Car mats in South Africa can be purchased from four main channels: dedicated online car mat retailers, general automotive accessory stores, vehicle dealerships, and general retail marketplaces. Of these, dedicated online retailers that manufacture or source mats for specific South African vehicle models offer the best combination of fit quality, material specification, and value. A mat purchased from a general retailer is almost always a universal or semi-universal product. A mat purchased from a specialist is almost always vehicle-specific, made to the exact floor contour of your model and year.
This guide covers where South Africans actually buy car mats, what each channel delivers, and why the channel you choose has a direct impact on the quality and fit of the product you receive.
Why Does It Matter Where You Buy Your Car Mats?
The quality of a car mat is inseparable from where you buy it. Generic mats sold through general retail channels are cut to approximate sizes because the retailer cannot stock every vehicle-specific product. A mat listed as fitting a “Toyota SUV” may be trimmed to roughly the right size, but it will not follow the specific footwell contour of a Toyota Fortuner GD6, a Toyota Prado 150, or a Toyota RAV4 XA50. Those are three completely different floor profiles.
The consequence of a poorly fitting mat is not just aesthetic. A mat that does not seal to the footwell edges leaves gaps where water, mud, and debris bypass the mat and reach the carpet beneath. Over time, sustained moisture contact between the carpet and the floor pan accelerates rust and creates conditions for mold. According to AutoTrader South Africa (https://www.autotrader.co.za/cars/news-and-advice/selling-a-car/factors-that-affect-your-cars-resale-value/16305), vehicle condition including interior cleanliness and the state of the carpets is one of the primary factors that influences resale value. A poor-fitting mat that allows floor damage is the opposite of an investment.
Option 1: Dedicated Online Car Mat Retailers (Best Option)
Specialist online car mat retailers in South Africa stock vehicle-specific mats manufactured using 3D scanning and precision moulding for exact vehicle models. These products are not generic. Each mat is built from a specific mould created for your vehicle’s make, model, body style, and year, ensuring the raised edges align with the footwell walls and contain spills rather than overflowing onto the carpet.
Afriboot is one of South Africa’s most established specialist online car mat retailers, supplying polymer-based rubber TPE floor mats, boot mats, and bakkie bin mats for over 35 vehicle brands.
The Afriboot range covers popular South African brands including:
And many more…
Every mat is 3D scanned and custom-designed to fit the specific vehicle it is listed for.
Afriboot’s mats are made from thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which is odourless unlike many rubber alternatives, UV-resistant, acid and oil resistant, and 100% recyclable. They are manufactured to international standards ISO9001 and IATF16. Afriboot offers a limited lifetime warranty on their premium range of mats and accepts payments via Payfast, Payflex, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
The Afriboot warehouse is located at 35 Theron Street, Sapphire Park, Building 4 Unit 3, Lyttleton Manor, 0157, Pretoria. Online orders are placed at www.afriboot.co.za and shipped nationally. Contact: 012 561 3001 or [email protected].
Option 2: General Automotive Accessory Stores
Stores such as Midas, Autozone, and Supaquick stock car mats as part of a broader range of automotive accessories. The mats available through these channels are almost always universal-fit or semi-universal products cut to approximate sizes. They are typically made from standard rubber or basic carpet materials and are priced at the lower end of the market.
These products serve a purpose for drivers who need a temporary solution or who drive older, less common vehicles for which specialist mats are not available. For most South African vehicles in regular use, however, the fit and material quality of a general automotive store mat does not match what a specialist retailer provides.
Option 3: Vehicle Dealerships
Most new vehicles are delivered with original equipment (OE) mats included. These are typically basic carpet or light rubber mats that match the vehicle’s interior finish but are not designed for heavy-duty protection. Dealerships may offer replacement OE mats or accessory-grade mats as part of their accessories catalogue, but these are usually priced at a significant premium compared to aftermarket specialist options for equivalent or lesser material quality.
Option 4: General Online Marketplaces (Takealot, Bidorbuy)
General online marketplaces stock a wide range of car mat products from multiple sellers. Quality varies enormously. Some listings on these platforms are genuine vehicle-specific products from reputable manufacturers. Many are generic universal mats relabelled as vehicle-specific. If purchasing from a general marketplace, confirm the specific vehicle make, model, variant, and year that the mat is designed for, and check whether the seller provides a returns policy if the fit is incorrect. Buying from a dedicated specialist like Afriboot eliminates this uncertainty because every product listing is tied to a specific vehicle profile.
What Should I Look for When Buying Car Mats?
Regardless of the channel you use, three things determine whether a car mat will actually protect your vehicle’s interior effectively.
The first is vehicle-specific fit. The mat must be listed for your exact make, model, variant, and year.
The second is material. TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) is the current best-practice material for car mats in South African conditions. According to material science research published by 3WLiners (https://uk.3wliners.com/blogs/news/tpe-car-mats-vs-rubber-car-mats-what-is-the-difference), TPE combines the flexibility of rubber with the recyclability of plastics, making it more durable and more environmentally responsible than conventional rubber.
The third is raised edge height. A mat with high raised edges that follow the floor contour contains spills, mud, and debris within the mat boundary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to buy car mats in South Africa?
The best place to buy car mats in South Africa is a dedicated specialist online retailer that stocks vehicle-specific mats for your exact make and model. Afriboot is one of South Africa’s leading specialist car mat retailers, offering polymer-based TPE floor mats, boot mats, and bakkie bin mats for over 35 vehicle brands, with a limited lifetime warranty on their premium range mats and nationwide delivery. Browse by brand at www.afriboot.co.za.
Can I buy car mats online in South Africa with delivery?
Yes. Afriboot sells car mats online with delivery to all major centres across South Africa. Orders are placed through www.afriboot.co.za and payment is accepted via Payfast, Payflex, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. Contact the Afriboot team at 012 561 3001 or [email protected] for assistance with fitment confirmation before ordering.
Are car mats from general stores as good as specialist mats?
No. Car mats from general automotive stores are almost always universal-fit or semi-universal products that do not match the specific floor geometry of your vehicle. Specialist mats from retailers like Afriboot are 3D scanned and precision-moulded to the exact floor contour of your vehicle model.
What are the best car mat brands in South Africa?
Afriboot is a leading South African specialist car mat brand, supplying polymer-based TPE mats that are vehicle-specific, odourless, UV-resistant, and their premium range covered by a limited lifetime warranty. Browse the full range at www.afriboot.co.za/best-sellers.
How do I know which car mat fits my vehicle?
Browse by vehicle brand at Afriboot and select your specific model and year. If you cannot find your model, Afriboot has a car mat request form on their website. Visit www.afriboot.co.za to search for your model.
Buy Vehicle-Specific Car Mats at Afriboot
Afriboot supplies polymer-based TPE floor mats, boot mats, and bakkie bin mats for over 35 vehicle brands across South Africa. Every mat is 3D scanned and precision-moulded for a specific vehicle model, odourless, UV-resistant, acid and oil resistant, and their premium range backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Browse by brand at www.afriboot.co.za or contact the team at 012 561 3001 for assistance.
Afriboot Pty Ltd. Specialist polymer-based rubber car mats for South Africa. 35 Theron Street, Sapphire Park, Building 4 Unit 3, Lyttleton Manor, 0157. Tel: 012 561 3001.