How to Stop Seatbelt From Being Too Tight

Seatbelts save lives on the road. Unfortunately, people still end up injured or killed because they are not wearing one in their car seat. So why would someone not wear a safety belt and take that risk? A lot of the time, whether it be in a Ford, Toyota, Dodge, or Chrysler, they just don't find the seatbelt comfortable. A car seat belt that is too tight not only causes people to not wear them, but can actually cause injury - especially if they do not extend and retract properly. For your own comfort and safety, take a few extra seconds when you get in the car and make the right adjustments.

1. Move your seat back to free up some extra room.

Move your seat back to free up some extra room. Lower the seat if you are tall or raise it if you are short: seatbelts are designed for individuals of average height. Driver’s seat positions typically have the most customizable positions to help you sit comfortably at the steering wheel, but back and front seats should have enough room for adjustments to make the seat belt tension comfortable.

2. Get comfortable before you buckle your seatbelt.

Get comfortable before you buckle your seatbelt. If you sit back while buckling, but want to inch forward during the ride, it's going to seem too tight. If anything, sit forward and then move back a few inches after you are buckled in.

3. Lay the top of the belt across your chest and not your neck.

Lay the top of the belt across your chest and not your neck. The belt is going to feel tighter against your neck than your chest. Placing it across your chest is the safe way to wear a belt, as the seat belt locking mechanism is intended to prevent you from being injured by the airbag in the event of a car accident.

4. Pull the bottom of the belt over your waist and not your stomach.

Pull the bottom of the belt over your waist and not your stomach. This is the safe way to wear it, and the belt will also feel more comfortable against your waist than your stomach. Make sure the seat belt buckle locks firmly into place with the locking clip.

5. Buy seatbelt pads.

Buy seatbelt pads. These can be found in the car section of most chain retail stores. The extra padding these give might be the comfortable barrier you need between you and the seatbelt.

6. Take your vehicle to a mechanic if your lap belt still feels too tight.

Take your vehicle to a mechanic if your lap belt still feels too tight. While it might seem like an easy fix, the problem might be a mechanical issue with the pretensioner or seat belt retractor that a professional must repair to prevent serious injuries. When it comes to seat belt systems, it’s best to leave it up to a professional rather than risk a DIY.

Video: How To Fix A Slow Retracting Or Tangled Seat Belt

Helpful comments from the video:

• It turns out my issue was a little different - the seat belt had become hung up on a plastic thing under the cover. But because of your video, I wasn't afraid to pry off that housing and figure out what the problem was. Thanks!
• I cleaned the seatbelt as the video says and let dry for several hours and it didn't help at all but the next day the seatbelt felt so much lighter and works perfectly, ( It was still wet) I think I will clean it one more time to try and get it as clean as possible, Thx for posting the video 👍🏼