The short answer
Take the old mats out, lay each new mat flat in its own footwell, fix it to the car's floor fixings if there are any, then press each pedal all the way down and check nothing catches. Never lay a new mat on top of an old one.
Key takeaways
- Remove the old mats first. Never stack one mat on top of another.
- Put each mat in the right footwell: driver, passenger and rear mats are shaped differently.
- Use the fixing points in your car's floor, such as round twist studs, if your car has them.
- Press every pedal fully down and check nothing touches the mat.
- Check the driver's mat again after a few days of driving, and after every clean.
Before you start
- Park on level ground with the engine off and the handbrake on.
- Slide the front seats back so you can reach the footwells.
- Take the old mats out, along with anything that has collected under them.
- Vacuum the carpet while it is exposed, so the new mats sit flat.
Put each mat in the right place
A tailored set is shaped for specific footwells. The driver's mat is usually the easiest to spot, because it is shaped to leave room for the pedals. Lay each mat in the footwell it matches before fixing anything, and check that its edges line up with the sill and the tunnel.
Using your car's floor fixings
Many cars have fixing points in the carpet of the driver's footwell, and often the passenger's too. The most common are round twist studs; others use clips or hooks. The car mat glossary explains each term.
- Find the fixing points in the car's carpet.
- Line up the clips or holes on the mat with them.
- Press the mat down over the fixings and lock them, turning twist studs in the direction they are designed to go.
- Tug the mat gently towards the pedals. It should not move.
If your car has no fixings, the mat relies on its backing to grip the carpet. Make sure it lies completely flat, and check its position more often.
The pedal check
Do this before the first drive with new mats, and after every clean:
- Sit in the driver's seat in your normal driving position.
- Press the accelerator all the way down and let it return.
- Do the same with the brake, and with the clutch if your car has one.
- Check that no pedal touches or catches the mat at any point, and that each returns freely.
If anything catches, refit the mat before you drive. Do not use a mat that interferes with a pedal.
Common mistakes
- Stacking mats. A new mat laid on top of an old one sits higher, can slide, and stops the fixings working.
- Swapping footwells. A passenger mat in the driver's footwell will not clear the pedals properly.
- Refitting without the fixings. After cleaning, lock the mats back onto the fixings every time.
- Slippery cleaners. Tyre shine and silicone sprays leave a mat slippery underfoot.
Fitting a boot liner
Empty the boot, set the floor to the position the liner was made for, and lay the liner flat with its edges following the sides of the boot. If you are unsure which position you use, see how to check your boot floor.
Shop the mats this guide covers
Common questions
Can I put new car mats on top of the old ones?
No. Stacked mats sit higher, can slide and can reach the pedals. Take the old mats out.
How do twist studs work?
The clip on the mat sits over the round stud in the car's floor, and a short turn of the stud locks it. If a stud resists, try the other direction rather than forcing it.
My car has no fixing studs. Is that a problem?
Not in itself. The mat relies on its backing to stay in place, so make sure it lies flat and check it more often.
How often should I check the driver's mat?
After fitting, again a few days later, after every clean, and any time it looks out of place.
Do rubber mats fit the same way as carpet?
Yes. The fitting steps and the pedal check are the same for both.
How we wrote this guide
This guide gives general fitting advice. Where your vehicle handbook says something different about floor mats, follow the handbook.
Questions this guide does not answer? Write to us from the contact page.