Universal vs Tailored Seat Covers: Which is Better?

Whether you want to protect your car seats or simply switch up the style of your vehicle, seat covers are now becoming increasingly popular. There are many out there for you to choose from, with some offering a universal fit, whilst others are specifically tailored or your car. So, which is better?

Why buy a seat cover?

Custom seat covers are becoming increasingly popular as a way to customise the interior of your vehicle. They can add a new pop of colour, a pattern or a design that can help to reflect your personality and make the inside of your car a more enjoyable place to be.

They are also proving to be a life saver for those who might be experiencing wear and tear inside their car. Pets can leave behind scratches and hair, whilst children are great at spilling drinks and wiping sticky fingers across your upholstery.

Getting into the car after a gym session can leave some interesting sweat marks, and those who use their vehicles for work can drag in all sorts of dust, dirt and debris. These will all take their toll on your seats and leave behind marks that can be incredibly hard to get off.

Car seat covers provide excellent protection against a lot of this, helping to keep your seats looking good and maintaining your resale value. Then, if a little accident happens, you can easily remove the covers and wash them with far less hassle.

When you buy a seat cover, you will need to choose between universal and tailored options. As you might expect, the universal covers are designed to fit and seat in any car, whilst the tailored car seat covers will have been made to the exact dimensions of your make, model and age of car.

The fit

When buying a car seat cover, one of your biggest concerns will need to be how it fits. As a universal cover has been designed to be used in multiple vehicles, you can find that it will bunch in certain areas and sag in others, which can mean that it doesn’t look as attractive as you might have hoped. As the name suggests, a tailor-made car seat cover will have been put together specifically for the seats in your car, and so it should fit like a glove.

A tailored seat cover will also have been designed to fit around your seatbelt buckles, adjustment leavers, headrests and even you cup holders, so there are no problems around accessing all of the features of your car, which is not something a universal seat cover can guarantee.

The protection

Both universal and tailor-made seat covers will be made from hard wearing materials in order to protect your seats from the day to day use that you put it through. It is important to check what each one is made of, and that it is washable. You should remember that if your seat cover does not fit properly, there may be gaps where spills and UV light can still get to, so for the ultimate protection, you need a superior fit.

Customisation

A universal seat cover has been designed to cover all eventualities and fit just about anywhere, so the styling options may be a little limited. You will usually have a small selection of designs and colours to choose from, which may not fit your taste.

As tailor-made car seat covers are made to order, you can not only enjoy a wider selection of colours and fabrics, but you can also choose from a number of other customisable options. These might include coloured trim or some form of embroidery so that you can include your name, your car brand or a funky slogan or message. This can be a great way to make your car feel really personal and unique.

The cost

The price of your seat covers is always going to be a factor, and it should not be ignored that universal car seat covers are often less expensive than their tailor-made counterparts, which can be useful if you are on a budget.

However, it is important to remember that you are protecting an individual that is worth thousands, and so paying an extra few pounds to give it the defences that it needs can be worthwhile. Whilst tailor-made car seat covers can be more expensive, they are still often a very reasonable price and can offer excellent value for money when you consider the quality of the product.

Versatility

Universal car seats may not offer the perfect fit, but the nature of them does mean that they can be moved from one car to another with ease. They can simply be removed from one car and fitted into another in a matter of minutes, so you won’t need to buy a new one when you buy a new car. However, as a tailored car seat cover is made to the exact specifications of your vehicle, you won’t be able to take it with you when you swap to another vehicle.

Installation

A custom car seat cover will usually come with its own installation kit to make the process of fitting it much easier. As it is made for a specific car, your seat cover manufacturer will know exactly what is needed to get it into place and can provide you with instructions on how to do this.

As a universal seat cover could fit almost any vehicle, there will be a lot more guess work involved and there may be different ways to install it depending on your vehicle, so there might be an element of trial and error before you get it right.

When you are looking to protect the interior of your car, it is generally better to do it with the best quality materials that you can. A tailored car seat cover can offer you the perfect fit and so the best possible protection as well as unrivalled levels of style.

Get your seat cover today!

Our car seat covers are tailored to a wide range of different car manufacturers and models, providing options for everyone, so if you’re interested in our seat covers, whether you prefer universal or tailored, you can get yours right away. If you have any further further questions please get in touch with our team today.