Are seat covers worth it?

They are if your car gets serious use: children, pets, tools, trips to the beach or lots of miles every week. The cover takes the wear the upholstery would otherwise take, and comes off for washing whenever needed. It costs a fraction of restoring a worn or stained seat - and the upholstery underneath stays as it was.

What's in this collection

Max car seat covers in universal sizes that fit most cars with no tools or adjustments. Includes a dedicated set for vans with a 3-seat bench - a size that's hard to find and can't be solved with car seat covers.

How to choose

• Count the seats. A 3-seat bench in a van needs a dedicated cover. A car seat cover won't cover the middle seat or fit properly.
• Check for side airbags. If your car's seats have them - it's in the manual - choose a compatible cover. It's the most important point and the most often forgotten.
• Think about how you use the car. If you carry pets or eat in the car, you want a surface that wipes clean. If you drive long distances, you want comfort in the backrest.
• Front seats first. The front seats take almost all the wear. If you don't want to kit out the whole car at once, start with them.

Before you buy

Measure the backrest and seat base and compare them with the dimensions given for each product. Universal means it fits most seats, not all: deeply bolstered sports seats and seats with an integrated console are the most common exceptions.

To take care of the rest of the interior, see also interior cleaning and in-car comfort.