It’s that time of the year again! Along with all the joys of the holiday season, there is one major stressor: gift-giving. Sure, getting gifts is great. But giving gifts is even better. Who doesn’t love seeing someone light up because you picked out just the right present for them?
There’s the issue: picking out the right present. With so many people to shop for, some of whom you might not know well, how do you make each present special? My advice is don’t. Practical presents are another way to show that you care about someone. We’ve all received at least one present that we didn’t think we’d use and within a month it was being used all the time.
The majority of Americans have a car. It’s an area that we sometimes neglect in the accessories department. Now, here’s a chance for you to sweep in and save the day, gift-giving style. If you need a place to start, I’ve put together a gift guide for drivers. The gifts listed here go through several price ranges and run the gamut from practical to playful. There’s a bit of everything, with something for everyone. Who knows, you might even find a few things for yourself!
Under $10
Leather Registration Papers Holder
From the time we first learn to drive, it’s emphasized by our parents, family, and driver’s ed teacher to keep your registration papers safe and where you can find them quickly. Then we get our first car and cram those papers in the glovebox or center console. It’s okay to admit it; I’ve done it too.
For under $10, you can give the gift of organization. Leather registration paper holders come in a nice variety of colors and often use magnetic clasps. The papers will be protected and make the car look organized. What’s not to love?
Car Cup Holder Coasters
Driving can be thirsty work. Whether it’s a fountain drink from the gas station, your morning coffee, or your trusty water bottle, the cup holders get a workout in most cars. Because of the nature of their job, it can be a sticky one. Literally.
It’s hard to get your hands really in there to clean out the cup holders. What if you didn’t have to? Car cup holder coasters pop in and stay put with a nonstick grip backing. They pop back out for easy cleaning after a spill. With a wide variety of patterns, you shouldn’t have a problem matching your giftee’s car interior and personality.
Car Cleaning Slime
The cup holders aren’t the only part of your car’s interior that is difficult to clean. Car cleaning slime can get into nooks and crannies to pull out the dirt. And who wouldn’t love an excuse to play with slime?
$10 to $25
Steering Wheel Covers
The best car-related purchase I made this year was a new steering wheel cover. Halfway through summer, I got tired of steering gingerly until the wheel cooled down. Not only are my hands comfortable now, but the cover I picked gives me a bit of extra grip.
Over the last decade, cars have become more a reflection of the owner’s personality than ever before. While a cover is a practical gift for the reason listed above, it’s also a nice way to make a car feel more like it belongs to its owner. The sky’s the limit with designs, colors, textures, and branding. Save some hands and show some spirit with this gift idea.
Car Trash Can
Let’s be honest: even if you want to keep your car spotless, life happens, especially inside your vehicle. Plastic grocery bags float around, only half filling with trash before coming full circle and becoming trash themselves. It’s okay. We’ve all been there. Which means the people on your gift lists have been there too.
The majority of car trash cans hang off the back of the passenger seat. Many models come with a rubber opening at the top so the trash not only stays put but out of sight. Leak-proof and waterproof features keep messes safely contained. Your giftee will thank you, and their car would thank you too if it could.
$25 to $50
Hand-Held Car Vacuum
Even with the trash can mentioned above, there’s no foolproof way to keep your car interior spotless. We track in mud, leaves, and other debris. Eating scatters crumbs about. Kids and pets are the masters of messes, no matter how much you plan ahead before putting them in the car.
What your giftee needs is a hand-held car vacuum. Honestly, what everyone needs is a hand-held car vacuum. Imagine spending just a few minutes to dispatch the dirt from mats, carpeting, and seats. Plus, many vacuums come with a car detailing kit, taking cleaning up car interiors to another level.
Car First Aid Kit
Sunburn. Bug bites. Scrapped knees. Poison Ivy. If you take your vehicle to the great outdoors, chances are someone has had one of these maladies on the trip back home. Even if you’re not the great outdoors type, there’s plenty of medical mischief that you can get into just in day-to-day living. It’s always when you need a band-aid that you don’t have one. So why let one of your giftees be forced to scrouge through the glovebox for one next time life has a little surprise?
The larger first-aid kits expand past just the basic band-aids and alcohol wipes. They offer a wide range of items, which can include cool packs, sponges, eye wash, splints, tourniquets, various over-the-counter medications for pain, fever, and itching, and even emergency blankets. Everything can be tucked away neatly in a case, making it easy to find if needed on short notice. “Safety first” is the best common sense tip for driving, and this gift is a great reminder of that.
$50 to $100
Jump Starter
Preparedness is the best gift you can give a driver. It’s also a gift that will be appreciated when there’s a problem. For instance, when the car stalls. Turning over the engine and finding your battery is dead can be one of the more distressing moments of car ownership, especially if it’s dark out, you’re in an unfamiliar place, or in inclement weather.
This is one product I cannot recommend highly enough. I don’t go anywhere without my jump starter, and it’s always charged. A wide range of models exist in this price range. From personal experience, I would recommend going for one that has an LED flashlight built into the starter, and that includes the jumper cables. Most units can be charged via a standard wall outlet or the 12V outlet in the car. What better way to say you care than helping your driver out of a rough spot?
Roadside Tool Kit
Sometimes, the only way to fix what’s wrong is to roll up your sleeves and get out the toolbox. There’s just one problem: most of us don’t carry toolboxes in our cars. Not to worry! There is a wide range of tool kits aimed specifically at unexpected car repairs. The tools are tucked away inside a plastic carrying case or a leather bag when not needed, reducing their size for easy storage.
While this gift could fit into many different price ranges, the $50 to $100 range offers the overall best value. When a repair is unexpected, it’s important to have the right tools on hand, and a larger kit means you’re more likely to have the right tools. The right tool for the right job is more than just a saying!
Over $100
Dashcam
One trend you’ve probably noticed over the last several years is the growing amount of dashcam footage on social media. While many memorable things have been caught on dashcams, their function is more important than you might think. In the event of a collision or other accident taking place when you’re in your car, having video footage of how everything happened can be priceless.
This is a present that gives peace of mind and an extra layer of protection when the unexpected happens. It’s also a fun present, useful even if there’s no need for footage to bring to court. We’ve all seen strange or funny things on the road. Who wouldn’t enjoy capturing those on camera?
Give Your Holiday Shopping List Some Horsepower
Now that you’ve seen what you can get the drivers on your gift list, I hope this will help make your holiday shopping easier. Even if nothing I’ve talked about here will do the trick, it can give you a jumping-off point. Or, at the bare minimum, remind you that practical presents can be every bit as valid as the flashier, more sentimental ones. After all, the best gifts are the ones that show the person receiving the gift that they are cared about by the gifter.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few names to cross off my gifting list—and some items to add to my own wishlist. My Civic has been a good car this year, and I want to get her something special.
