This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives. Find out more here

Car seat covers aren’t about drowning your entire vehicle’s interior in plastic just in case of spills. There’s a whole range of protectors out there in various shapes and sizes for use on different areas of the seat and to address problems from dirty work clothes to damp dogs.

Think about the actual seat you want to protect. If it’s only the passenger or driver’s seat, go for a single protective cover or a pair, as you can always use one and keep the other stashed in the boot.

Fabric seats will obviously absorb nasties such as spilt drinks, urine and vomit, so ensure your cover is at least splash proof for an easier clean up. Most car seat covers are wipe-down only, as the protective backing can get damaged, but some, like the Ruffwear Dirtbag, can be machine washed at low temperature.

Is the cover going to come on and off or stay in situ permanently to cover damage? Elasticated covers or those with headrest straps are the fastest to fit or remove, while those with pin fastenings can be trickier to manoeuvre.

Finally, always check that rear seat covers have the required number of holes for seatbelt fixings, especially if you have three children in the back.

£67.35, Waitrose & Partners Best for: Pets on the move

Key specs – Number included: 1; Dimensions: 159 x 140 cm; Fabric: Polyester; Colour: Grey or tan

We saw lots of sling and hammock-style back seat protectors for pets and this was the best quality of the lot. There are a couple of things that make the Dirtbag stand out, including the superior tear-proof fabric and strong stitching.

The clips are also easy to adjust around the front and rear headrests, but if you wanted your dogs in a less enclosed space, the fabric that blocks the space behind the front seats can instead drape over the footwell in the back for protection from muddy paws on entry and exit.

Machine washable, it folds into a neat, handled pouch when not in use, too. Highly recommended.

£30, Argos Best for: Easy cleaning

Key specs – Number included: 3; Dimensions: 140 x 130 cm (back seat), 140 x 50 cm (front seats); Fabric: Polyester; Colour: Black

These easy-fit covers make sure every seat stays protected – even the car headrests. It’s a great price for a full set that could make your car look in far better shape, as well as protecting from spills and stains.

We didn’t test these covers in hot weather, but in average temperatures we found them comfortable to sit on and not at all “sweaty” as some faux-leather can be.

Don’t use harsh chemicals such as disinfectants or bleach when cleaning these covers though – for this “leather look” polyester your best bet is to wipe them down with warm water and a dash of washing up liquid.

£20, Halfords Best for: Smaller cars

Key specs – Number included: 3; Dimensions: 140 x 125 cm (back seat), 140 x 45 cm (front seats); Fabric: Polyester; Colour: Black and grey

Do you like to keep things neat and tidy but your family members sometimes hop in the passenger seat in grubby kit, or covered in DIY dust or allotment muck? Keep these covers from Halfords in place for those moments when you’d like to shout, “you can get the bus!”.

This basic set doesn’t have fancy styling but it’s durable enough to cope with school run mess and sports club pick-ups. When it’s a solo drive, they’re easy to whisk off and store in the boot. Note, there is no hole for a central back seatbelt on these and the fit is snug, so smaller, four-seater cars only.

£5, Wilko Best for: Kids and chaos

Key specs – Number included: 1; Dimensions: 150 x 120 cm; Fabric: Polyester; Colour: Black

Not up to the rigours of everyday use, this is a seat protector to have on standby in the glove-box for those occasions when things have got a bit muddy in the park, or someone is feeling a trifle car sick.

It has elastic loops to fit over the rear headrests and that’s about it. Nothing fancy, but for a fiver it could just save the day when needed most.

£12.99, The Range Best for: Heavy duty mess

Key specs – Number included: 2; Dimensions: 150 x 120 cm; Fabric: Polyester; Colour: Black

These waterproof covers are great for busy families who use their cars for work and play. Our tester’s builder partner often had to borrow her car to get to and from work when his van was being serviced, so popped these on. They were tough enough to cope with paint and dust from a renovation – stains that may not have been easy to remove from the upholstery.

This basic set of two front-seat covers doesn’t have fancy styling, and our tester found the fabric quite “cagoule like”, but once in place (via a series of loops and the enclosed fixing pins) it did the job nicely.

£14.43 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon Best for: Organised long-distance travel

Key specs – Number included: 1; Dimensions: 120 x 47 cm; Fabric: Polyester; Colour: Black and blue

Ideal for using underneath a car seat or with younger children, this protector has the bonus of a mesh pocket to store bits and bobs that are handy to have on a long journey. Wipes, bottles, sweets, they all tuck away nicely in the fold at the edge of the seat, which could be annoying for longer legged-adults.

Easy to affix via a headrest buckle, there’s a non-slip backing too.

£9.99, Little Life Best for: Little kickers

Key specs – Number included: 1; Dimensions: 56.5 x 43 cm; Fabric: Polyester; Colour: Grey and turquoise

The highs and lows of parenting encapsulated: feeling baby kick for the first time and then feeling small child kick the back of your car seat all the way home. Protect your upholstery from scuffs and scrapes with this kick mat, which has a couple of useful pockets for toys and snacks, and is easy to fix in place via the elasticated headrest strap and lower-seat buckle system.

£14, Dunelm Best for: Under child seats

Key specs – Number included: 1; Dimensions: 123 x 48 cm; Fabric: Nylon, PVC; Colour: Black

Designed specifically to go under your child’s car seat, this hard-wearing protector has tough, leather-look panels on key pressure points and is splash proof, so mouldy milk-stained upholstery is no more.

We liked the way it gripped to the back seats in our tester’s car and the dense foam padding worked well to stop indentations from the child seat pushing through to indent the leather. Designed with gaps for seats with IsoFix fittings, there’s no compromise on safety either.

£29.99, Halfords Best for: Long-distance comfort

Key specs – Number included: 1; Dimensions: 105 x 52 cm; Fabric: Polyester; Colour: Black

If you have a long drive to and from work, or are facing a long-haul road trip, this is the car seat cover for you.

The most structured and densely padded of all the covers we tried, this one aims to support your lower back, as well as your backside. It wasn’t quite as successful with a taller tester, but at 5ft 5, its main advocate was delighted with the support provided.

All rights reserved. © 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited.