The holidays are upon us in full force. It’s the time for giving, spreading the love to friends, family and everyone else.
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Is there someone in your life who’s crazy about cars? If so, you might be wondering what to buy for them. After all, a brand-new Mustang is nice but a bit beyond most people’s Chistmas budget!
That’s why we’ve compiled this list of best holiday gifts for car lovers. There’s no shortage of gadgets and accessories that are sure to make any dedicated driver smile this year.
1. Dash Cam
For a car lover, what’s more exciting than a car’s-eye-view video of their latest adventure on the road?
Actually, dash cams (cameras mounted directly on the dashboard) aren’t just for fun: they provide valuable evidence for police or insurance in case of an accident.
And if something really crazy happens, that dash cam is a fast track to YouTube celebrity!
Whatever the reason, many car enthusiasts will enjoy their own dash cam.
These cameras range from simple to elaborate. Some models include multiple lenses for front and rear view, night vision, WiFi connectivity or other neat features. The most highly rated dash cams of 2018 mostly cost between $150-200.
2. Car Seat Gap Filler
When you spend a lot of time in your car, inevitably small stuff will fall between the seats.
Change, old receipts, crumbs, or (the worst) cell phones… For anyone’s who has ever had to fish their phone out from these awkward gaps, or to clean out all the junk that’s ended up down there, a car seat gap filler is a godsend.
These nifty pieces squeeze between seats and block the gap. This will make a driver’s day many times to come.
3. Winter Mats
The holidays are great but this season brings a lot of challenges for drivers, on and off the road.
Winter means snow, ice, mud and road salt. If it’s on the ground, it’s going to end up inside your car.
Anyone with a car they care about will be eager to protect the interior of their vehicle. Winter mats are a great and highly practical gift, saving hours of cleaning time and frustration for the car lover in your life.
WeatherTech FloorLiners are a top choice, providing edge-to-edge coverage in designs that fit over 1,000 vehicles. Their pronounced lip at the edge and deeply grooved pattern work to channel water towards a reservoir at the back, getting all that dirty melted snow out from under everyone’s feet.
For a budget-friendly option, I recommend Intro-Tech Hexomat. Splitting the difference between a generic mat and a model-specific liner, it doesn’t have the high edges or grooving like WeatherTech, but still gets the job done.
4. Seat Covers
For a friend who’s feeling a bit meh about their car seats, here’s a chance to give a whole new look to their car’s interior.
Car seat covers are a fun addition to any car, and you can find them in just about any color, style or crazy novelty design. Plus, they protect car seats from dog hair, kid’s shoes and whatever else.
Coverking car seat covers are a high-quality choice, practical but still creative. They’re available in panoply of designs: camouflage, college themed, velour, leather or “snuggle plush,” among others.
5. Griot’s Garage Orbital Buffer Kit
Many car lovers enjoy nothing more than spending quality time with their vehicle, cleaning, buffing and polishing it to a dazzling sheen.
With this DIY car buffing kit from Griot’s Garage, sold for $195, your favorite autophile can get professional-level results in their own garage.
The kit includes everything you need for a complete detailing job: a 6” Random Orbital, pain cleaning clay, correcting cream, foam correcting pad and waxing pad and more, plus detailed instructions.
6. Blind Spot Eliminator
The rear view mirror used by police officers and race car drivers is a fun addition to any car enthusiast’s driving experience. This cool gadget gives drivers a 180-degree field of view, compared to the 52 degrees you normally get from rear view and side mirrors combined!
With this mirror, the driver can watch traffic across a five-lane highway without turning his or her head. Plus, there’s no distortion and it reduces glare from headlights.
Costing $59.95, it clamps onto most standard mirrors without needing tools or adhesives.
7. Winter Windshield Cover
Who’s favorite part of winter is scraping crusty snow and ice off of the windshield before driving anywhere?
Yeah, probably no-one’s. Say goodbye to the inconvenience with a removable windshield cover. Put it on when you park, let it collect all the frost and simply take it off when you’re ready to drive.
Buy this for a friend or loved one and they’ll think of you with gratitude every time they leave the house.
8. Car: The Definitive Visual History of the Automobile
For the car lover who’s also a book lover, check out Car: The Definitive Visual History of the Automobile.
This lavishly illustrated coffee-table tome traces the history of cars from the first prototypes to today’s supercars. Auto history buffs can geek out over the gorgeous picture catalog of the most important cars of each decade.
9. Our Favorite: The Grip All-in-one Phone Mount
There are a million different phone mounts on the market. They all work, to some degree, but too often then not they suffer from quality flaws or functionality issues. If you’re still searching for that perfect stocking stuffer for the avid driver in your life, look no further than the Grip All-in-one Phone Mount by DE World. The phone mount of choice for our delivery specialists, the mount is sturdy, comes with every attachment you could ask for, and most importantly, safely secures your phone while driving. Coming in at $29.99, you can rest assured that this well-built phone mount will be a vital part of any long road trip or city adventure for years to come. For all of those reasons, the Grip All-in-one Phone Mount is our choice for favorite Holiday gift for the car lover in your life.
Wrapping it up
These are just a few ideas. Do you have something special in mind for a special car lover this holiday season? Share in the comments below!