Car gadgets: 10 truly useful accessories
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There are thousands of car gadgets, but few are really useful. We kept the ones you use every day, and the ones you are glad to have the day something goes wrong.
Car gadgets for everyday use
- Phone holder, magnetic or clip-on, on the air vent.
- Fast USB-C charger for the 12 V socket.
- Seat-back organiser for the children.
- Console storage tray to end the clutter.
- Squeegee and microfibre cloths for perfect visibility.
Car gadgets that get you out of trouble
- Portable compressor to reinflate a tyre.
- Jump starter for a flat battery.
- Rechargeable torch, useful at night.
The essential safety gadgets
- Window breaker: to get out if the doors no longer open, after a crash or in water.
- Seatbelt cutter: to free yourself from a jammed belt in a second.
These two are often combined in a single tool. The key is to fix it within reach, not in the boot. To understand how automatic models work, read spring-loaded window breaker: how does it work.
How to choose a useful car gadget?
- It should be used at least once a month, or be able to get you out of a serious situation.
- It should stay in place without getting in the way of driving or the airbags.
- It should be simple: under stress, there is no time to read instructions.
To give one of these gadgets as a present, our article car gifts for men gathers the best ideas.
The gadget you hope never to use
SafeCore Pro combines a window breaker and a seatbelt cutter in a 13 cm aluminium tube, fixed in the console. One press is enough, no swing or strength needed.
