Whether you are driving a brand-new vehicle or your ride’s new-car smell wore off long ago, adding a cool car accessory or three can go a long way toward making your car feel fresh and personalized. To achieve this, we’ve sourced these gadgets and gizmos to make your ride more fun to be in. Some are useful in vehicles of any age, while others add modern functionality to an older car. Better yet, these accessories make great gifts for a fellow car lover.

The best part about these items is that they’re a simple click away on Amazon—something most of us use all the time. So do your ride a favor (or any other car lover in your life) and check out these cool car accessories—see if there’s one that’ll make your time behind the wheel even more enjoyable.

Our Top Picks for Car Accessories and Gadgets

Car Registration & Insurance Card Holder

A Must-Have Organizer

Car Registration & Insurance Card Holder

$6 at Amazon$16 $14 at Walmart

Credit: TILDOSAC

Pros

Clear pockets

Organize your important info

Cons
  • The only time you’ll use this is when you’re in trouble

Keep all of your vehicle’s important documents organized with this handy holder that fits right in your glovebox. With clear pockets galore, you can fit and display insurance cards, registration, and other important info without embarrassingly digging through paperwork.

LED Cup Holder Lights
Cool Way to Light Up Your Cupholders

LED Cup Holder Lights

$12 at Amazon$14 at Walmart

Credit: WedFeir

Pros
  • Wireless7 colors available
Cons
  • 8-hour battery life could be longer

These rechargeable LED cup holder lights can transform any ordinary water bottle into a jug of neon-green nuclear waste in a matter of seconds. The discs are charged via USB cable and have up to eight hours of battery life while emitting one of seven colors.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Intellidash Pro X10

Car and Driver Intellidash Pro X10

Now 24% Off
$195 $149 at Walmart

Credit: Car and Driver

The Car and Driver Intellidash Pro X10 is an updated 10-inch touchscreen display that wirelessly integrates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into your vehicle. It is wirelessly compatible with both Apple and Android devices, offering a simplified interface with large icons for easy navigation.

The Intellidash Pro X10 provides multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth, an FM transmitter, AUX input, an internal speaker, and an AV-in port for multimedia content. Its wireless CarPlay functionality eliminates the need for cables, helping you achieve a clutter-free dashboard and center console. The system supports various features such as voice control, navigation, music streaming, smart assistant capabilities, and hands-free calling, depending on the connected device’s operating system.

Universal GPS Head-Up Display
Best GPS Head-Up Display

Universal GPS Head-Up Display

$43 at AmazonShop at kmart.comShop at Walmart

Credit: Lttrbx.

Pros

GPS powered

  • Features different displays
Cons
  • GPS readings can be slightly delayed

Speedometer doesn’t work? Or maybe you’ve upgraded with some larger wheels? Keep an eye on your GPS-provided speed with this head-up display. But that’s not all. The HUD also can display acceleration numbers, battery voltage, and trip time. Just plug it into the 12-volt socket, and you’re all set.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Wolfbox G840S Backup Camera

Best Dashcam

Wolfbox G840S Backup Camera

Now 15% Off
$120 $102 at Amazon$150 at Wolfbox$180 $121 at Walmart

Credit: WOLFBOX

Pros
  • Great image quality day and night
  • Built-in dashcam
Cons
  • Not wireless

Welcome to the future. The Wolfbox G840S has it all and then some: a massive 12.0-inch display that doubles as a mirror, a high-quality camera that performs fantastically well both day and night, and an integrated dashcam built into the display for recording what’s going on in front of you as well. In fact, the Wolfbox came out on top in our backup camera test.

Car Chap Lip Balm Holder

Best Lip Balm Holder

Car Chap Lip Balm Holder

Now 30% Off
$10 $7 at AmazonShop at WalmartShop at Etsy

Credit: Car Chap

Pros
  • Easy to install
  • Holds most tube lip balms
Cons
  • Oversize lip balms will not fit

Know someone who always has a stick or two of lip balm on them at all times? Those little guys can be so tricky to keep track of, but this lip-balm holder (aptly named the Car Chap) erases that problem. Simply stick it on wherever is handy, and you’re good to go. Holds lip-balm tubes up to 3/4-inch wide.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Govee LED Car Lights

Best Interior Lighting

Govee LED Car Lights

$17 at Amazon$37 at Walmart$33 at govee.om

Credit: Govee

Pros
  • 16 million colorsColors can bounce to the beat of the music
Cons
  • Requires app to unlock all colors and features

Interior LED lights seem to be all the rage these days, and this kit from Govee is one of the top-rated choices on Amazon. By using the Govee Home app, you can unlock up to 16 million different colors and even utilize Music mode—where the colors bounce to the beat of your tunes. Simply install with adhesive strips, plug into the 12V socket, and you’re good to go.

Car Seat Headrest Hooks

Best Purse Perch

Car Seat Headrest Hooks

Now 48% Off
$11 $6 at Amazon$15 $10 at Walmart

Credit: Amooca

Pros
  • Capable of holding 13 pounds each
  • Comes in a pack of four
Cons
  • May crowd rear passenger, depending on how big your bag is

These headrest hooks are a simple, genius way to keep your grocery bags or purse easily within reach. Just hook around the legs of a headrest—these bad boys are rated to hold up to 13 pounds each. Better yet, you get four of them in a pack.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
NOCO Portable Jump Starter
Most Compact Jump Starter

NOCO Portable Jump Starter

Now 20% Off
$125 $100 at Amazn$100 t farmandfleet.com

Credit: NOCO

Pros
  • Very compactEasy interface
Cons

Cables are very short, clamps difficult to squeeze

Portability is a key aspect when buying a jump starter, and it doesn’t get much more compact than the NOCO Boost Plus GB40. It’s very portable and boasts decent power, an override button, an easy interface, and two work lights. If you’re short on space and want to have a portable jump starter around, this is the one to get, as we found in our jump starter test.

Car Trash Can

Best Car Trash Can

Car Trash Can

Now 15% Off
$13 $11 at AmazonShop at Walmart

Credit: HOTOR

Pros
  • Leakproof
  • Doubles as a cooler when not in trash mode
Cons
  • Might crowd folks in the back seat

Those little compartments alongside your vehicle’s doors fill up with trash way too fast. A solution? Pick up this leakproof car trash can. It can strap on either headrests or your center console and can double as storage or a cooler when not in trash mode.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Trunk Organizer

Best Trunk Organizer

Trunk Organizer

Now 23% Off
$35 $27 at Amazon$33 at nestopia.comShop at Walmart
Pros
  • Collapsible
  • Tie-down system
Cons

This trunk organizer is excellent for drivers who like to keep stuff in their car. With multiple storage compartments and a tie-down system, the collapsible organizer will keep your groceries, tools, and more secure and contained. It’ll fit in your trunk, or your front seat if you want to keep your stuff within reach.

Blind-Spot Mirrors

Best Stick-On Blind-Spot Mirrors

Blind-Spot Mirrors

Now 33% Off
$17 $11 at Amazon$12 at Walmart

Credit: Utopicar

Pros
  • Increase visibility
  • Easy installation
Cons

Blind spots can be very dangerous, so stick some blind-spot mirrors on to expand your visibility. This is especially useful for folks who have difficulty performing head checks or vehicles with large blind spots. Just stick them on the top outside corners of both mirrors and you’re god to go.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Drop Stop Car Seat Gap Filler

Best Seat Gap Accessory

Drop Stop Car Seat Gap Filler

Now 20% Off
$25 $20at Amazon

Credit: Drop Stop

Pros

Fits most vehicles

  • Saves your items from the Gap of Death
Cons
  • Some reviews cite quality issues

If you’ve ever lost something in the abyss between your front seats and the center console—and who hasn’t?—you’ve likely thought, “Why doesn’t someone do something about this?” The folks at Drop Stop have. The Seat Gap Filler’s name says exactly what it does. This inventive product promises to prevent many future hand contortions—as well as the occasional skinned knuckle—due to lost change, pens, phones, keys, or anything else prone to falling into the no man’s land between the seat and center console.

Car Mirror Swinging Duck
Best Little Friend

Car Mirror Swinging Duck

$7 at Amazon

Credit: GZXYA

Pros
  • A duck with gold chains—awesome
  • And a big hat
Cons
  • You can’t match this duck’s level of coolness

If you need a little road-trip buddy, look no further—this li’l swinging duck will keep you company. Just strap it around your rearview mirror and watch him sway along with the bumps in the road.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
The Best Way to Remove Car Odors

Ozonics Micro3 Car Odor Eliminator

$60 t Amazon

Credit: Ozonics

Pros
  • Attacks odors with ozone molecules
  • Simple to plug and play
Cons
  • Takes up the 12-volt socket space while in use

This air purifier works differently than most. It doesn’t cover up odors like conventional air fresheners—the device actually releases ozone molecules to attack odors and improve the air quality. Toss it into your 12-volt socket and let it go to work removing those odors.

Avid Power Cordless Portable Tire Inflator

Best Portable Tire Inflator

Avid Power Cordless Portable Tire Inflator

Now 15% Off
$70 $59 at Amazon$279 at Walmart

Credit: AVID POWER

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Quiet
Cons
  • Not as fast to inflate as we’d like

The pistol-style AVID Power Cordless stood out in our test by stepping it up a notch without increasing the price much. It provides a secondary power option via your car’s 12V outlet, plus the package includes two of each kind of valve adapter. If we were shopping for a portale tire inflator to keep in our car, we’d have to pick this one.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Mando Push-Button Start Cover
This Is the Way

Mando Push-Button Start Cover

$10 at AmazonShop at Walmart

Credit: BestEvMod

Pros

Transforms your car into a starfighter

  • Gives your start button an upgrade
Cons

Not made of Beskar steel

The Mandalorian‘s iconic helmet has become instantly recognizable from the show, so why not add it to your ride? Simply adhere the alloy-steel ring around your vehicle’s push-to-start button, choose your style of Mando mask, and close it over the button. Now every time you want to start up your ride, it’s like flipping a switch on a starfighter.

Car Steering Wheel Tray

Best Option for Car Foodies

Car Steering Wheel Tray

Now 63% Off
$30 $11 at Amazon$25 at Walmart

Credit: EcoNour

Pros
  • Works with any round steering wheel
  • Set up for both work and food
Cons
  • Another excuse to work more

If you find yourself working and eating in your car quite often, consider this handy steering wheel tray. It works with any round steering wheel and features space for your laptop or a container of grub. It also has a cupholder on the side. The tray is perfect for mobile workers and foodies on the go.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Car Cleaning Gel

Best Car-Cleaning Gel

Car Cleaning Gel

Now 20% Off
$10 $8 at Amazon$16 at Walmart

Credit: TICARVE

Pros
  • Gets stuff out of the deepest cracks
  • Reusable
Cons
  • Lavender scent might not be great for everyone

We all know how tricky it is to get dust and crumbs out of your vents and interior cracks. Don’t worry about bringing out the vacuum—this handy cleaning gel will do the trick. It’s designed to goop up contaminants while keeping your hands from getting sticky.

Belkin Phone Mount
Best Phone Mount

Belkin Phone Mount

$30 at Amazon$30 at belkin.com$35 $30 at Walmart

Credit: Belkin

Pros
  • Twist-to-lock suction is very easy to use
  • Strong phone grip
Cons
  • Side tabs open together, inserting phone requires two hands

While you should never let a phone distract you from driving, a well-placed phone holder can make it much easier to play music or operate the navigation app from behind the wheel. There are hundreds of car phone mounts to choose from, but we picked this Belkin model because it performed very well in our test.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Car Interior Dust Brush
Best Interior Dust Brush

Car Interior Dust Brush

$6 at mazon

Credit: TEUOPIOE

ProsEasy, quick way to tidy up your dashboard

Fits in glovebox when not in use

Cons

Brush needs cleaning

Sometimes, dust on the inside of your car warrants a clean. You don’t want to be breathing that stuff in anyway. But what if you didn’t need to break out the Shop-Vac—which can be a pain. Solve that issue with this dust brush, which stores nicely in your glovebox when you don’t need it.

SuperOne 150W Power Inverter

Best Power Inverter

SuperOne 150W Power Inverter

Now 17% Off
$35 $29 at AmazonShop at almart

Credit: SUPERONE

Pros
  • Features a plethora of plug-in choicesFits easily in a cupholder
Cons
  • No USB-C ports

For a light-duty power inverter that does a little bit of everything, the SuperOne 150W is our pick. Featuring two USB, one AC, and two cigarette lighter–style ports, there’s room for a host of different gadgets. It’s rated for 150 watts, which might not sound like a whole lot but is enough for most electronic devices necessary for a pleasant family road trip. Because of its versatility, we loved it in our power inverters test.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Fire Missiles Cigarette Lighter

Goofy Cigarette Lighter

Fire Missiles Cigarette Lighter

Now 17% Off
$12 $10 at Amazon

Credit: Citadel Black

Pros
  • Impress your passengersAnodized aluminum construction
Cons
  • Missiles not included

If you’re feeling particularly James Bond-y, add this cigarette lighter to your ride to make your passengers raise an eyebrow. It’s a fully functioning cigarette lighter and features a rubber gasket for a tight fit. And thanks to anodized aluminum construction, it feels legit.

Ampper Exterior LED Light Kit
Best Exterior LED Lights

Ampper Exterior LED Light Kit

$19 at Amazon
Pros
  • Waterproof lights
  • Wide variety of colors
Cons
  • Electrical experience required for installation

For many drivers, a vehicle’s outward appearance is just as important as its performance. Others want additional exterior lighting to help their car be seen at night. For either of those needs, we recommend exterior LED lights like these from Ampper. Available in packs of two, four, or six, these waterproof lights can be placed anywhere on a vehicle and are designed for all weather conditions. They’re not intended as driving lights but do work well as puddle lights. They come in blue, green, red, white, and yellow. The lights must be wired to your vehicle’s electrical system, so you should see a knowledgeable installer unless you’re sure you can handle the job yourself.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Emergency Keychain Car Escape Tool

Recommended Safety Tool for Your Vehicle

Emergency Keychain Car Escape Tool

Now 15% Off
$10 $8 at Amazon

Credit: RESQME

Pros
  • Comes with a window-breaking function and a seatbelt cutter
  • Fits on your keychain
Cons
  • Is a bit bulky on the keychain

It’s always a good idea to keep an escape tool in your vehicle—you never know what might happen. This particular device features a dependable window breaker and seatbelt cutter in case of an emergency. Better yet, it fits right on your keychain.

Depstech Wireless Endoscope

A Handy Extra Eye

Depstech Wireless Endoscope

Now 26% Off
$50 $37 at Amazon$49 at Walmart

Credit: DEPSTECH

Pros
  • Waterproof
  • Display image on your phone with app
Cons
  • Accessories sold separately

Losing something important in one of your car’s many dark nooks or crannies can turn a 10-minute repair job into a frustrating hour-long affair. Not only will this wireless endoscope from Depstech help you locate that dropped 10-millimeter socket, it can also help retrieve it—as long as you buy the accessories kit. For the more mechanically involved, the scope can also be used for inspecting cylinder walls or hidden electrical connections. This device works wirelessly and projects the image from its tiny camera onto your cellphone screen.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Tile Mate

Best Keychain Companion

Tile Mate

Now 40% Off
$25 $15 at Amazon

Credit: Tile Mate

Pros
  • Perfect for keeping track of your keysTrack over long distances with the Tile app
Cons
  • Battery is not replaceable

The Tile Mate is a handy way of keeping track of your keys or other belongings. You can find them via Bluetooth if close enough or through the Tile app if farther away. With a convenient spot to include on a key ring, it’s a nice safeguard if you ever lose them.

Comsoon Bluetooth Auxiliary Jack Adapter
Best Aux Adapter

Comsoon Bluetooth Auxiliary Jack Adapter

$22 at Amazon

Credit: COMSOON

Pros
  • Wireless sound
  • Can be used with phone calls
Cons
  • Only compatible with vehicles equipped with an aux port

If you have a car with an auxiliary jack but no Bluetooth audio streaming, this affordable adapter can transform your music-listening experience. Simply charge it (or connect it to your car’s power outlet), plug it into your aux port, and pair your phone. Not only is the adapter good for high-quality audio streaming, it can also be used for phone calls using its built-in microphone. Who needs a fancy, expensive, Bluetooth-enabled radio?

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Solar-Powered LED Wheel Lights
Fun, Easy Lighting

Solar-Powered LED Wheel Lights

$15 at Amazon

Credit: Akarado

Pros
  • Easy to install
  • Solar-powered
Cons

Skeptical on how these actually look

If you do a lot of night driving, these might be a cool thing to try. The solar-powered LED lights screw onto your valve stems and illuminate in your choice of four colors. They’re built to be waterproof and will automatically turn on once wheel speeds reach 15.5 mph. We’re a bit skeptical on how these actually look, but for $15, it’s worth a shot!

USB Adapter

Easy USB Addition

USB Adapter

Now 20% Off
$9 $7 at Amazo$12 at mercari.com

Credit: AINOPE

Pros
  • Adds two USB ports
  • Flush surface
Cons
  • Without a cover, blue lights can be distracting

We all want USB ports in our cars now, particularly to charge our phones and power other devices. But getting those ports can be tricky and ugly—this little gizmo changes that. It’s designed to fit in your cigarette lighter port and stay flush, which looks cleaner while also providing two extra USB ports. Win-win.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Thumbs-Up/Thumbs-Down Light
A Friendly Accessory… Or Not

Thumbs-Up/Thumbs-Down Light

$26 at Amazon

Credit: Jaronx

Pros

Ability to display either thumbs-up or thumbs-down

  • Remote control via button
Cons
  • Manually flip around to change thumb position
  • Batteries not included

Want to show your polite displeasure with the guy behind you riding your bumper? Channel your inner gladiator and display the thumbs-down. The light uses a suction cup and batteries to stick onto your back window, while the one-button remote control can mount to your front vents. If you’re feeling friendly, you can also flip the light around and display a thumbs-up.

Amazon Echo Auto Gen 2

Best Alexa Car Accessory

Amazon Echo Auto Gen 2

Now 55% Off
$55 $25 at Amazon

Credit: Amazon

Pros
  • Unlocks Alexa in your car
  • Plays out of speakers via Bluetooth or aux input
Cons
  • Wires make it messy

It seems like you can connect to Alexa with just about anything these days, so why not add her to your car? The Echo Auto Gen 2 connects to your phone via the Alexa app and plays from your vehicle’s speakers via Bluetooth or auxiliary input. From there, you can stream music and podcasts, make calls, check the weather, pay for gas, and more.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Car Change Organizer

Best Change Organizer

Car Change Organizer

Now 50% Off
$16 $8 at Amzon$18 $15 at Walmart

Credit: JOYTUTUS

Pros
  • CompactEasy to insert and remove coins
Cons
  • We wish it held more

Change is slowly becoming obsolete, but it’s still out there, and hearing it rattle around your cupholders can be quite annoying. Getting this change organizer can help prevent that—it fits in most storage areas in a center console and makes it easy to pull out a few coins if the need arises.

Cargo Liner for Fold-Down Seats
Best Option for Dog Owners

Cargo Liner for Fold-Down Seats

$70 at Amazon

Credit: 4Knines

Pros
  • Waterproof laminate layer
  • Nonslip material
Cons
  • Can be tricky to install

If you have a dog that sheds, you know how exhausting it can be vacuuming the hairs out of your seats. Just avoid that hassle with this cargo liner, which features a waterproof laminate layer on top and a nonslip material on bottom. It’s designed to work with fold-down seats and around center consoles.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Ancel BD310 Corded/Bluetooth OBD-II Scanner

Best OBD-II Scanner

Ancel BD310 Corded/Bluetooth OBD-II Scanner

Now 33% Off
$89 $60 at Amazo$160 $78 at Walmart

Credit: ANCEL

Pros
  • Options for either corded or Bluetooth use
  • Excellent user interface for both options
Cons
  • The cord becomes redundant when using in Bluetooth mode

The Ancel BD310 is our choice as the Best OBD-II Scanner for Home Use. We loved the scanner’s happy medium between corded and Bluetooth capabilities and felt the app’s interface was excellent. It’s a unique scanner, as you can use it with just the corded interface or connect it via Bluetooth and use the free app to access more data, diagnostic resources, and performance testing. The BD310 was quick to connect and display codes, and it provided many of the perks of expensive scanners while staying affordable.

Dashboard Anti-Slip Pad
Best Dashboard Anti-Slip Pad

Dashboard Anti-Slip Pad

$7 at Amazon

Credit: BLAU GRUN

Pros
  • Silicone anti-slip constructionMakes your dash a place to secure stuff temporarily
Cons
  • Bit on the small side

Dashboards aren’t usually very grippy, but they can be a convenient place to put stuff temporarily—frustrating, right? This silicone anti-slip pad helps with that. Measuring just under 11 by six inches in size, it’s a nice spot to hold your phone or glasses without letting them fall off the dash.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *