0% for 18 months on purchases and balance tra… Citi Simplicity® Credit Card Calculators How we make money
VOATLAS
How to Buy Heavy-Duty Floor Mats Without the Winter Markup

How to · Auto

How to Buy Heavy-Duty Floor Mats Without the Winter Markup

Get your car ready for winter slush without taking a sudden hit to your monthly budget.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $200 before anything else
Across the 0% window $11.11/mo 18 months, no interest

How we got that: $200 spread evenly across the 18-month introductory window on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

Cars are money pits. Between insurance, gas, and registration, just keeping your ride parked costs a fortune. But if you don't want your cabin smelling like wet dog and mildew all winter, you need rubber mats before November hits. Dealers charge way too much for these, and late fall is when everyone else scrambles to buy them, which drives up retail prices.

When you buy a car, negotiate the price of the vehicle itself separately from the financing. A card window is for the deposit and the extras, not the whole car. If you already own your ride, don't put accessories on a high-interest store card. We can use a smart financing window to grab the mats now and pay them off slowly.

Keep in mind that this 18-month window is a hard deadline, not free money. If you still have a balance left when the promotional period ends, the standard variable rate will kick in on whatever is left, ruining your math.

The steps

  1. 01

    Shop before the first freeze

    Don't wait until the first snowstorm to order your mats. Retailers bump up prices in late November when everyone gets desperate. Start looking in October when stock is high and shipping is still fast.

  2. 02

    Go for laser-measured fit

    Cheap universal mats slide around under your pedals, which is dangerous. Look for brand-specific, laser-measured mats that lock into your car's floor clips. They cost more upfront but they protect every inch of your carpet.

  3. 03

    Spread out the cost

    Buy your mats with the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. It offers 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening. This lets you split the $200 cost into manageable chunks. You only need to pay $11.11 per month to clear the balance before interest kicks in.

  4. 04

    Skip the dealership markup

    Dealers love to roll accessories into your car loan, which means you pay interest on rubber mats for years. Buy them directly from the manufacturer or trusted online retailers instead. It's almost always cheaper.

  5. 05

    Clean them regularly

    Rubber mats only work if you take care of them. Spray them down at a self-serve car wash every few weeks to get the salt off. It keeps the rubber from drying out and cracking over time.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card carries the date a person verified it against Citi and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Citi Simplicity® Credit Card terms →

Common questions

Are weather-proof mats really worth the extra cash?

Yes, if you live anywhere with snow or mud. Salt ruins carpets permanently, which tanks your car's resale value when you're ready to sell.

Can I just use cheap universal mats?

You can, but they bunch up and slide under your brake pedal. Custom-fit mats stay put and trap liquids much better.

When is the cheapest time to buy?

Early autumn is the sweet spot. Retailers have full inventory and run early bird sales before the winter rush begins in November.

What happens if I don't pay off the mats in 18 months?

You'll start paying interest on whatever balance is left over. Just pay at least $11.11 every month to keep things interest-free.