How to Have Your Car Reupholstered

Reupholstering your car is one of the most effective ways to make it seem like new.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Car Parts

At the Shop

1. See whether the shop has a variety of materials to choose from.

2. Discuss your budget with the sales representative. What you're willing to pay will influence the type of material used in the upholstery work. Materials can cost from $6 a yard up to $75 a yard.

3. Ask to see photographs of the shop's work. Ask the sales representative to give you a detailed explanation of the process using the photos.

4. Try to watch work being done. Check the finished edges, the finished product. Is the upholstery secured well?

5. Choose the shop with which you are most comfortable.

Finding a Shop

6. Ask your car dealer to recommend upholstery shops. Car dealers often have the interiors of the cars they offer reupholstered.

7. Ask car audio specialty shops to recommend an upholstery shop. The specialty car audio shops often farm out the upholstery work to specialists, so they often know the best upholstery shops in the area.

8. Attend car shows and ask the owners of show cars to recommend an upholstery shop. Check out the upholstery in their cars, especially the finished edges.

9. Call the shops and find out what kind of upholstery work they do. Is it the type of work you want done on your car?

10. Choose two or three shops to investigate.

Tips & Warnings

• If you add an elaborate audio system to your car, new upholstery is often used as trimming to highlight the components of the system.
• The work can take from one and a half weeks to three weeks - and sometimes as long as four months.

on 11/22/2005 My trim experience is 56 years in the trade. Car dealers are not always your best resource as they're looking for price, not quality. Check with someone who's had work done. Find out how they feel about a shop. Quality work and materials save you money.

on 11/22/2005 If you are restoring a classic car you can buy all of the parts yourself. Taking the seats out requires removing only 4 bolts. The backs of bucket seats have cotter or retaining clips. Hit the junkyard and take a look, then do it yourself and save 60%.