the air bag can deploy properly if your vehicle has side bolster To get around the air bag issue and keep costs down, universal seat covers simply eliminate the fabric that would normally cover the seat air bags. reduce slipping, the manufacturers coat the underside of the fabric with an anti-skidThat makes them a bit more uncomfortable to sit on for long periods.

And they will inevitably slip out of place and wrinkle because they're not an exact fit for your seats. For some strange reason we don't understand, officially licensed designer camouflage and sports patterns are the most popular seat cover fabrics theseSpeed By SpectreSince the fabric designers get a royaltyWood Framed Sliding Mirror Doors on every sale, you'll pay more forToilet Seats Yellow American StandardIf you want to keep the cost down, skip the trendy camo and sports fabrics and choose a solid color. If you order custom-fit seat covers, you'll have the option of also ordering matching armrest and headrest covers, console covers, seat back storage and Buy custom-fit and universal seat

covers from retail and online auto parts stores, or directly from the manufacturer. We bought the custom-fit seat covers for this 2010 Subaru Outback at . We bucked up and picked the trendy Bill Jordan Realtree AP Snow camo pattern and added headrestThe front seat covers cost $341 andHere's how they install. When You Install New Seat Covers NOTE: We couldn't show you the trim disconnect and seat cover attachment points with the seat still inSo we bought a junkyard Subaru seat to show how everythingYou don't have to remove the seats from the vehicle to install new seat covers. And since most seats are made the same way, these instructions will work with the majority of makes and models. However, if the seat cover manufacturers' instructions differ from ours, follow Start with the front seat covers The bottom seat cushion covers usually attach to the seat with straps, bucklesYou'll have to thread

bottom cushion straps through the gap between the seat back and the bottom cushions (where the back reclines). That's easy in older vehicles. in newer vehicles is usually covered withThe bib is easyIt's connected to the seat springs with either clips or an elasticJust reach under the seat and disconnect the straps (Photo 1). bib to access the gap. Next, fit the seat cover onto the bottom cushion and thread the rear straps through the gap (Photo 2). straps toward the front buckles and bungee cords (Photo 4). seat cover “skirt” behind the plastic trim panels (if equipped). cover over the seat back cushion (Photo 5). Push the bottom straps through the gap and into the buckles just like you did on the bottom cushion (refer to Photo 3). Reconnect the bib panel and pull down on the rear portion of the seat back cover toThen stick the hook-loop edge to the bib to secure it. headrest covers onto the headrest (Photo 6)

and reinstall them on the seats. Then move to the backseats If your vehicle has 60/40 rear bench seats, remove the bottom cushion first. you have bucket seats in the rear, install them just like you did on the front seats. To remove a bench seat bottom cushion, run your hand along the front edge to locate the latch points. up at the latch points. doesn't release, push it straight back as you lift up to release it from the entire bottom cushion from the vehicle and set it on a bench. Install the bottom cushion seat cover with straps and S-hooks Remove the rear headrests and slide the rear seat back covers onto the rear seats. the attached hook-and-loop fasteners. Add headrest covers and Add a Bun Warmer and Lumbar Support If your vehicle didn't come with seat heaters, now's the time to add them. electric seat heaters fit between your existing seat cushions and the new seat covers and secure with elastic bands and straps.