Riding with a fastened seat belt protecting you from flying out of the vehicle during an accident is the safest way to travel; however, there are some people who cannot ride comfortably with a fastened seat belt due to their size. If you have found that buckling your seat belt is highly uncomfortable, consider using a seat belt extender to make the ride more comfortable, while still getting the safety you need. Use the guide below to learn everything you need to know about seat belt extenders.

Not All Seat Belt Extenders Are Alike

There are some generic seat belt extenders on the market that claim that they can be used with any seat belt, but this is not the case. Every car manufacturer has a unique set of seat belt latches and uses a different length of seat belt. In order to have an extender that suits your needs properly, you need to purchase one that is made for your specific make and model of car.

Know the Length You Need

Take the time to sit in your car in a comfortable position. Pull the seat belt as far as it can go comfortably and then use a tape measure to measure the distance between the end of the belt and the seat belt latch. This allows you to determine how long you need the seat belt extender to be. You want to add two to three inches to the measurement you found to ensure that you have a little wiggle room, so that you can still buckle up when you are wearing bulkier clothing, such as a winter jacket.

Install the Extender

All you do to install the extender is clip the end of the seat belt that is attached to your car into the latch located at the end of the seat belt extender. You can then sit down in the car and position your seat so that you are as comfortable as you can be. Pull the seat belt across your body and hook the other end of the seat belt extender into the latch that is attached to the car. The extender will give you the extra inches you need to ride comfortably, without having to compromise on your safety while in the vehicle.

When you go to get out of the car when the extender is installed, be sure to check to make sure that it is all the way in the car before closing the door to ensure that it does not get caught in the door. If you slam the door on the extender, the latch could break, making it useless. Contact a company like Yearwood Performance Center for more information about aftermarket car parts.