5 Essential car accessories every driver should buy (2024)

As a car owner, you’re probably looking for convenience, safety, and practicality in the everyday running of your car. But owning and driving a car can go from a pleasure to a pain depending on what accessories you bought (and what day of the week it is).

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So here’s a list of our favourite essential car accessories that you should consider before anything else. These are available for a variety of price ranges, and don’t need any professional installation either.

1. Phone holder

Why buy: Our lives revolve around mobile phones these days, and no one ever leaves home without one, so it’s obvious that a mobile phone holder is indispensable. Once securely mounted on a holder, your mobile phone becomes an incredible tool — you can use it to navigate to your destination, play the music of your choice, or make phone calls, all with your hands on the steering wheel.

There are different kinds of holders available, mounted on either the air conditioning vents, dashboard, windshield, or the rearview mirror. Some have telescopic arms, and some can even wirelessly charge your phone while on the move.

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Pro tip: The ones that mount on the windshield are a great compromise in our experience, because the phone can be within your line of sight and off to the side, meaning you don’t have to look down to see the map.

Price range: From $3 to $120

Buy here: Amazon, Walmart

2. Microfiber detailing cloth

Why buy: If you, like yours truly, spend your weekends washing, cleaning, and polishing your car, then you see where we are going with this one. A soft, high-quality microfiber cloth is like a one-tool cleaning kit. It can lift the dirt and grime up without scratching the paint; doesn’t leave streaks behind on the glass; is absorbent and great at drying surfaces; and, last but not least, works as a great waxing and polishing tool for that spotless shine.

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Pro tip: Once the microfiber cloth gets dirty, you can just throw it in the wash and it’s ready for use again.

Price range: From $2 to $150

Buy here: Amazon, Walmart

3. All-weather floor mats

Why buy: Whatever time of the year it is, you’re always bringing the weather with you into the car — whether that’s rain, snow, or mud. On other days, it’s spilt drinks and food crumbs. And where does it all go? It stays in the fabric floor mats your car came with.

What car owners really need are all-weather floor mats. These come in either rubber or vinyl, and the best thing about them is that they’re very easy to clean. When buying, you can either get the universal fit that will work in most cars; or custom-fit mats made for specific car models. We prefer the latter, though they are relatively more expensive.

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Another thing you should ensure is that mats don’t move around too much, because they can interfere with pedal movement, or worse, impede driver’s responsiveness.

Pro tip: Buy mats with raised edges so that any debris and liquids stay within the confines and don’t spill out.

Price range: From $30 to $1,000

Buy here: Amazon, Walmart

4. Trunk organizer

Why buy: This is the most under-appreciated of all car accessories, if you ask us. Whether you’re going grocery shopping or heading on a road trip, having everything organized in the trunk is not just a convenience, but also a time-saver. Tools? Check. Sports equipment? Check. First-aid kit? Check. Groceries? Check. The tire pressure gauge you haven’t used in over a year? Check.

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Plus there is nothing rolling about inside the cabin around sharp turns and under heavy braking. You also make the best use of the available space in a car.

Pro tip: EV owners might want to look into frunk organizers as well.

Price range: $10 to $300

Buy here: Amazon, Walmart

5. Steering wheel lock

Why buy: You parked your car in the driveway last night, and by the time you wake up, it’s already on its way to the port of Montreal—you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to know where it’s headed. If you don’t want to live this nightmare, you might want to invest in a steering lock.

Unlike electronic security systems that can be easily bypassed by the bad guys, this one requires brute force, or at least an angle grinder, to get past. A steering wheel lock may also act as a visual deterrent, encouraging the burglars to look elsewhere.

Pro tip: Some models are designed to latch on the brake pedal and the steering wheel at the opposite ends, preventing the car from both stopping and turning.

Price range: $18 to $160

Buy here: Amazon, Walmart

So what are the car accessories that you consider absolutely essential? Share them in the comments below, or let us know on social media. Happy motoring!