The Benefits of Boot Mats For Your Car

Boot mats do a lot more than just protect the material lining in your car's boot. They can improve safety, help the environment and save you both time and money too.

Here Mudd-E share their expertise as to why you should seriously upgrade your car with a bespoke boot mat.

Improving safety

This is probably not the first benefit that comes to mind when thinking about boot mats. It is, however, arguably the most important. In the context of driving, safety ultimately comes down to control of the vehicle. One of the prerequisites for having full control of the vehicle is that it behaves exactly as you expect it to.

Boot mats are designed to create a surface with grip. When this is combined with proper load management it maximises the stability of the vehicle. When a vehicle is stable, it responds to handling as expected. This delivers the highest level of safety in the vehicle.

For completeness, proper cargo management means distributing the weight of the cargo evenly in the boot. In some cases, you may also need to strap down items for additional security.

Safety for pets

If you transport pets in your boot, then using boot mats will help to give them a more comfortable ride. If their paws come into direct contact with the boot, then a boot mat will give them a surer hold. If they are in smaller crates, using boot mats will give the crate a better grip.

Helping the environment

A car that’s stable and easy to drive is likely to use less fuel/power than an unstable car. This is particularly relevant if you’re still driving a petrol (or diesel) car. It still matters if you’re driving on electricity.

Saving you time

Boot mats protect your car’s interior. This means there’s less cleaning for you to do. That saves you valuable time. Many boot mats can simply be wiped over with plain water for a regular clean. Some may need to be vacuumed. Even if they get really dirty, it’s still easier to clean them than it is to clean your boot because they can be removed.

If all else fails and somehow you manage to destroy your boot mat, you can just recycle it and start again. This isn’t ideal but it’s a lot better than having to deal with damage to the boot itself.

Saving you money

There are two main ways using a boot mat can save you money. The first is reducing the amount you have to spend on fuel/charging. The second is by preserving the value of your car. Having a clean and undamaged interior is a positive signal for potential buyers.

Choosing the right boot mat for your car

The three materials most commonly used for boot mats are rubber, plastic (PVC) and carpet.

Rubber and plastic boot mats are both potentially good choices if you anticipate that your boot’s going to be exposed to a lot of dirt. They are both extremely easy to clean. Usually, plain water is all you need.

Neither rubber nor plastic boot mats are likely to be very aesthetically pleasing but this is often a fair trade-off for their easy maintenance. The main difference between rubber and plastic is that rubber is more durable, but this also makes it heavier.

Carpet boot mats tend to look better and feel more comfortable to the hand (or paw). They are, however, less easy to clean than either rubber or plastic.

Boot mats also generally come in a range of standardised formats (for different vehicle types) as well as custom-fitted mats. The former tends to be more affordable. They are also likely to be easier to find if you have an unusual model of car (e.g., an older one).