Best Accessories and Gadgets for Car-Obsessed Teens

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If you have a teenager in your life, you know that finding the right gifts for the holiday season can be quite the challenge. But do not fret—whether your teen is a gear enthusiast, a passionate tech kid, or just has a first car that they deserve to take pride in, we've got you covered for gift ideas from electronics to interior upgrades that are sure to impress. We've even got a few preparedness ideas; after all, safety is paramount in these formative years.

Looking for more gift ideas for the car lovers in your life? Check out our holiday gift guide and our collection of car-related toys for kids.

LED Cup Holder Lights

These rechargeable LED cup holder lights can transform any ordinary water bottle into a jug of neon-green nuclear waste in a matter of seconds. The discs are charged via USB cable and have up to eight hours of battery life while emitting one of seven colors.

Comsoon Bluetooth Auxiliary Jack Adapter

Ideal for kids who get hand-me-down cars, this affordable adapter can transform your music-listening experience. Simply charge it (or connect it to the car's power outlet), plug it into your aux port, and pair your phone. Not only is the adapter good for high-quality audio streaming, it can also be used for phone calls using its built-in microphone. Who needs a fancy, expensive, Bluetooth-enabled radio?

Ring Car Cam

Dashcams have risen in popularity lately with their ability to capture wild moments and also establish your innocence in case of an accident you didn't cause. Why not consider providing your teenager with the latest in car-cam technology: the Ring Car Cam. The Ring Car Cam records both the view in front of the car and inside the cabin. This way your teenager has a record of the roads they've driven, as well as plenty of footage of all those silly times with their friends inside. As a bonus for parents, you can also access a live feed from in the cabin.

G29 Driving Force

Teenagers and video games—a classic combination, right? Well, here's something that takes it up a notch. The Logitech Driving Force provides an exhilarating gaming experience, helping to pave the way for your teenager's dream of becoming a race-car driver.

The system—compatible with PS4, PS5, PCs, and Macs—immerses players in a realistic driving simulation, complete with precision steering and pressure-sensitive pedals. The racing wheel even offers feedback to replicate the genuine feel of being behind the wheel of a real car. Trust us; this is bound to be a hit with your teenager and their friends.

Govee LED Car Lights

Interior LED lights seem to be all the rage these days, and this kit from Govee is one of the top-rated choices on Amazon. By using the Govee Home app, you can unlock up to 16 million different colors and even utilize Music mode—where the colors bounce to the beat of your tunes. Simply install with adhesive strips, plug into the 12V socket, and you're good to go.

Car Registration & Insurance Card Holder

Keep all of your vehicle's important documents organized with this handy holder that fits right in your glovebox. With clear pockets galore, you can fit and display insurance cards, registration, and other important info without embarrassingly having to dig through paperwork.

Big Mouth Max Release Foam Cannon

For those who are already nearly professional in the car-detailing department, consider this foam cannon from Chemical Guys which, when coupled with a pressure washer, can quickly coat a car with foamy soap. As a bonus, foam cannons are all the rage on YouTube car detailing videos, so it could help your young driver become a viral sensation.

Noco Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter

No trunk is complete without a set of jumper cables or an emergency jump pack like this great piece from Noco. The Noco GB40 Boost Plus is capable of jump-starting engines as large as 6.0 liters in displacement and can also be used to charge smart devices in an emergency.

CHGeek Phone Mount

While you should never let a phone distract you from driving, a well-placed phone holder can make it much easier to play music or operate the navigation app from behind the wheel. There are hundreds of mounts to choose from, but we picked this CHGeek model because it doubles as a wireless charger.

Meguiar's Complete Car Care Kit

We wouldn't be surprised if your car-obsessed teen is also a total neat freak about his or her car. A lot of Car and Driver editors are too. We'd recommend starting them out with this package of car detailing essentials from Meguiar's, which includes everything they need to shine up their ride.

Carhartt Seatback Organizer

Anyone teen who travels a lot needs to have everything on hand at all times, and this rugged seatback organizer from Carhartt more than holds its own. It offers plenty of room for tools, laptops, cell phones, and more. It's even got MOLLE straps for hanging extra gear and a hook for attaching your favorite cap or hat. It affixes to any seat back on any vehicle. Made of sturdy nylon duck canvas, it comes in basic black or Carhartt Brown for that classic Carhartt style.

Toaddmos Car Seat Covers

Let's be honest, who hasn't gone through an intense aesthetic phase during their teen years? Embrace that journey alongside your teenager and encourage them to express their unique style even through their car seats.

The Toaddmos line of car seat covers offers such an array of patterns, you'll be sure to find something that will resonate with your teenager. Each set includes covers for two bucket seats and is easy to install thanks to its universal fit and elastic backing, allowing for a seamless pullover installation.

Frigidaire Mini Fridge

With both a regular household plug and a 12-volt adapter, this handy little mini fridge is a great item that can be used on the desk or in their car to keep beverages and snacks cool during road trips or during all-night study sessions.

Drop Stop Car Seat Gap Filler

If you've ever lost something in the abyss between your front seats and the center console—and who hasn't—you've likely thought, "Why doesn't someone do something about this?" The folks at Drop Stop have. The Seat Gap Filler's name says exactly what it does. This inventive product promises to prevent many future hand contortions—as well as the occasional skinned knuckle—due to lost change, pens, phones, keys, or anything else prone to falling into the no man's land between the seat and center console. Ideal for teenagers since, ya know, teenagers.

Craftsman Mechanics Tool Set

With any older car like the one your teen is probably driving, there'll be mechanical breakdowns and required maintenance. Encourage them to learn to wrench for themselves with this starter mechanics set from Craftsman.

USB Adapter

We all want USB ports in our cars now, particularly to charge our phones and power other devices. But getting those ports can be tricky and ugly—this little gizmo changes that. It's designed to fit in your cigarette lighter port and stay flush, which looks cleaner while also providing two extra USB ports. Win-win.

AstroAI Digital Tire Pressure Gauge

Keeping tire pressures set correctly is the first step in a safe drive, so make sure your teen has a tire pressure gauge like this one from AstroAI in their glovebox. It's affordable and compact, so it'd make a great stocking stuffer.

American Flag Sunshade

Getting into a hot car after sitting in the sun all day is awful—that steering wheel can feel like it's fresh out of the oven. A sunshade is a great way to avoid this, like this one from Autoamerics; they have a plethora of American flag–style choices. Use the handy chart in the image gallery to see which size fits your vehicle.

Ampper Exterior LED Light Kit

For many drivers, a vehicle's outward appearance is just as important as its performance. Others want additional exterior lighting to help their car be seen at night. For either of those needs, we recommend exterior LED lights like these from Ampper. These waterproof lights can be placed anywhere on a vehicle and are designed for all weather conditions. They're not intended as driving lights but do work well as puddle lights. They come in blue, green, red, white, and yellow. The lights must be wired to your vehicle's electrical system, so you should see a knowledgeable installer unless you're sure you can handle the job yourself.

Puma Ferrari Fanny Pack

We were surprised, too, to find out that fanny packs are popular again. If we had to choose, it'd be this bright-red number that's the product of a collaboration between Puma and Ferrari.

Student Driver Magnet

These handy and highly visible magnets will help alert other drivers that your teen is new to driving and encourages motorists to forgive mistakes. Plus, since they are magnets and not stickers, they can easily be removed when parents take the wheel.

Key Vault

As a teenager, you've got a lot going on, and sometimes whoopsie moments can occur. If your teenager's car is equipped with a tow bar, why not equip them with a product that can help in that accidental locked-out-of-the-car situation. It's all about being prepared, and if the situation arises, they'll be able to solve the problem themselves. Win-win!

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