Is Car Fabric Protection Worth the Cost?

What Exactly is Fabric Protection for Your Car's Upholstery?

If you ask about the fabric protection charge, the business manager may first remind you how much time you spend in your vehicle. He’ll point out all the coffee stains in your trade-in and insinuate that your shiny new $20,000 investment is one value meal away from turning into a soccer mom’s castoff. He’ll then tell you about his dealership’s fabric protection, a special chemical treatment applied to all of your used car upholstery, so you’ll never have to worry about staining again. Furthermore, the fabric protection comes with a warranty, so if a stain ever does appear, you can take your car to the dealership and remove it at no extra charge. With a sparkling clean interior guaranteed for years to come, your vehicle’s resale value will skyrocket.

Is Car Fabric Protection Worth the Cost?

Paying the dealership for fabric protection now is an investment that will yield significant dividends down the road. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? While it’s true that fabric protection can provide valuable long-term defense against stains, did you know that you can purchase the same protection the dealerships use for $10 at your local Wal-Mart? The secret chemical protection many dealerships use to protect their vehicles’ upholstery is no more than Scotchgard. So actually, if you pay for fabric protection, you’re just paying for the warranty. If you’re still considering the dealer’s fabric protection, carefully examine the terms of their warranty to make sure they’re not too restrictive, because, often, they’ll only cover certain types of stains. To get the best savings on your new car, most experts recommend skipping the dealer’s fabric protection, buying a can of Scotchgard and doing the job yourself. The whole process should take no more than 10 minutes, and it’ll save you hundreds of dollars.