Whether you need a cheap present for your uncle or a funny white elephant for the office holiday party, we have your back with these car-related gifts.
If you’re gift shopping on a budget or looking for the perfect little something for a car enthusiast’s stocking, we found plenty of items to love for less than $20. Small glovebox-sized items that are handy for everyone, such as a digital tire-pressure gauge or an emergency safety hammer, are gifts they didn’t even know they needed.
Also on our list are gifts they won’t know they even wanted, including car-themed luxury socks, a handy dashboard smartphone mount, and a Porsche Lego set. We even have a couple of funny items here that will be a hit at your office white elephant gift exchange.
Looking for even more gift ideas for the auto enthusiast in your life? Check out our comprehensive holiday gift guide.
Our Top Picks
- Digital Tire Pressure Gauge $10 AT AMAZON Read More $10 AT AMAZON
- Car Wash Mitts $9 AT AMAZON Read More $9 AT AMAZON
- Fire Missiles Button $13 AT AMAZON Read More $13 AT AMAZON
- Universal Socket $15 AT AMAZON Read More $15 AT AMAZON
- LED Interior Lights $10 AT AMAZON Read More $10 AT AMAZON
- Universal Car Mount $23 AT AMAZON Read More $23 AT AMAZON
- Mechanic Socks $12 AT AMAZON Read More $12 AT AMAZON
- Squirrel in Underpants Air Freshener $5 AT AMAZON Read More $5 AT AMAZON
- Bigfoot Air Freshener $10 AT AMAZON Read More $10 AT AMAZON
- LEGO Speed Champions Toyota GR Supra $16 AT AMAZON Read More $16 AT AMAZON
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Digital Tire Pressure Gauge
Properly inflated tires are the first in a line of safety measures every driver should take with their car. This handy digital tire-pressure gauge fits perfectly in a glovebox—and a Christmas stocking.
Car Wash Mitts
Amazon
Now 40% off
$9 AT AMAZON
Every car lover takes care of their baby. Make car-wash day a bit easier with this 2-pack of lint-free, scratch-free, double-sided, microfiber car wash mitts.
Fire Missiles Button
Amazon
$13 AT AMAZON
Pop this bad boy in the cigarette lighter and unleash their inner James Bond. Missiles not included.
Universal Socket
Amazon
Now 40% off
$15 AT AMAZON
Searching for the right socket can be a pain. Make any handyperson’s life easier with a universal socket. This one instantly adjusts to any size or shape, suitable for standard 1/4” to 3/4” and metric 7mm to 19mm nuts and bolts.
LED Interior Lights
Amazon
Now 50% off
$10 AT AMAZON
These are all the rage—and surprisingly affordable and easy to install. They’re great for accent lighting and have all kinds of flashing, strobe, and other random combinations, all controlled via an app.
Universal Car Mount
Amazon
$23 AT AMAZON
Who couldn’t use this? While it retails for just a skosh over $20, this universal mount by respected brand iOttie is the best-selling automotive accessory on Amazon—and it’s often on sale. It mounts to the dash or windshield and fits any phone between 2.3 to 3.5 inches wide.
Mechanic Socks
Amazon
$12 AT AMAZON
Any driveway mechanic would love to rock these bad boys at the office, parties, or even just out in the garage.
Squirrel in Underpants Air Freshener
Forget the tired, old pine-tree air freshener; this squirrel in underpants is way funnier. It still smells “forest fresh,” but the cheeky design is sure to be a hit with drivers who appreciate a certain brand of humor.
Bigfoot Air Freshener
Speaking of air fresheners, how about this pine-scented Sasquatch?
LEGO Speed Champions Toyota GR Supra
Amazon
Now 22% off
$16 AT AMAZON
Sure, you could spend over $300 on a 3000-piece Lego Technic kit, but this smaller Toyota GR Supra set costs less than $20 and is still a ton of fun.
Car Cleaning Putty
Now 20% off
$8 AT AMAZON
We know this looks gross, but if you have a neat-freak perfectionist on your gift list, this dust cleaning gel will help them clean the tiniest particles from every nook and cranny in their car. Pro tip: this stuff also works wonders on a dirty keyboard.
Vintage Steampunk Cars & Bikes Tie
Amazon
$15 AT AMAZON
Here’s a funny gag car gift that could even come in handy at costume parties. This skinny necktie is made of polyester and adorned with vintage car and bike graphics inspired by steampunk. Wacky Races, anyone?
Total Interior Cleaner & Protectant Wipes
Amazon
$12 AT AMAZON
Our pals at Chemical Guys have come up with the easiest way to keep the interior of any car clean. With 50 wipes in a portable package that fits in any glovebox or center console, it’s one of the best go-to car accessories we’ve found.
Universal French Fry Holder
Now 22% off
$7 AT AMAZON
This one is for diners on the go. This french-fry holder fits into any car’s standard cupholder to keep your taters upright and within easy reach.
Dip Clip
Now 16% off
$11 AT AMAZON
How about these clip-on dip holders? They fasten to a car’s vents and hold ketchup, ranch, honey mustard, or any preferred sauce for easy dunking of fries or chicken nuggets. These pair nicely with the french-fry holder above.
Garage Parking Assistant
Big car, small garage? This shockingly low-tech parking assistant mounts to the garage wall and helps make sure you park in the exact right spot. Just watch the lines as you’re pulling in and stop when they align.
Hot Wheels Set Of 10
Amazon
$14 AT AMAZON
Kids of all ages will love this 10-pack of Hot Wheels. It includes a variety of vehicles at 1:64 scale, but you never know which ten you’ll get. A fun collectible gift idea.
Car Power Bank & AC Adapter
Amazon
$18 AT AMAZON
For the car lover who’s not into gag gifts, here’s a suitably practical gift idea that’s perfect for the family car. It plugs into the cigarette lighter and has a 110-volt AC outlet for powering laptops and such, plus two USB charging ports for the rest of their devices.
Car Safety Hammer
Now 23% off
$10 AT AMAZON
Can we get serious for a second? Every car should have one of these emergency escape tools to break a window or cut a seatbelt. These are particularly important if you drive near bodies of water, because in the event you need to get out of a submerged vehicle, the escape needs to happen quickly.
Ceramic Detailer
Now 41% off
$15 AT AMAZON
Any car owner will appreciate this Hybrid Ceramic detailing spray from Meguiar’s. It fills tiny pores in your car’s finish for better protection and superior water beading.
Maximum Strength Blinker Fluid
Now 55% off
$9 AT AMAZON
Have a good laugh over this eight-ounce bottle of blinker fluid. This is the perfect gag gift for the auto enthusiast in your life.
Whipz Micro Racers
Now 50% off
$10 AT AMAZON
This fun little rechargeable race car glows in the dark and does little flips inside its clear stunt ball. It also comes with a keychain so it can travel anywhere.
Car Seat Headrest Hooks
Amazon
Now 36% off
$7 AT AMAZON
Any car lover on your list will appreciate being able to hang purses, backpacks, groceries, or anything else from these four sturdy seat-back hangers.
Registration and Insurance Wallet
Amazon
$11 AT AMAZON
It ain’t sexy, but boy is it practical. Made of high-grade PU leather and vinyl PVC, this registration and insurance wallet’s slim profile provides a soft touch and professional look and drops discreetly into the glove compartment.
Car Trash Can with Lid
Now 21% off
$15 AT AMAZON
Help them keep their car interior tidy with this handy car trash can. It’s waterproof and lidded to keep wet or smelly things from leaking out and spoiling your upholstery. It can also be used as a small cooler.
From: Car and Driver
Drew Dorian Senior Editor, Buyer’s Guide Drew Dorian is a Michigander through and through who has held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson.
Keyword: Car Gifts under $20 That Make Perfect Stocking Stuffers