Auto enthusiasts love gadgets and gear—and we love deals. If you're shopping for a car lover, here are some great gift ideas that won't break the bank.
Got an auto enthusiast on your shopping list? The trick is to buy them something they’ll appreciate and use—without spending too much money. To that end, we’ve put together this helpful gift guide, full of car accessories that make fun and practical gifts. And they all cost less than 50 bucks.
Buying gifts for an auto enthusiast is particularly difficult since so many automotive products and gear is proprietary and/or model-specific. But there are plenty of options on the market that almost every car enthusiast will appreciate, no matter what they drive—you’ve just got to take the time and effort to dig. No worries: We’ve done all the heavy lifting for you.
Here are 27 great automotive accessories that cost less than $50 and will make a great gift for any car lover, no matter the occasion.
“Real Cars Don’t Shift Themselves” T-Shirt
Amazon
$20 AT AMAZON
The perfect gift for any car lover—particularly those who love manual transmissions. The Ann Arbor T-Shirt Co. makes some of the most clever car-themed T-shirts and hats around; this one is, obviously, among our faves.
Car and Driver Magazine Subscription
Car and Driver
$15 AT CAR AND DRIVER
Call us biased, but for less than a buck-fifty per issue, your favorite auto enthusiast could get the finest in car news, features, and photos all year long. Car and Driver’s cover price is $6.99 an issue ($7.99 in January and October) and is published 10 times a year; you can do the math.
East Mount Smart Heated Travel Mug
Amazon
$48 AT AMAZON
This stainless steel electric car kettle lets you select the temperature of the liquid inside up to 194 degrees Fahrenheit. But it’s not just for coffee! It can heat water for tea or even instant noodles, and it can even double as an on-the-go baby bottle warmer. Hey, the best gifts are the ones they use time and again.
Premier Car Care Kit by Armor All
Amazon
$40 AT AMAZON
Every car lover thrives on taking care of their baby, and this kit from Armor All has everything they need to do just that, inside and out, whenever they’d like.
WeatherTech CupFone
Amazon
Now 10% off
$45 AT AMAZON
WeatherTech products aren’t cheap—that’s because they’re the best. The CupFone, however, is supremely affordable and makes a fantastic gift, all while maintaining that legendary WeatherTech level of quality.
Govee Govee Interior Car Accent Lights
Amazon
$37 AT AMAZON $56 AT WALMART
LED accent light strips are all the rage these days. This set from Govee is one of Amazon’s best-sellers because it features a built-in mic that can sync the lights to the car stereo. That’s pretty cool. Two lines connect four light strips, and thousands of light and display combinations are available.
Govee Underglow Car Lights
Amazon
$50 AT AMAZON
Take your accent lighting a step further with these popular undercarriage lights. They also sync with the car stereo to really show off the grooves. And they’re great for displaying some holiday spirit too—no matter the time of year.
Black+Decker Dustbuster Cordless Car Vacuum
Amazon
$45 AT AMAZON $45 AT WALMART $62 AT WAYFAIR
The trusty Dustbuster was our Best Overall Car Vacuum in a recent test. We put this stalwart up against the best of the rest, and not one of them worked better than the good ol’ Dustbuster. Its around-the-house value is what made it our number-one pick.
Dog Family Car Windshield Sunshade
Amazon
$33 AT AMAZON
Those car/dog lovers will get a kick out of these fun sunshades. There are 20 different breeds available, so your favorite dog person can pick from corgis, bulldogs, poodles, German shepherds, and many, many more.
Chemical Guys Torq Foam Blaster 6
Amazon
$50 AT AMAZON $50 AT WALMART
Want the kids to help with carwashes? Here’s a surefire way to get them into it. The Torq Blaster 6 makes cleaning your car fast, easy, and fun for the whole family. It hooks up to any standard garden hose, so there are no additional tools or machines required to produce foamy fun.
F1 ’22 Official Video Game
Amazon
Now 29% off
$50 AT AMAZON
One of the most legendary and immersive sim racing games ever, F1 ’22 lets you race different cars on iconic tracks including the new Miami International Autodrome. It’s available for PS5 and PS4, as well as PC and Xbox One.
Chemical Guys Woolly Mammoth Drying Towel
Amazon
$30 AT AMAZON
Once the car washing is done, the fun continues with this giant microfiber car drying towel. At 36 by 25 inches, it claims to soak up nearly a full gallon of water, making drying the car, truck, or RV a breeze.
Stalwart Electric Car Blanket
Amazon
Now 29% off
$23 AT AMAZON $24 AT WALMART
Perfect for road trips, tailgating, and any time the temperatures dip, this electric heated blanket plugs right into any 12v socket. Measuring 59 by 43 inches with a 96-inch long cord, it’s made of polyester fleece.
Road & Track Crew’s Big & Fast Cars Book
Amazon
Now 48% off
$13 AT AMAZON
The perfect gift for young auto enthusiasts, the Big & Fast Cars book by the R&T Crew and author Dan Bova is stuffed with facts, photos, jokes, and more to keep your little car lover entertained for hours.
Car Cup Holder Tray with Expandable Base
Amazon
$29 AT AMAZON
Okay, this is kind of genius! The cupholder expands from 2.6 to 3.9 inches and is still compatible with bottles, mugs, and cups with a 3.4- to 3.8-inch diameter. Then, the snack tray rotates 360 degrees and is great for holding keys, wallets, and other EDC. Or your lunch.
Ancel AD310 Enhanced Universal OBD II Scanner
Amazon
Now 40% off
$30 AT AMAZON $53 AT WALMART
One of the best-selling OBD-II scanners you can buy, the Ancel AD310 is listed at $49.99—but it’s often on sale. Instead of paying the local mechanic to diagnose the issue with any car, users can reset the Check Engine and Air Bag lights, read error codes, and save money at the repair shop.
VanMass Universal Car Phone Mount
Amazon
Now 30% off
$28 AT AMAZON $45 AT WALMART
When it comes to gadgets like this, one usually gets what one pays for. Still, we picked this universal phone mount because it has more than 20,000 reviews on Amazon—and over 70 percent of those are for the full five stars. Clearly, it works well for most people—so it’ll make an affordable, practical gift for anyone on your list.
Klein Tools 15-in-1 Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver
Amazon
Now 30% off
$22 AT AMAZON
Multi-tools are perfect for the garage—but they’re also great around the house, which makes them an ideal gift for almost anyone. This excellent choice from Klein Tools features Phillips (#0, #1, #2, #3), Slotted (3/16-Inch, 1/4-Inch), Square (#1, #2), Torx (T10, T15, T20, T25), and Combo (#1, #2) bits.
Pokipo Garage Power Tool Organizer
Amazon
Now 30% off
$35 AT AMAZON
Despite the affordable price, this convenient tool rack with welded joints is sturdy enough to hold up to 130 pounds of tools. It’s easy to assemble, a cinch to install, and keeps all your favorite car lover’s power tools organized and within easy reach.
Drive Auto Car Trunk Organizer
Amazon
$25 AT AMAZON
We can’t think of anyone who doesn’t need one of these handy carryalls. With customizable inserts, it features multiple compartments for stuff of almost any size, from groceries to tools. Best of all, it collapses to half-size for smaller cars or lesser loads.
Tekton Digital Tire Gauge
Amazon
$20 AT AMAZON $15 AT WALMART
A handy stocking stuffer for any car owner. A push of a button lets them select one of four measurement ranges. The nozzle seals onto the valve stem quickly and completely, and, after they’re done, a 30-second automatic shutoff means they never have to worry about running down the batteries.
RAK Telescoping Magnetic Pickup Tool
Amazon
Now 33% off
$20 AT AMAZON $49 AT WALMART
Another awesome stocking stuffer for any driveway mechanic—or anyone who’s dropped a nut, bolt, or other small metal piece beyond reach. This telescoping arm will pick up anything magnetic.
Active Pets Dog Car Seat Cover
Amazon
Now 50% off
$20 AT AMAZON
Best pals love to ride along in cars with their owners, and this waterproof universal dog seat cover keeps the slobber and paw prints to a minimum. Designed to cover an entire rear bench seat with a max unfurled size of 48 by 54 inches, it’ll fit most any car, truck, or SUV.
DeWALT 3/8-Inch Drive, SAE/Metric 34-Piece Socket Set
Amazon
$36 AT AMAZON $36 AT HOME DEPOT $56 AT WALMART
This must-have set features a removable inner tray designed to fit in most tool chests. It also has side hinges that interlock with similar DeWALT tool sets for an organized storage solution. Included is a 72-tooth ratchet that’s great for accessing tough-to-reach spots.
Tidify Car Front Seat Organizer
Amazon
$37 AT AMAZON $58 AT WALMART
With the Tidify front seat multi-pocket organizer, your favorite car lover can access everything they need in one organized place and avoid having to search for items on the floor or in the center console or glove compartment. It’s larger than most other organizers and has plenty of pockets and compartments.
Armor All Armor All 2.5-Gallon Wet/Dry Garage/Shop Vacuum
Amazon
$50 AT AMAZON
If there’s a driveway mechanic or garage rat on your shopping list, help them keep their workspace clean and neat with this handy shop vac. It’s not pro grade by any means—but it is super handy all around the garage, basement, or workshop.
BDK PolyPro Car Seat Covers—Full Set
Amazon
$26 AT AMAZON $31 AT WALMART
They might not be the best of the best, but for older cars, beaters, and work vehicles, you can’t deny the value of a decent set of seat covers—especially at this price. Available in 11 color combinations, they’re machine washable and have a universal fit.
From: Car and Driver
Jon Langston Senior Commerce Editor The Senior Commerce Editor for Hearst Autos, Jon Langston is an avid motorcyclist and gear collector whose work has appeared in Men’s Journal, The Drive, Rider, Iron & Air, Cycle World, and more.
Keyword: Gift Guide: 27 Awesome Car Accessories under $50