Aside from a home or real estate property, a vehicle is often the most expensive thing that most consumers own. There are a wide variety of accessories made to help people protect their investment, in addition to customizing their vehicle and making it a little more fun. A dash mat is one popular accessory that is both customizable and utilitarian.A variety of dash mats are manufactured and sold by different companies. The main purpose of a dash mat is to protect the factory-installed dashboard. The sun's harmful ultraviolet rays can result in fading, cracking and other signs of wear and damage on a dashboard, and dash mats can help to protect the original dashboard material. Also, a dash mat reduces glare and absorbs the sun's rays, instead of reflecting them, which can help to reduce the temperature of a vehicle's interior, particularly in the summer months, and protect the driver from harmful ultraviolet rays. Dash mats are made in a variety of materials, and each serves a different purpose. Basic dash mats will cover and protect the dashboard, and can be made of vinyl, molded plastic, or other similar materials.

These won't be as decorative as some other options, but they will be durable and stain-resistant, easy to clean, and will do an adequate job of protecting the factory-installed dashboard material. There are also more stylish mats that are made of carpeting, velour, or even brushed suede; these are protective, but also highly decorative, and are commonly purchased by people who are looking for not just the aforementioned benefits of a dash mat, but also to customize their vehicle, and have a luxurious and high-quality dash mat. The drawback of these materials is that dashboards get dusty, as any vehicle owner knows, and while plastic simply wipes clean, microfiber or other velour or suede-like materials can be difficult to clean. Many companies, especially online, will sell the dash mat, and ship it to you, at which point you are responsible for installing it. In many cases, unless you have experience with such installations, it may be better to have the dash mat professionally installed, to avoid potential complications from having it improperly installed.

Applying the dash mat improperly can result in a product that doesn't last as long, protect as well, or look as good as it otherwise would; however, more importantly, it can also result in damage to the factory-installed dashboard. Ideally, you should find a company that will not only sell you the dash mat you want, but which will also install it for you, as they will have a great deal of experience doing so and will be able to accomplish it more quickly, and with more skill, than other automotive detailers or repair shops might. Ensure that you purchase the correct dash mat for your make and model as well, because not only will it be ill-fitting otherwise, it may interfere with the operation of the airbags, or other important components of the dash.