Car Consoles

Types of Car Consoles

Car consoles fall into four main groups. The right one depends on your seating, your shifter location, and how much storage you want.

• Bench seat consoles sit on top of a bench seat and add an armrest, cup holders, and storage.
• Floor and shorty consoles mount to the floor or transmission tunnel between two front seats.
• OE-style, vehicle-specific consoles replace a factory console and use the original mounting points.
• Overhead consoles mount to the headliner and put ceiling space to work for storage.

If you're after the last group, browse our overhead consoles separately from floor-mounted styles. Converting a bench seat car to buckets? Plan the seats and center console together, since a floor console needs open space between the seats.

Our bucket seats vs bench seats guide explains the tradeoffs in comfort, space, and installation. When you're ready, pair a new console with bucket seats sized for your cabin.

Universal vs Vehicle-Specific Center Consoles

A universal center console fits a wide range of vehicles, while a vehicle-specific center console is built around one model's floor pan. Choose universal for custom builds and flexibility. Choose vehicle-specific for a factory look and direct-fit installation.

Shopping for a universal center console for car or truck projects? Measure the gap between the seats, the transmission tunnel height, and clearance for the shifter and parking brake. If you're fitting a truck center console, check cab width and seat spacing too.

Vehicle-specific consoles suit restorations where you want original-style trim and bolt holes that line up. Our vintage car restoration guide helps you plan interior work in the right order.

Install new molded carpet before the console goes in, so it sits on a finished floor. For more selection tips, read how to choose an aftermarket center console.

Console Components, Lids & Replacement Parts

You don't always need a full console to fix a worn interior. Replacing a cracked lid, broken latch, or missing base can bring an existing center console back into service.

Shop console components for the pieces that hold a console together and connect it to your vehicle, including:

• Console bases and mounting hardware
• Console shift plates and shifter trim
• Console doors and lid latch buttons

Center console lids replace worn or torn tops and give you a fresh armrest surface. Match the lid to your console's shape and hinge style before you order. If only the latch is worn, you can replace that part on its own.

Want more comfort or storage? Add padded armrests to the doors, or mount extra drink and coin holders if your console lacks cup holders.

Bench Seat Console Materials, Colors & Features

A bench seat console looks right when its vinyl grain and color match your seats. The JEGS Standard Bench Seat Console with Cup Holders and Storage Compartment comes in three vinyl grains:

• Madrid Grain vinyl
• Sierra Grain vinyl
• Seville Grain vinyl

Color choices include Palomino, White, Red, Dark Blue, Midnight Blue, Dark Green, Turquoise, Silver, Parchment, and Dark Fawn. Compare your seat vinyl to both the grain and the color, since the right color in the wrong grain can stand out.

Each bench seat center console in this line adds cup holders and a storage compartment. Browse all JEGS center consoles to compare styles and options.

If your bench needs work too, choose seat upholstery covers in the same color family. That way, the seat and console look like a matched set.

Center Console Brands at JEGS

You'll find center consoles, lids, and console parts from several brands, and each one covers a different part of the job. Here's where to start:

• TMI Products center consoles number roughly 770, so you can compare many styles in one place.
• JEGS offers bench seat consoles with cup holders and storage, plus console components.
• OER supplies console components for replacement and restoration work.
• Golden Star, a classic auto parts brand, adds more console components for restoration projects.
• Auto Metal Direct offers center console lids for worn or damaged tops.

Start with the brand that matches your project type. Choose a complete console for a new install, or a component brand when you're repairing what's already there.

Looking past the console? Browse all interior parts to finish your cabin with matching seating, flooring, and trim.