What is a seatbelt extension?

Anyone who has gained a little weight and increased in size knows how challenging it is to try to fit into last summer’s pair of skinny jeans. But what would you do if you found yourself unable to buckle the seat belt in your car? Many vehicles today come equipped with seat belts that are actually too short for a good number of the North American population, and this leaves larger drivers in a real dilemma as to whether they risk their lives by not wearing a seat belt, or go without driving their car.

Happily, this difficult decision now has a third option – the purchase of a seat belt extender. What is a seat belt extender? Well, this handy contraption is actually excess seat belt material that can be used to increase the size of your existing seat belt, allowing for a comfortable, and most importantly, safe trip in your car. Seat belt extenders come in various makes, models, and colours, and airline seat belt extenders can even be purchased for airline flights! No matter what type of vehicle you own, you are almost assured of finding a seat belt extender that will not only be compatible with your existing seatbelt, but also one that will closely match in colour.

There are two main types of seat belt extenders, ones that click into the existing belt, and others that are actually bolted right into your vehicle. As always, safety is of the utmost importance, so if you are installing the seat belt extender yourself, be sure to follow all instructions carefully. Also, be sure that the auto seat belt extender you are using is the correct model for your vehicle and the type of seat belt you have – for example, you may need special seat belt extenders for lap belts, over the shoulder belts, or harness styled belts.