31 Cool And Useful Things For Your Car That You'll Basically Be Racing To Buy
Let's hit the road. 🚗 💨
BuzzFeed Staff
BuzzFeed Staff
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. An adorably tiny hanging diffuser to jazz up the inside of your car with dainty decor that can also cover up the smell of that one random fry you haven't been able to find but the odor lets you know it's always there.
Amber & Wood is a small biz located in Indiana that makes thoughtfully sourced goods designed to bring sweet aromas to your space.
Promising review: "I purchased a couple of different scents and I love them all! I couldn't decide which one to use first. The bottles are adorable and small enough to not be unobtrusive when driving, but they give off the perfect amount of beautiful scent! I've had mine up for more than 2 weeks and the scent has not faded one bit. It's still as strong as the first day, even though I tip the bottle daily to release more scent. Incredibly, it's still practically full to the top! This was such a great buy. Everyone who has gotten in my car comments about how nice it smells! I will definitely be back to buy more when I finish my current batch." —Kristen DePascale
Get it from Amber & Wood on Etsy for $8 (available in 23 scents).
2. A set of seat gap fillers (as seen on Shark Tank) for the car eater who's always dropping crumbs between the seats. You'll no longer have to search for a month to find the source of that mysterious smell.
Promising review: "I watched the episode of Shark Tank this was on. I have had incidents where things have dropped into the gap between seat and console and what a pain that is! This product is so simple and easy to install. I highly recommend it and wonder why I didn't think of it first." —The Crew Dog
Get the set of two from Amazon for $24.99.
3. A phone holder compatible with most smartphones that'll allow you to be hands free while driving. Now you can set your favorite Beyoncé song on repeat, safely.
Promising review: "Am happy to say it holds the iPhone 6s inside an OtterBox cover, even though the OtterBox’s thickness exceeds the two bottom feet of this holder. Squeeze the two sides really hard to ensure that they grip the OtterBox tightly. I have already made a long trip of nearly a 1,000 miles without the phone falling out. Really love the ball and socket joint since you can angle the phone just right to avoid glare. " —maiji
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
4. A light saber windshield wiper cover so you can use the force to fight off the raindrops trying to attack your windshield.
It's reflective, so it glows! Some of the reviewers suggest that you attach it with Velcro, or another kind of hook and loop adhesive, so you can easily remove and re-attach the cover as needed.
Promising review: "I bought this knowing it would just be a piece of plastic, but didn't care because I thought it would be fun to have on my car. I've received so many compliments so it definitely was a good buy." —ewitt3
Get it from Amazon for $18.95.
5. A Chewbacca seatbelt cover in case your 2021 goal is to make your entire car Star Wars themed.
6. A can of Fix-A-Flat tire inflator to use in a pinch when you're almost to your destination and run over a nail. It can fill your tire and seal up to a 1/4-inch puncture. It's a temporary fix, but hopefully it'll give you time to get to a safer location and deal with that tire.
Get it from Target for $15.99.
7. A keychain car escape tool complete with a seatbelt cutter and car window breaker that is an essential tool to add to your preparedness kit.
Promising review: "Thankfully I haven't needed to use this item BUT if I ever do, I have it in my car in the pocket of the driver side door. I live in Florida where we are surrounded by water and there are lakes, canals, drainage ditches, flood control ditches, and many bridges. There are constantly stories on the news about vehicles losing control and heading into the waters. One of the last news stories showed this little tool. I immediately purchased several of them and gave them out to family and all of my neighbors."—Shesinstpete33710
Get it from Amazon for $9.85+ (available in six colors).
8. A sweet lil' Groot you can put pretty much anywhere, but he'll enjoy the view most by hanging onto your car antenna.
Promising review: "This is the best purchase I've ever made. You can hang him anywhere, and he stays! I bought him to put him on my car antenna, but I ended up putting him everywhere else, too. I drove him around (in my five speed Mustang) for weeks before I remembered I forgot to glue him, and he didn't even move. I get compliments on him everywhere I go. Everyone wants to know where I got him. If I could, I'd buy 20 more." —Maria
Get it from Amazon for $14.45.
9. A wet and dry vacuum because you always say you'll get those crumbs later, but later never comes. With this portable vacuum, you can take care of tiny messes as they happen and keep your ride tidy.
Vacuum includes a six-foot hose and 10-foot cord.
Promising review: "This is the vac you are looking for, if you are looking to keep your car clean. Easy-open clips make emptying a breeze. It is lightweight for ultra portability. The best, most unexpected surprise are the attachments. They actually fit into BOTH the nooks AND the crannies of your car. We have two dogs. This picks up about 95% of the dog hair (I would estimate that the average shop vac picks up 85% of dog hair). There will always be a stray hair that has somehow bonded at the molecular level with the car mat. Finally, it's not painfully loud to operate." —M. J. Keys
Get it from Amazon for $52.97.
10. A pair of lightweight and durable escape tracks to keep handy because winter is coming. You'll be glad you have these when your car gets stuck in the snow.
Promising review: "These traction pads are amazing! For anybody who's never used them, essentially you jam them against your drive tires in slick conditions or if you're stuck in sand, and your tires grip them and pull you right out! The bright orange makes them easy to see after digging them into the mud, and the knobs are durable enough to withstand a very large truck's beating. For the price, the quality, the durability, and the hundreds of uses, you can't go wrong with these. If I could give them six stars I would have!" —Arianna
Get them from Amazon for $132.90.
11. A set of car hooks you can use on the front or back of your seat, to hold your grocery bag, purse or backpack, coat and more.
12. The White Guy Blinking meme but in air freshener form for making sure your car never has a funny smell.
Fresh Memes is an Australian small business that makes meme-themed air fresheners.
Get it from Fresh Memes on Etsy for $6.17.
13. A restorative headlight cleaning kit if your headlights have gotten dull and hazy over the years. This cleaning kit will shine them up so they're good as new.
The kit includes: gloves, surface activator (activator softens plastic, making it easier to sand smooth) sanding paper, polish, and a finish and seal UV block clear coat applicator.
Promising review: "The results. I am still in shock about them. I saw some pictures of 'results' and I thought they were all fake. NO, they are not. It's that good. I am very pleased with this product. If you need your headlights cleaned, buy this kit! On another note, my mom was so amazed by how well it worked she made me go buy another kit and clean her headlights too!" —Brad
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two styles).
14. A sweet lil' No Face car charm because sometimes the only thing your car needs is a little character, literally.
Snap Crowd makes an assortment of adorable items for the car, and more.
Promising review: "The cutest little car charm! Like others, my package was a little delayed due to the pandemic. The item came in one piece and looks exactly as pictured — well worth it if you don't mind the wait!" —Joy Ann
Get it from Snap Crowd on Etsy for $9.89.
15. A durable, three-pocket folding car trunk organizer perfect for people with cargo trunks. No more worrying about the fruit rolling all over the trunk after a trip to the farmer's market.
Promising review: "It was just what I needed for my messy and unorganized truck! I wanted something not too bulky, but just the right size to help me reorganize my trunk. This product did that for me. I was also concerned that it’ll move when I drove but luckily there is Velcro on the bottom that secures it in place while you drive, and sure enough it did just that! This product does not take up a lot of space and gives you the right amount of measure to place other things like groceries and a suitcase. I am completely satisfied and content with this product! I wish I had it all along!" —Neese
Get it from Amazon for $16.80.
16. A two-sided wheel desk that'll let you dine from the comfort of your car. Or, it can serve as a desk when you haven't quite finished that term paper and just need a few more sentences to hit that word count. Did I mention it comes with a cup holder? 😏
Promising review: "As an outside sales rep, I sometimes feel like I live in my car. This dual-purpose tray is a must-have if you need a well-positioned mobile desk or a less awkward way to eat (and avoid wearing) your lunch. It's nice that both sides are functional — a food tray complete with a cup holder on one side, and a smooth flat writing surface on the other. You won't have to worry about getting grease or food residue on your paperwork! Also works well with small laptops or your iPad. Made of high-impact plastic, it won't melt or warp if you leave it sitting in your hot car... virtually indestructible. I can't imagine how I lived without one of these for so many years!" —Mike
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in two colors).
17. A comfy, memory foam chair cushion ideal for commuters or long road trips to take the pressure off of your back. The cushion is ergonomically designed to assist with back pain and sciatica relief.
Promising review: "Works great, helps to relieve some pressure from sitting. This is a great memory foam cushion for office chairs or your couch. You really can feel the difference. This is thick, and feels like it will last for a really long time. I've been using mine for a couple of weeks and already feel a little better. The cover is removable for washing, and the stitching is done really well. I recommend this to anyone who has to sit for more than a few hours." —phillygrl
Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (also available in black).
18. A tissue holder to hang on your car visor for unplanned runny noses or mopping that sip of cold brew that always seems to miss your mouth.
Tiger98 is a Texas-based shop that makes fun and useful handmade accessories for your car.
Promising review: "Obsessed! It’s so perfect and exactly what I was looking for. I love the pattern and got a matching trash holder too! It also came with a pack of tissues, which I appreciate so much! If I could give it 10 stars I would!" —Traci Adams
Get it from Tiger98 on Etsy for $8 (available in 14 fabric options).
19. A teeny-tiny trashcan because it's pretty much the cutest thing ever. It can sit in your cupholder and hold all your little gum wrappers and empty ketchup packets.
Promising review: "It’s ridiculous how much I love these! The push part is on a spring so it stays closed when you aren’t pushing it, and of course it perfectly fits in the cup holder of our vehicles. Pro tip: a quart-size Ziploc is the perfect size to add as a liner and fold over the top to keep the inside clean!" —Chaos Coordinator
Get it from Amazon for $6.88+ (available in four colors).
20. Or, a larger trash bin to at least attempt to keep a clean and tidy car. You never know when you'll need a trash can. Imagine a spider descending in front of your face while you're driving. You grab a napkin to catch it and there's nowhere to put it! Yes, these are the things I think of daily.
This 1.85-gallon trashcan has adjustable straps and a waterproof interior, and it's leakproof!
Promising review: "This is a very convenient addition to my car and fits perfectly without being in the way of passengers in the second row seating area. I highly recommend. Fits easily in vehicles that have a center armrest in the front passenger seating area. Universal fit." —Paula D. Thomas
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
21. A powerful wheel cleaner because low-effort cleaning is your goal in life. This cleaner gives you the ability to clean your wheels without the scrubbing so you can keep your car in ~like new~ condition as long as possible.
Promising review: "It will take one look from your friends to say. 'Did you buy some new wheels?' This stuff is absolutely amazing. For the full effect, dismount your wheel, spray the back. Go do something for 10 minutes. Wash with water, no scrubbing needed. Turn the rim face up, do it again. Do the rest of your rims, and don't forget the tire protectant when you reinstall them. This stuff will handle salt, road tar, off-road dirt and mud; you get it dirty, it comes clean. Where was this stuff when I was racing off-road?" —johnfcon
Get it from Amazon for $16.26.
22. A pair of pet hair-removing brushes that'll leave you shocked by the amount of hair they pull from your seat or seat cover.
Promising review: Really impressed with these! We have a dog that sheds like it’s his job and our car is always extremely difficult to vacuum. These really picked up the hair with minimal effort. I’ve also used on our home area rugs and got way better results than our shark vacuum. Left the carpets feeling soft as well. I’d definitely recommend for any pet owner!"—jonathanc1222
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $24.
23. A tiny emergency kit for your glove box that carries the important things including common underrated items like a hair tie, safety pin, breath mints, and a makeup wipe.
Anne Cate is a woman-owned accessory brand that hand-makes simple yet unique gifts themed after city skylines, people, places, and things.
The kit comes with a mini wallet (obvi): a hair tie, lip balm, two floss picks, sewing kit, adhesive bandages, emery board, two safety pins, two earring backs, makeup wipe, two bobby pins, two mints, deodorant wipe, Shout wipe, tampon, hand sanitizer, and pain relief.
Get it from Anne Cate for $22 (available in a variety of skylines).
24. A console side pocket ingeniously designed as a catchall with a coin slot giving you a place to put your change that isn't a cupholder. You can remove the compartment when the change pouch gets full.
You can order one for the driver's side seat or passenger's side seat.
Promising review: "I put this in last night and went to work today and everything was perfect. I did have to install the foam spacers (included) to make it a really snug fit. It would have still worked without it but I like things perfect. So now the coins go in the coin pocket and my keys and other work related accessories go in the bigger pocket. This is one of the best cheap life hacks you can get if you're a car person and/or just like being organized and neat." —R
Get it from Amazon for $27.99 (available with or without cupholder).
25. A car washing mitt reviewers highly recommend because it's super effective but won't scratch your ride. When you're done, just toss it in the washing machine and it's ready to use again.
Promising review: "I've owned many mitts in the past and this one is right up there with the best. I like a mitt that's thin enough to feel through, yet thick enough to hold the water and suds and not feel cheap. I also like a mitt to stay firm to my wrist, yet easily be able to spin around and not have to take another dip into the bucket, so I can utilize both sides. This mitt meets all of these requirements and is cheap enough to replace once a year." —WoodTurner
Get it from Amazon for $5.36.
26. A set of resin car coasters for added interior decor that'll also help you see where your cup holders are so you don't accidentally drop your spicy McDonald's Sprite on the floor.
Summer Azure Design is a small business based in North Carolina that specializes in resin crafted items.
Promising review: "Amazing...perfect! This is like having the beach in a cup holder! These are beautiful and exactly what I was looking for to put in my Jeep. These coasters give me a little serenity feeling when I look at them. I can hear the roar of the ocean." —Elizabeth J. Yingst
Get two from Summer Azure Design on Etsy for $12.
27. An air mattress so you can pull over for a nap when a car ride gets really long. This mattress can fit in the backseat of car, depending on the make. And, naturally it's a must-have for camping.
It comes with one air mattress, two inflatable pillows, one inflator/deflator pump, one repair kit, and one storage bag.
Promising review: "I have to say that this is amazing! This bed can be used in a truck or the back of a car, which is so practical. The machine it comes with helps it inflate quickly. It can also be used anytime you're camping, not just in a car. It shocked me how spacious the back seat was with this air mattress. And the cushion is very comfortable. It's easily portable because it's not heavy at all. Such good quality!" —Amy
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in eight colors).
28. An all-purpose car cleaner formulated to remove dirt and grime from upholstery, fabric, canvas, leather, vinyl, plastic, rubber, wood trim, metals, and more.
Promising review: "I have used every product that you can find on the shelves of your local store. When I sprayed the cleaner on the light beige interior of a 25+ year-old car, the interior turned to its original color. After years of detailing, I had assumed at this point, the color was set and that's it, not with this stuff. While cleaning it I literally said out loud, 'No way, no way,' because I was in disbelief at how amazing it worked, and the results are in the compliments I receive from friends." —Andrea Garcia
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
29. A bumper sticker remover because no one should be stuck with the same bumper stickers they put on their car when they were a teenager.
Promising review: "Bought a used car to get back and forth to work. Only problem being the back was covered in bumper stickers. Eleven to be exact. I don't like bumper stickers. At all. This removed all of them in 25-30 minutes total no problem. Still has probably half the wheel left so I stuck it in my garage toolbox in case I need to eradicate any bummer stickers in the future." —PrestidgeSouthside
Get it from Amazon for $19.97.
30. A blind spot mirror so you can switch lanes without completely wigging out.
Promising review: "I bought these for my mom's car and mine a while back and these little things are great. Since I got my license I've hated merging or switching lanes; I never felt good or safe doing it. Since having these its been a blessing, I feel less like a scared new driver. I'm currently encouraging my sister and friends to invest in these too! These are also great for backing up, because you can see exactly how close you are to hitting the car behind, and it's helpful when I parallel in the city." —Mariam Abass
Get two from Amazon for $7.97 (available in three shapes).
31. A ball of slime putty for those nooks and crannies in your car that never seem to get clean. The best part is that you can reuse it over and over.
Promising review: "I was skeptical at first. I was afraid my keyboard would be all gummed up with yellow slime! The opposite, it cleaned it as good as new. Got all those dog hairs between the keys! No smell lingering on the keyboard or my hands. No sign I even used it except a clean keyboard. Kind of fun to play with. LOL." —Billy
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.