Everyone has a car lover in their life. Whether they’re your spouse, your uncle, or your favorite neighbor, you know at least one person who is really into their car. Regardless of who that person is, this list is packed full of things they will love.
We hunted down the best of the best in-car accessories and convenience items that will make great gifts for the car fanatics in your life. Before we dive into the list, we’re going to give you a rundown on how we decided on the products we chose and how we organized our reviews so you can easily skim through and find the perfect gift idea for car enthusiasts.
What to Look For in Gifts for Car Lovers
We wanted this list to have something for every type of car lover, from busy parents to classic car restorers. As such, the products on our list vary greatly in purpose, but each item was handpicked from among its competitors based on a few key factors which will be discussed in each review.
Practicality
Car lovers don’t want to fill their rides up with useless junk they’ll never actually use. The gift ideas on our list are made for people who love their cars and want to keep them clean, organized, and safe. Some products on our list are great gifts for anyone who owns a car thanks to their usefulness and practicality.
Each item will be discussed in terms of its specific purpose and its overall likelihood of being put to use by its owner.
Quality
People who really love their cars will want quality products that help them take better care of their vehicles. No aficionado will want some flimsy tool for working on their ride or some goofy accessory to decorate it. Car lovers appreciate that high-quality products get the job done better and last longer.
We’ll go over the relevant quality features of each product and give our general impression of the item’s overall level of quality, durability, and effectiveness.
Who It’s Best For
The third section of each product review will detail specific types of people for which that gift is best suited. We’ll use this section to mention special use-cases as well. The very last section will be a pro/con segment for easy scanning and comparisons.
Without further ado, here are the top 20 gift ideas for the car lovers in your life.
Top 20 Gifts for Car Lovers 2020
1. Best Overall Gift: Car Trunk Storage Organizer
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
One thing is for sure about car lovers: they love gadgets and tools. It’s likely you won’t be the first person to gift the car lover in your life a car-related item. That’s why giving them something like a storage organizer is guaranteed to please.
Not only does this multi-compartment storage solution provide ample room for any necessities, but it also offers versatile storage space with its collapsible design. This trunk storage organizer offers three modes: open mode, half mode, and collapsed.
The open mode provides the most storage possibilities with a capacity of 17 dry gallons of storage while the half mode offers 9 dry gallons of storage capacity but taking up considerably less space in the trunk. The final mode, collapsed, still offers 1 dry gallon of storage, but folds neatly into a small form factor when the extra space is needed.
Quality
Drive Auto Products makes some really sturdy stuff and this car trunk storage organizer is no exception. Crafted from durable 600D Oxford canvas, this storage solution is rugged and built to last. Each panel is reinforced with stiff base plates to provide additional strength to the container while ensuring it doesn’t collapse on itself and lose its shape. This storage solution also comes with sturdy carrying handles for carrying tools and supplies from the car or house to outdoor events or on camping trips.
Who It’s Best For
This car trunk storage organizer is amazingly versatile and is a practical gift for pretty much anyone who has a car and doesn’t already have a storage system like this one. We can see outdoorsy types and people who carry around a lot of tools finding this gift particularly useful thanks to the portable design of the storage organizer and its rugged construction.
Pros
- Versatile and convenient for everyday use
- Made from thick 600D canvas material
- Great for grocery trips and camping trips alike
- Can be used in the garage or throughout the house
Cons
- Included tie-down straps could be sturdier
2. Drop Stop Car Seat Gap Filler
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Easily one of the most frustrating and embarrassing ordeals to put up within the car is losing something down the side of the seats. The Drop Stop is a seat gap filler that prevents objects of all sizes from getting lost in the “carmuda triangle.” We’ve all experienced the pain of shoving our hands into this gap in order to retrieve dropped phones, coins, and greasy fries. With the Drop Stop, this is a thing of the past.
Quality
The Drop Stop is durable and cleverly designed to fit just about any front seat. The high-grade neoprene casing allows it to stretch and squeeze into tighter or wider gaps without sagging. Designed with a slot where the seat belt catch fits in, this car seat gap filler can even stay in place when the seat is moved or readjusted. On the downside, the stitching on these has been known to break, albeit irregularly.
The best part is the Drop Stop fits so well into seat gaps that you won’t even know it’s there until it saves your fries from hitting the floorboard and prevents them from getting squashed on the side of your seat. The only real drawback of Drop Stop is that it only works for the inner gap of each seat. If you drop your phone down the door-facing side of the seat, you’re on your own.
Who It’s Best For
This is a product that can save everyone many embarrassing and painful moments of having to pull over, shove the seat forward and backward while trying to squeeze their hand into impossibly small gaps to get their phone back. This is another fantastic gift idea for anyone who owns a car and doesn’t have one of these already.
Pros
- Inexpensive and extremely practical
- Easy to install
- Moves with the seat
- Works for basically every car seat
Cons
- Only fills the inner gaps of your seats
- Stitching may wear out over time
3. Best Budget Gift: Armor All Car Cleaner Kit
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
This gift is particularly practical because it offers four great products that are almost certain to be wanted by car lovers. This kit offers everything a car lover needs to detail the inside and outside of their car. The glass wipes and protectants are particularly useful for automobile aficionados to keep on hand at all times. Better still, this care kit is very inexpensive and is a simple gift to give anyone with a car.
Quality
Armor All is one of the most well-known brands that helps car lovers take care of their vehicles. Each product in this car care kit is of the utmost quality when it comes to vehicle cleaning and maintenance. This kit includes protectant to help stop dashes, consoles, and seats from fading, aging, and cracking, as well as a bottle of wash and shine wax, foaming tire cleaner, and a container of 25 glass wipes.
Who It’s Best For
Anyone who wants to keep their car looking like new will appreciate receiving this handy kit as a gift. These also make a great gift for parents because you can promise to detail the recipient’s car for them!
Car care kits are particularly good gifts because they won’t go to waste even if the recipient already has them. Worst case scenario, you top up their stock of car cleaning supplies and save them a trip to the store.
Pros
- Four different products for taking care of cars in one kit
- Won’t go to waste even if the gift recipient already has these products
- Very inexpensive
- Perfect for all types of car lovers
Cons
- Not the most “fun” gift to receive
- Gifting this might end with you doing chores
4. Car Emergency Roadside Kit
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
This gift is the kind of gift that offers something to the recipient and the person giving it alike. Ensuring the car lover in your life has an emergency roadside kit will help give you a little peace of mind when they’re out on the road alone. Likewise, having an emergency kit in their car will help them feel more at ease by giving them the knowledge that they are prepared to handle issues that may occur during their travels.
Quality
Unlike most other car emergency kits, the First Secure Emergency Roadside Kit comes with high-quality and rugged products instead of flimsy garbage that will break the second it’s put to real use. The towing cable, bungee cords, jumper cables, and air compressor are all sturdy and reliable products. On the negative side, the included first aid kit is handy for a boo-boo, but it isn’t likely to be terribly useful in the event of serious injury.
Who It’s Best For
You might have seen this one coming, but we think this is yet another gift that’s great for anyone who drives. This is just the kind of thing that every car on the road should have at hand for when something goes wrong. It’s particularly suitable for young drivers who have just begun their life on the road.
Pros
- Useful for every car owner
- Packed full of sturdy and useful items
- 90-piece roadside set + 48-piece first aid kit combo
Cons
- The first aid kit is mostly band-aids and gauze
- Large and fairly hefty at just over 8 pounds
5. Car Seat Protector and Backseat Organizer
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
This is an everyday item that can be used as a seat liner and a storage organizer. The seatback setup has a clear pocket for storing and displaying tablets to keep backseat guests entertained on long rides. The backseat organizer can also be used to store drinks and snacks for easy access, as well as reducing the chance of spills caused by juggling snacks on laps.
Quality
Made from durable canvas with sturdy pocket and strap stitching, this seat cover/seatback organizer is built to last. The seat cover side boasts non-slip vinyl corners to stop baby seats from sliding around on the back seats. It feels like Lebogner really thought of everything when designing this product. The only real downside is the material is a bit on the thin side which might not be ideal for some.
Who It’s Best For
This car seat protector and seatback organizer is particularly useful for parents of young children as it provides great protection and security during the car seat years with the ability to be flipped around to be used as an organizer and entertainment center. This product is particularly useful for people who make a lot of car trips traveling with guests or children in the car. We also think this is an especially great gift for people who drive for Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare systems.
Pros
- Great for protecting seats from spills and scuffing
- Versatile thanks to its ability to flip between seat protector and seatback organizer
- A simple and cheap solution for seatback entertainment options for Uber and Lyft drivers
Cons
- Somewhat thin material
- You might need two so your toddler to sit on one while using the other for seatback storage
6. Best Premium Gift: Bluetooth Pro OBDII Diagnostic Car Scan Tool
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
This scan tool will allow users to connect the device to their car’s input port to read and clear codes that their car sends out. These are like the computers used by the guys at repair shops and can help owners diagnose check engine lights and numerous other alerts and warnings from their car. It pairs via Bluetooth with smartphones and uses a simple to understand app for reading out diagnostics to the user.
Quality
The BlueDriver Sensor and the app are both high-quality products that are regularly updated and come with 24/7 customer technical support. The price is a bit steep on this compared to some similar products, but we feel this particular product is head and shoulders above the competition thanks to its ease of use and reliability.
Who It’s Best For
This gift is particularly useful for DIYers who would rather diagnose and fix their own car rather than take it to the shop. Some car owners would rather pay mechanics to look at their car, but many car enthusiasts like getting their hands greasy and will love having the ability to diagnose their car’s issues on their own.
Pros
- Great device and app for easy car diagnostics
- Made for true car enthusiasts
- Perfect for DIYers
- Easy smartphone and tablet connectivity
Cons
- Fairly pricey
- Requires some car knowledge to make use of it
7. Portable Car Charger and Jump Starter
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
It’s no exaggeration to say that this gift could save someone’s life one day or at least save them from having a really crappy day. Not only does this portable car jumper give you the ability to get that burst of juice necessary to bring a dead car to life, but it can also be used to charge all kinds of devices on the go. It even has a powerful LED flashlight in addition to various charging ports for things like laptops, tablets, and phones.
Quality
Compact and durable, this charging and jump-starting device offers excellent power when needed while easily fitting inside a glovebox when not in use. The battery is capable of jump-starting a vehicle up to 20 times on a single charge. The device even has an LCD screen and compass if you ever get truly lost on the road.
Who It’s Best For
This is a great product for anyone who owns a car. This device can help bring your car’s engine back to life. This is particularly useful for people who have a tendency of leaving their car lights on, but really anyone could use one of these in their car. This offers a great performance to cost ratio, but it’s far from the cheapest gift on our list.
Pros
- A fantastic gift for just about anyone with a car
- Included flashlight and compass for all kinds of emergency needs
- Capable of starting a car 20 times on a single charge
- Small enough to fit in a glovebox
Cons
- The kind of gift you hope someone never needs to use
- Fairly pricey compared to a lot of other options on our list
8. The Drive Bin Car Trash Can
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Anyone who finds themself in a car often has experienced the need for a handy trash can. The floorboard can become a real pigsty even after just a single fast-food meal eaten in the car. There’s even a mesh side pocket for storing additional liners. The Drive Bin can also be used for general car storage purposes.
Quality
Made from sturdy canvas with a solid strap and buckle that secures easily to door handles or seatbacks, the Drive Bin is versatile and rugged. The interior is made from a sealed thermal lining that keeps liquid inside the container to prevent leaking from condensation or trash.
The container has a canvas lid that can be closed with a Velcro closure system that, unfortunately, doesn’t do a great job of securing the contents. The soft-sided container won’t keep its shape if you set it on the floorboard either, so it’s best to use this as a hanging bin.
Who It’s Best For
This gift is perfect for anyone that spends a fair amount of time in their car, but especially those who often eat in their car. Having a garbage receptacle on hand in the car is incredibly handy for people that need it, but it may be a waste of space for those that don’t.
Pros
- Great for people who spend a lot of time in their cars
- Inexpensive and versatile
- Capable of storing cold drinks on ice without leaking
- Comes with extra can liners
Cons
- Soft-sided and won’t hold its shape when standing upright
- The lid closure system isn’t secure enough to prevent spills
9. Meguiar’s X2000 Microfiber Drying Towel
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Microfiber towels such as this are primarily used for preventing water spots after hand washing a car. However, they can also be great for general purpose cleaning of interior surfaces as well.
Quality
Meguiar’s Microfiber Water Magnet Drying Towel is an excellent microfiber cloth for cleaning and drying purposes. However, these towels don’t wring out well and need to be air-dried after use. This would be a great gift to go alongside the car cleaner kit on our list.
Who It’s Best For
Anyone who likes to take special care of their ride will appreciate the value offered by a high-quality microfiber towel such as this one. This is a great gift for people who take their cars through car washes and want to prevent water spots by hand-drying directly afterward.
Pros
- Excellent quality drying towel
- Useful for interior and exterior cleaning/detailing
- Ideal for people who enjoy regularly washing their cars
- Low-cost gift idea
Cons
- Fairly pricey for a single towel, but still a cheap gift idea overall
- Requires air-drying after use
10. Most Practical: resqme Keychain Car Escape Tool
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
This is an exceptionally practical device. What makes this tool particularly useful is the fact that it’s a keychain. If you ever find yourself completely stuck in your seat, you won’t be able to fetch a tool from the trunk and you might not even be able to reach the glovebox, but you will be able to reach your keys and access this handy guy.
Quality
Made with durable plastic housing and from sturdy, reliable components, the resqme car escape tool is always ready to get the job done. It has a sheathed cutting edge for slicing off seatbelts as well as a small steel spike safely housed inside the end. Therefore, windows can be easily shattered without requiring large amounts of power from the user.
Who It’s Best For
This gift is a great idea for keeping your loved ones safe while they’re on the road. We think this gift is perfect for any and all drivers to have on them.
Pros
- Compact and effective at doing its job
- Easy to use and always right within reach
- An inexpensive gift that may save a life
Cons
- Another gift you hope someone never needs
11. SmartCharge Bluetooth Car Adapter
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Radio transmitters are nothing new, but the Bluetooth capabilities of modern ones like the Anker ROAV SmartCharge allow them to be more versatile than ever before. This particular unit allows you to play your own music on an older radio system that doesn’t support modern connectivity while simultaneously charging your devices. You can even use this for handsfree calling in an old car.
Quality
This Bluetooth FM transmitter plays Bluetooth connected audio over your car’s FM radio. It uses a boosted signal that provides background noise reduction so you get a clearer signal and sound compared to similar products.
Who It’s Best For
This is a great gift idea for people with older cars who would rather listen to their own music than the radio. There are a few specific vehicles that this device is not compatible with for various reasons. Owners of newer cars are unlikely to have much use for this outside of its charging capabilities.
Pros
- Great for charging phones
- Allows you to transmit audio through the car’s radio system
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Not very useful for people with newer cars
- Incompatible with some specific vehicles
12. Complete Car Detailing Kit
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
This kit is for a very specific purpose: extreme car detailing. As such, it’s not the most practical gift on our list as it includes a high-speed orbiting polisher and comes at a fairly steep price point.
Quality
This is one of the best detailing kits on the market that comes with a fantastic, high-powered Torqx Dual Action Polisher. This kit comes with a variety of foam pads for polishing paint, cleaning carpets, and applying wax coats.
Who It’s Best For
This is a gift really only intended for serious car enthusiasts or people who do detailing as a job. Other people aren’t likely to get much out of this gift.
Pros
- Comes with everything you need to detail a car
- High-quality product with excellent capabilities
- Great for teaching the importance of car maintenance
Cons
- Expensive
- Only for people who are really into car detailing
13. Aux/Bluetooth Car Adapter
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Unlike the other Bluetooth car stereo adapter on our list, the Mpow MBR1 Bluetooth Receiver utilizes the AUX connection in your car’s stereo system to play music directly through your speakers instead of over a proximity radio station.
This allows the MBR1 to be used with any device that has an AUX connection, including standard headphones, letting you convert standard headphones in wireless Bluetooth ones. However, it doesn’t have the ability to also charge your devices like the SmartCharge does.
Quality
The build quality on the Mpow MBR1 is great and it is designed with a small form factor so it can fit just about anywhere. The included audio jack is studio quality and built to last. This device provides up to 10 hours of music playing on a single charge and is capable of charging while it’s in use.
Who It’s Best For
This gift is ideal for owners of older cars that want an inexpensive way to use their phone’s Bluetooth capabilities to play music on their stereos. Classic car owners will be able to use the original stereo while still taking advantage of Bluetooth technology by using this adapter. This device can also be used to convert just about any old audio device into a Bluetooth capable piece of equipment, making this a versatile gift.
Pros
- Easy to set up and connect
- Works with any device that has a 3.5mm AUX input
- Inexpensive
- Small form factor
- Quality components
Cons
- Can’t charge your devices with it
- Not very useful for owners of newer cars
14. Magnetic Phone Car Mount
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
This mount for cell phones clips onto the car’s AC air vents and uses a magnetized surface to keep your phone in place while you drive. This allows you to easily use your phone for navigation or music listening purposes without having to juggle your phone or try to prop it up awkwardly in a cup holder.
Quality
These are made from hard plastic bodies with strong magnets inside them. This particular product comes as a 2 pack for one low cost. On the downside, you need to have a metal case or use the included metal plates to ensure your phone will be able to magnetize to the mount. The included metal plates are made to adhere directly to the back of your phone which may be a dealbreaker for those who’d prefer to keep their phone unmodified.
Who It’s Best For
This is a great stocking stuffer type gift that any car owner could make use of. Some people may be hesitant to cover their air vents with their phones, but many are happy to have a simple solution to their phone-holding needs in the car.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Comes with two per pack
- Very easy to set up and use
- Works in virtually every car
Cons
- Requires you to have a metal case or use metal stickers on your phone
- Blocks your air vents slightly when in use
15. Handsfree Bluetooth Headset
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Not everyone wants a Bluetooth headset, and many newer cars offer in-car Bluetooth capabilities that use the stereo system for placing calls. However, many people prefer having the in-ear device and the portability of the headset which then allows them to take the call with them wherever they go. Furthermore, this Bluetooth headset uses noise cancellation technology inside its microphone that filters out the road and ambient sounds.
Quality
One of our favorite things about this product is that it hits the price/performance ratio so well. This is by no means a cheap product, but it is a fair bit cheaper than many other popular Bluetooth headsets without sacrificing any of the quality you’d expect from a higher-end device.
Who It’s Best For
People that love to talk on the phone while driving would very much appreciate receiving one of these as a gift. However, some people simply don’t like in-ear headsets like this and other similar products. This Bluetooth headset is also useful for people who are on the phone and computer a lot for their job and need to stay connected to their workplace.
Pros
- Great price/performance ratio
- Noise-canceling microphone
- Useful for long drives or even sitting at home
Cons
- Some people can’t stand in-ear headphones
- Not the cheapest item on our list by a fair margin
16. Cup Holder Phone Car Mount
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Unlike the other phone mount for cars on our list, this one converts a cup holder into a phone holder that gives lots of range of motion and adjustability for getting the perfect viewing angle. It’s incredibly easy to set up and does a great job of providing a sturdy and reliable base for holding your phone.
Quality
This is a rugged and effective phone holder that does a much better job of giving users the ability to adjust the viewing angle and doesn’t require any modifications to the phone, unlike the previously mentioned magnetic phone mount. However, the WeatherTech CupFone is a fair bit more expensive so there is a cost tradeoff when considering which one to get.
Who It’s Best For
This is ideal for people who want to have access to their phones while in the car but don’t want to make any modifications to their phones or car. This is a fairly expensive gift, especially when compared to the other phone holding option on our list.
Pros
- High-quality components
- Works in virtually every car
- Easy to install and use
- Doesn’t require modifications to the phone or car
Cons
- A bit on the expensive side
- Takes up cupholder space
17. LandAirSea GPS Tracker
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Although not everyone will get much use out of it, this device works like a charm for tracking movements and locations. You attach the magnetized puck to a vehicle or simply place it somewhere inside and then turn on the device and pull up your smartphone app to track the location of the device.
Quality
This is a great GPS tracker that provides excellent location services and the physical component itself is well-constructed. On the downside, using this requires a monthly subscription fee for activating the SIM card inside the device to use cell phone towers to keep track of its movements.
Who It’s Best For
This is a great gift idea for people who love cars and spy thrillers. The LandAirSea 54 GPS Tracker is also perfect for finding your car if it ever gets stolen.
Pros
- Can track your car within feet of its location
- Works like a charm
- Sturdy construction and a strong magnet for reliable security
Cons
- Requires an additional monthly fee for activating the SIM card
18. Leather Driving Gloves
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Driving gloves may not be the most practical thing on the planet, but they sure are stylish and some people can’t get enough of the classic look. Available in black or brown leather and all sizes, these gloves are customizable enough to match any classic car look.
Quality
Pratt and Hart makes solid and comfortable gloves that will last for years to come with proper care. The fine-grained leather is top-notch quality and beautifully stitched.
Who It’s Best For
This is an ideal gift for classic car lovers that want to look like Hollywood drivers. Although certainly not a gift for everyone, these gloves are likely to be instantly loved or completely disregarded depending on the recipient’s tastes.
Pros
- Quality leather construction
- Excellent detailing and comfortable fit
- Will make the wearer look like he just got off a movie set
Cons
- Not for everyone
- Serves no real function
19. Front and Rear Dual Dash Cam
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
The CHORTAU Dual Dash Cam gives you a live feed of both cameras. It’s displayed through the screen of the front-facing camera which is installed via a suction cup to your windshield. Being able to see both camera feeds at once is a really nice feature you wouldn’t expect from such a low-cost device like this. This is a great device if you get in an accident and need evidence to prove you weren’t at fault.
Quality
The cameras provide a 1080P picture recorded at 30fps for solid video quality in good lighting. Low-light performance is not so great, but at this price point it’s hard to complain.
Who It’s Best For
This is an easy inclusion for car owners that like to ensure they have recorded evidence of traffic incidents. This is also a great gift to get for new car owners or parents whose children are starting to drive so they can keep tabs on how their children are using the vehicle.
Pros
- Front and rear dash cam
- Very affordable for what is offered
- Ability to see both camera views simultaneously
Cons
- Requires some setup and maintenance
- Not the best in terms of video quality
20. Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner
Editor’s Rating:
Practicality
Everyone needs to vacuum out their car from time to time so why not use a vacuum that has an included LED light and powers itself using the car’s battery? This is an inexpensive and effective tool for keeping the interior of your car neat and tidy.
Quality
The HOTOR vacuum provides great suction without going overboard and it even comes with multiple accessories for deep cleaning all those hard to reach spots in the car but the accessories are mostly cheap inclusions. There is an included filter replacement included as well. It even comes with a carrying/storage bag that fits the device and all its accessories.
Who It’s Best For
Anyone who likes to keep their car neat and doesn’t want to have to lug out the home vacuum cleaner every time they go to clean up. This is also great for road trips or frequent commuters so they can clean up quickly while on the go.
Pros
- Great suction
- Low noise and easy operation
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Accessories are fairly low in quality
Wrapping Up
These 20 gift ideas for car lovers should have at least one product that is the perfect gift for the car lover in your life. If not, we hope this list kickstarted your own idea for the greatest car lover’s gift. Enjoy browsing our selection and zeroing in on the perfect gift. Good luck with your gift search!
Source: Tools - autoquarterly.com