Specifically, if the seat upholstery (leather, cloth, or vinyl) needs a small repair, one of the most common fixes is to use a patching kit. These kits work on small tears or holes. However, patches won't totally hide the flaw-no matter how careful you are when applying them.

If the seat material is in bad shape, another solution is to go to your local auto parts store and buy an inexpensive set of covers, which slip over the factory seats and attach with buttons, ties, or hooks. They come in a variety of styles and color choices. But they are sometimes ill-fitting universal slipcovers, and the results aren't always desirable. On the upside, you won't have to remove your seats to install them.

If you have deeper pockets, you can turn to a professional auto upholstery shop that can custom-tailor new seat upholstery to your exact specifications. But, the process can be labor-intensive; it takes days or even weeks to complete the job, and you're without a ride for just as long. So what's a good alternative?

The company's kits are made to replace the factory seatcover material at the correct mounting points, so you get as close to the original look as possible. It also offers steering wheel wraps, shift and emergency brake boots, and even an assortment of upholstery tools should you need them.

The upholstery kits are manufactured from automotive-grade, vat-dyed, top-grain leather and come with a full warranty against defects. Leatherseats.com can make just about anything in 100-percent leather or vinyl if you choose or even custom design something for you. It also has suede inserts and perforated forms if you want to get fancy.

If this is what you are looking for, you'll have to remove all the seats from your vehicle to install them properly. A typical leather/vinyl combination interior kit sells for $575 to $925, depending on the application.

If you own an early model vehicle, be sure to find a supplier for the seat frame foam before you place an order. You will want to be sure your frame foam is still strong and pliable and not deteriorating too badly. The driver seat gets the most wear, so carefully check it out before you begin.

Raw foam suitable for truck seats can usually be found online or through the phone book. You can even order it from the factory in some cases. We were fortunate that the factory foam beneath our well-worn cloth seat fabric was still in good condition, so we lost no time with the installation on an '06 Dodge Ram.

We ordered a set of charcoal gray seatcovers in the leather/vinyl combo online, and in a few days our kit arrived. Leatherseats.com also has a retail outlet in Oklahoma City if you're ever in the area.

Placing the order online took just a few minutes, and the cost to redo the front and rear as well as the center console was less than $900, including shipping.

True, that was a lot more money than a cheap set of over-the-counter seatcovers, but the quality and fitment reflected the price. Leatherseats.com regularly ships its product to new truck and car dealerships across the country when a customer wants leather instead of cloth seating.