Written by Cat DowPublished: 15 July 2022Updated: 8 August 2023
Car accessories; they’re the quickest way to make life more convenient and to put a unique stamp on your car. There’s a wide range of accessories from things to help the family, to those that’ll keep you safe, along with accessories that can be helpful when you travel.
Just to be clear, these aren’t the optional extras you select when buying the car. Those factory-fitted options differ from these third-party products as these are extras you can introduce to any car. Aftermarket products can not only help bring older cars into the 21st century, but also help to keep the cabin of the car as clean and safe as possible to protect its resale value.
Accessorise for safety
Among the accessories needed for safety, first up, we’d recommend phone charger. Phones have become an integral part of driving these days – even if phones are illegal to actually touch while driving – as they support music playback and navigation. To keep your phone safe and secure where you can see it but not touch it, invest in a phone mount, USB adapter for your 12V port and decent USB cables. Since the rules on driving in the UK with a mobile phone have changed, these can not only save you fines, but even your life by minimising distraction and forcing you to keep your eyes on the road.
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It’s also worth investing in some blind spot mirrors. While rear view mirrors are standard features on all cars, additional mirrors and camera systems are now enjoying widespread adoption as they improve spatial awareness on the road. We like mirror dash cams as they double up as reversing cameras, saving owners the job of investing in an aftermarket set for an older car. You could, of course, opt for a regular dash cam, some of which have a recording trigger when the car is parked.
Useful essentials like an emergency kit, tool kit, small first aid kit and torch are savvy and affordable investments that easily stow away for any emergency.
Investing in a wheel lock is also a worthwhile exercise. Deterring would-be thieves is the quickest and most effective way to prevent a break in. To stop anyone from driving away in your car or motorhome, consider investing in a wheel clamp.
Car seats are a legal requirement for the safety of children, but the right one will depend on the size or age of the child.For more information, check out our page on the best car seats for toddlers.
Accessories for repair
If you have an older car, or a penchant for fixing things yourself, a solid jack and wheel brace, puncture repair kit and jump start pack will be useful to keep stowed away. Since some examples of the latter double up as power packs to charge mobiles and laptops, they can be great value for money.
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Accessories for cleaning
Keeping your car clean and tidy will not only make you feel better behind the wheel but also help to maintain the resale value of your car. If you’re time-poor, handheld vacuum cleaners are one of the most efficient ways of making a massive difference in just ten minutes. Car covers are a good way to protect your paintwork if you don’t have a dry-store garage or you wish to store a vehicle for a longer period i.e. over winter.
Air fresheners and screen cloths are easy and cheap ways of keep day-to-day smells and smears at bay. Car scent bombs can tackle really funky smells like damp dog.
Seat covers and floor mats are a must for anyone looking to protect the upholstery of your car. We especially like heated seat covers in winter.
Accessories for convenience
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Given the glorious weather we’ve been having, your glovebox wouldn’t be complete without spare sunglasses, pen, paper, sweeties and water. And if you’re a fan of heels or flip-flops, you’d be best invest in a pair of driving shoes too.
Navigation is most easily done from your mobile phone, yes. But with a combination of strict mobile usage while driving laws and less than ideal battery charging options, you might want to consider a separate sat-nav upgrade.
Accessories for the seasons
Driving the different seasons of the UK needs a more targeted approach too. In winter, we’d highly recommend de-icer and/or an ice scraper. In more rural areas with high snowfall, a snow shovel could be a good shout.
In summer, a foil screen protector will help manage the melting point of your cabin before the air-con kicks in.
Accessories for travel
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Getting away from it all needs extra storage, so roof bags and roof racks will be top of the list.
Cyclists will need bike tow bars or a bike roof rack (we’ve done a bike rack comparison too).
And those looking to hit the road and go camping, should take a look at portable air-con units, BBQs, cool boxes and upgrades to their sound system.
Entertaining the kids is a sure way for a smoother, more enjoyable journey and overall holiday. Finally, you might be (quite literally) lost with a magnetic car tracker.
