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Summary
  • The mechanism of a heated seat is built to keep your back, thighs, and legs warm while inside the vehicle. It can be individually controlled according to the passenger’s preferences.
  • You can check your owner’s manual to know if you actually can put seat covers on your heated seats. Some automakers warn against replacing the seat covers on your vehicle as it can damage the warming mechanism.
  • Some automakers also caution against placing blankets, cushions, or anything that may insulate heat.

There’s nothing more satisfying than stepping inside a warm and toasty car after freezing outdoors on a cold winter day. In addition to cranking up the heater, you can turn on your seat warmers to take your comfort level one or two notches higher. Once considered a luxury feature in high-end vehicles, more and more mass-market models today come with heated seats as standard.

Like most people who want to protect the resale value of their cars, you may have wondered about using seat covers to protect your interiors from daily wear. So, can you put seat covers on heated seats? Before answering this question, let’s discuss how heated seats work.

black heated passenger seat
More and more car models nowadays come with heated seats as a standard feature.

How do heated seats work?

The technology behind a heated car seat is similar to that of an electric blanket. The mechanism is built inside the seat to keep your back, thighs, and legs warm while inside the vehicle. They can be individually controlled according to the passenger’s preferences. 

The mechanism is typically made up of three components—a resistor, relay, and thermostat.

Resistor – also known as the heating coil, this is a long strip of wire through which electricity flows. This component got its name due to its resistance to electricity, resulting in friction that is released in the form of heat.

Relay switch – a mechanical trigger that allows electricity to flow from the car battery to the resistor in your heated seats. After you turn on the switch that turns on the heat, the resistor or heating coil receives a small amount of electricity from an initial circuit that results in a magnetic field being formed. The magnetic field is what eventually triggers the relay switch, activating the flow of electricity from your car battery to the resistor.

Thermostat – this component is included in the system to prevent it from running indefinitely and overheating. It monitors heat output, deactivating the relay once the set temperature has been reached. As the seat cools down, it triggers the initial circuit so that the relay switch can be activated and the seats can be heated by the car battery again.

Can You Put Seat Covers on Heated Seats?

When deciding whether or not to use seat covers on your heated seats, it’s best to refer to your owner’s manual to check if you actually can. Some automakers warn against replacing the seat covers on your vehicle as it can damage the warming mechanism. They may also caution you against placing anything on the seat that will insulate heat, such as blankets and cushions, to avoid overheating.

Another question you may be wondering: can you put seat covers on heated leather seats? The short answer is that it’s not recommended to install seat covers unless they’re made of fire-resistant fabric.

Once you’ve determined that seat covers are safe to use in your specific vehicle, make sure to choose a set that is specifically designed for heated seats. These are typically made of breathable, fire-resistant fabrics that will not absorb heat as much, allowing you to stay warm and toasty.

It’s also best to get a vehicle-specific seat cover that will not interfere with the deployment of your airbags.

black heated leather seats of a car
It’s not recommended to put seat covers over heated leather seats unless they’re made of fire-resistant fabric.

Choosing the Right Material for Heated Seat Covers

Selecting the right material for your seat covers is crucial in ensuring your health and safety. A porous, well-ventilated, and fire-resistant fabric is strongly recommended.

Neoprene and neosupreme are heavy-duty fabrics that are known to withstand heat damage. The only downside of using these thick materials is that they may affect the rate of heat transfer.

Polycotton-drill or ballistic fabrics are more breathable, allowing your seat to warm up faster.
To help you find the right material for your seat cover, seek advice from an upholstery professional who can point you in the right direction.

How to Get Brand-new Seat Covers for Your Vehicle

Thinking about buying cheap seat covers for your heated seats? Well, think again. High-quality seat covers might not come cheap, but they’re worth it in the long run. Cheap but low-quality covers typically insulate heat, which is likely to damage your heated seats and can be costly to repair. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about any of that if you get brand-new seat covers from CarParts.com.

CarParts.com offers a wide selection of seat covers, all sourced from the most trusted manufacturers in the industry, so you can rest assured you’re getting the best of the best. Just be sure to use our vehicle selector and search filters, so you can easily browse through all the available products that are compatible with your ride. You’ll also be pleased to know that CarParts.com guarantees fast shipping, thanks to our strategically located warehouses around the US. Order by 12 p.m. ET, and you can expect your new seat covers to arrive in as fast as two business days.

Don’t settle for flimsy seat covers when replacing your worn-out seat covers. Check out our selection of high-quality seat covers at CarParts.com today!

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About The Authors
Written By Automotive and Tech Writers

The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.

Reviewed By Automotive Features Reviewer at CarParts.com

Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.

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Car Care 2024
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linda

Can I put seat covers on my leather (burn my butt) AC auto seats? I live in Florida

linda

Can I put set coers overs my leather AC seats (leather burns my butt) I live in Florida

VJ Gibbins

Thank you. That article addressed the exact questions I had. I also feel it was unbiased and trustworthy.

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