If you know someone who drives a lot, or if you’re that person, these are some gifts that will help them out. From car maintenance to just making it easier to snack on the go, these ideas are perfect for anyone who’s in their car all the time, whether it’s for work or chauffeuring the kids around to activities.
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Car trash bags.
Get a cute reusable car trash bag
to hold garbage in style. It’s more attractive when you’re giving other people a ride, and you can put liners in if you have a lot of wet trash to get rid of. It’s also good for keeping kids’ stuff corralled. Give each kid a bag and let them keep their car activities in it to control the spread of stuff all over the back seat.
Shoe bags.
If they like to drive with shoes that are more comfortable than the ones they have to wear when they get to where they’re going, give them a protective shoe bag. It keeps dress shoes from getting scuffed up, and it will keep pairs together so that one won’t get lost in the car somewhere!
Bin for corralling things.
There are plenty of bins that are designed for cars and traveling, and once you use one you’ll wonder why you didn’t before. These car organizer bins on Amazon will help you corral the little things that get scattered all over the place. Check them out here: Car storage bins (affiliate link)
I also use a little collapsible bin to hold my reusable shopping bags so that I don’t forget them! Any box will do, but if you’re giving one as a gift don’t just give them a cardboard box…
Fun air fresheners.
These handmade air fresheners are essential oil diffusers that are made from Pendleton wool blankets by Pine and Wool Home. If your friend drives a lot, give them one of these with a bottle of essential oil that they can use to renew the fragrance to freshen up their car.
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Comfy seat cushions.
If you’re sitting in a car for a long time, something’s going to start hurting. Get the gift of an additional padded seat or back cushion to help minimize the strain. Sometimes just alternating driving with or without the cushion can help change their position enough to switch things up.
See car seat cushions on Amazon (affiliate link)
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Car chargers holder.
I was on a road trip and suddenly couldn’t find my charger, so I ended up having to buy another one on the way. I finally found it, but it would have been a lot cheaper to never lose it in the first place. Give the gift of not having to spend extra money by giving a phone charger organization bin.
See a cord organizer on Amazon (affiliate link).
In-car work station.
If your friend does actual work in the car, a tray that connects to the seat back or the steering wheel is a good option for working in the car. It’s a lot less awkward than trying to lean on something while you write, or having to twist around to put the computer in the next seat to type!
These are also handy for kids to have something to lean on in the car if they spend lots of time there, too.
See in-car work stations on Amazon (affiliate link)
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Cooler and ice packs.
This is a basic useful gift, and everyone can always use another cooler. Add some reusable cold packs that they can throw in to keep drinks and food cold, and they can save money by not having to buy gas station food.
Get thermal coolers on Amazon (affiliate link)
Dashboard camera.
With the number of people who drive like maniacs these days, plus scammers who set up accidents, a dashcam is a good idea. They come with front and back recording, night vision, parking mode for detecting someone smashing into your parked car, wifi connection…All the features you would want. It’s a safety thing. See them here on Amazon: Dashcam cameras
Neck massager.
You can get a portable neck massager that your friend can wear around their shoulders when they’re driving to get a little TLC on the go. Make sure that you get one that doesn’t have to be held in place…Some come with straps that hold them in place, which is a good idea. You can also get them with a USB plus that can go into the car USB port.
See neck massagers for travel on Amazon (affiliate link)
Good thermal tumbler.
A thermal tumbler is a must these days, and a gift of one will be used and appreciated. You can get them customized on Zazzle, like this cute strawberry version. Add a name or message to it to personalize it.
Audible membership.
An audible membership will give your friend the gift of something to listen to on long drives. They’ll be able to choose themselves, so it also takes the burden of deciding what they’ll like off of you!
Click here to buy gift memberships to Audible on Amazon for 1 month,3 months, 6 months, or 1 year. (affiliate link)
Car emergency kit.
Get a car emergency kit that has things like a tire inflater, roadside hazard signs, ice melt, and flares in case they get stuck somewhere. This is especially important if your friend has kids, because getting stuck on the side of the road is dangerous by yourself, let alone with children with you!
Gas gift cards.
Get a gas gift card, or a general Visa gift card, to help with the cost of gas or other things they want to grab on the go. Everyone likes gift cards!
Snack holders.
If they bring snacks from home, little snack containers that can be reused are handy for people who drive a lot. Fill them with snacks at home, then reuse them the next time you have to be in the car. If kids are involved, this will also help to keep them happy on long trips.
Bulb replacements.
This is kind of a weird suggestion, but if you’ve ever been in your car and the “light out” button comes on, it’s a huge pain if you’re not prepared. I once got pulled over for a taillight that was out when I was on the way to buy the bulbs, I’m not kidding. So now I keep a ton of bulbs in my car, and a gift of the bulbs that your friend would need in this situation would be a unique gift idea. Find their make and model of car online and see which bulbs they use.
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Windshield wiper replacements.
Same thing for windshield wiper replacements…Having an extra new set will come in handy if they get stuck in a storm and they can’t see. Also, get the below-zero windshield wiper fluid, because you don’t want to get stuck with the stuff that will freeze on your windshield if you live somewhere cold.
Weathertech floor liners.
I have a Weathertech floor liner in the back of my car, and it’s awesome. I can throw things in the back without worrying about dirt or water getting all over the trunk. My husband has the floor mats in his car, and it’s a good thing, because he throws all kinds of stuff on the passenger seat floor, and they’ve saved the carpet in the car. If your friend drives a lot these would be a great gift to keep their car clean for the long run. They make a huge difference, and they really do protect the floors.
Watch a video of mine here: Weathertech trunk liner
Fast food gift cards.
If your friend is a fast food consumer, get them gift cards to their favorite spots so that they can grab lunch on the go.
Hanging bag hooks.
Get some hooks that fit over the car seat and hold bags behind you. These could be used for garbage bags, or if they have kids in the car a lot, the kids can hang their stuff on them.
See car seat hooks on Amazon (affiliate link)