5 Inexpensive Must-Have New Car Accessories

Whether you’re a brand new driver or you’ve just hopped back behind the wheel for the first time in years, this list will be equally beneficial to you. Rather than isolating things to a specific category, we’ve compiled five of our favorite go-to items for every driver—accessories, detailing tools, and other essentials that will make your car ownership that much more comfortable. And because we’re the Wise Guide team, we found you options that aren’t a burden on the pocketbook either

Dash cams record the drama unfolding outside your windshield. They provide visual evidence in the event of an accident (“You see, Ms. Insurance Adjuster, he really did pull out in front of me!”) and you never know when something spectacular will happen that will make you a YouTube sensation. Dash cams can be quite affordable as well, though the lower end of the spectrum don’t offer the same recording resolution or features of their more expensive counterparts.

If you live where it rains and you’ve never tried Rain-X, you’re missing out. This nifty rain repellant puts a hydrophobic coating on the glass that causes water to bead up and flow off the windshield. At highway speeds, you can cruise through a downpour and not need your windshield wipers at all. Sure, it makes you safer, but with prices under 10 bucks a bottle, it’s worth it just for the novelty factor—and if you ski or snowboard, we understand that a coating of Rain-X works wonders on wet snow.

Invariably, buying a new car is much like celebrating New Year’s Day in that it brings with it a host of resolutions: I will stop speeding up through yellow lights, I will find parking spots where my doors won’t get dinged, I will not eat smelly food in the car. Talking on your cellphone ought to be on the list, especially since it’s illegal in so many states. A cellphone mount keeps your phone in easy reach and makes your phone an effective navigation system—and you can buy one for less than $10.

Whether your car is new or old, your tires will lose air over time — about 1 pound per square inch (PSI) per month and another PSI for every 10-degree (F) drop in temperature. Low-pressure tires slow your car down and cause it to burn more fuel, and if they get really low, you’re at risk for a blowout. Most newer cars have a tire pressure monitoring system (TMPS) that can warn you when the tires get really low, but why wait? A digital tire pressure gauge helps you keep your tires where they ought to be, and with prices ranging from $5 to $20, every glovebox ought to have one.