Steering wheel desks, car air purifiers, and quality seat covers are some of the most underrated car accessories.
If you have an older vehicle, the right car accessories can give it a modern boost. Or maybe you want to add a few extra features to a newer vehicle. These car accessories can increase your car’s comfort, function, and safety, whether it’s older or brand new.
Here are our top 17 picks for underrated car accessories and upgrades, including many affordable options.
17 Underrated Accessories and Gadgets to Increase Your Car’s Function, Comfort, and Style
- Steering Wheel Desk
- Compact Car Vacuum Cleaner
- Car Rubbish Bin
- Ambient Interior LED Lights
- Car Phone Mount
- Car Air Purifier
- Dash Cam and Backup Camera
- Compact Portable Tyre Inflator
- Quality Seat Covers
- Blind Spot Mirrors
- Car Seat Gap Filler
- Car Sunshade
- Boot Organiser
- Car Registration and Insurance Card Holder
- Magnetic Sunglasses Holder
- Car First Aid Kit
- Emergency Keychain Car Escape Tool
1. Steering Wheel Desk
Do you frequently eat or work in your car? If you need a mobile office, a steering wheel desk is a must-have car accessory.
Steering wheel desks fit on round steering wheels and transform it into a sturdy, flat surface. This surface can then be used for eating, holding your laptop, and working.
2. Compact Car Vacuum Cleaner
We’re always amazed at how fast a car’s interior can get dirty. This is especially true if you travel a lot, go to the beach often, or have kids or pets. A compact car vacuum cleaner is a must-have car accessory that we never go without.
A dedicated car vacuum cleaner makes it easy to keep your vehicle’s interior crumb, dust, sand, and dirt free.
3. Car Rubbish Bin
Another way to easily keep a car clean is by having a rubbish bin handy. This prevents wrappers from building up on the vehicle’s floors.
You May Also Like: 10 Easy Tips to Keep Your Car Clean – Shevron Auto Accessories
4. Ambient Interior LED Lights
Car LED lights can completely transform your vehicle’s interior, adding a touch of luxury without a high price tag.
We especially like LED car cup holder lights. This simple upgrade adds a modern touch and convenience to newer and older vehicles alike.
You May Also Like: Easy Ways to Make an Old Car Feel New Again
5. Car Phone Mount
Magnetic mobile phone mounts are easy to install and can reduce distraction while driving. Other phone mounts use strong suction cups to attach to your windshield or dashboard. Either option is a great way to keep your phone accessible and protected from falling under or between seats.
6. Car Air Purifier
Remember those potent little tree air fresheners of the past? They did little more than cover up odours. Rather than masking unpleasant scents in your vehicle, consider a car air purifier.
Car air purifiers can help remove unpleasant aromas and chemicals, helping to improve your vehicle’s air quality. Some even come with smart design features, enabling them to turn off and on automatically when you start or shut off your ignition.
More Easy Car Interior Upgrades: 11 Car Interior Improvement Ideas – Shevron Auto Accessories
7. Dash Cam and Backup Camera
Increasing a vehicle’s safety is always a worthwhile investment. Dash cams and backup cams are some of the best safety accessories to add to a vehicle.
Dash cams provide video footage for insurance or security purposes. Backup cams increase visibility when backing out of parking spaces or driveways.
8. Compact Portable Tyre Inflator
Traditional trye inflators are bulky and heavy, making them difficult to keep in your boot. If you want a more portable option, consider a compact tyre inflator.
Keep in mind that although they are convenient, portable tyre inflators may not offer the performance of larger options. For longer road trips, we recommend a traditional trye inflator.
9. Quality Seat Covers
Car seat covers serve a double-duty function by adding comfort for your commute and protection for your vehicle’s upholstery.
Long road trips or daily commutes are instantly more comfortable by adding a quality seat cover. And, spilling a bit of coffee is far less stressful when you know it hasn’t damaged your car’s interior.
1o. Blind Spot Mirrors
Enhance visibility and increase your safety with blind spot mirrors. If your vehicle doesn’t already have blind spot mirrors, this is a worthwhile vehicle upgrade.
These convenient mirrors can be stuck on the top outside corners of your mirrors, helping to enhance visibility and reduce the risk of accidents.
11. Car Seat Gap Filler
Have you ever dropped your phone, keys, or change into the gap between your front seat and the centre console? We’ve been there too. And trying to dig something out of that seemingly bottomless pit can be annoying — and dangerous if you do it while driving.
Along with stopping items from dropping into the abyss, car seat gap fillers also prevent crumbs from dropping into the gap.
12. Car Sunshade
Do you dread getting into a sweltering car as much as we do? Sometimes it’s impossible to find a shaded spot. That’s where sunshades come in. These foldable, flexible screens easily sit on top of your car’s dashboard, bouncing UV rays off it.
Sun shades are an affordable investment, but they can save thousands by reducing damage to your dashboard. They also naturally keep your car’s interior cooler.
Along with protecting your dashboard, sun shades prevent UV rays from damaging other components of your vehicle’s interior, such as:
- Electronics
- Soft-touch plastics
- GPS units
- Console
- Seats
- Upholstery
- Steering wheel
Learn other ways to protect your vehicle’s interior from sun damage in our guide here: How to Protect Car Dashboard and Interior from Sun Damage.
13. Boot Organiser
If you store a lot of items in your boot, it can quickly become dishevelled. A boot organiser with multiple storage compartments can keep tools, groceries, and other items secure and easy to find.
14. Car Registration and Insurance Card Holder
Another excellent yet underrated organising upgrade for your car is a car registration and insurance card holder. This handy holder keeps all of your important info in one organised, easily accessible place.
Clear pockets display info clearly and eliminate the need to dig around for important paperwork.
15. Magnetic Sunglasses Holder
Sunglasses have a way of slipping into unknown voids inside a vehicle. Whether you lose sunglasses under seats or they fall out when you open the door, magnetic sunglass holders are a great upgrade.
Magnetic sunglasses holders attach to your car’s visor, making it easy to quickly grab your sunglasses when you need them. No need to fumble around looking for them or struggling to see clearly as you squint at the sun.
16. Car First Aid Kit
It’s good to be prepared, but first aid kits are often forgotten and underrated car accessories. It may end up being your most important car accessory, though.
A basic car first aid kit is portable and compact. Pre-made options or make your own car first aid kit with these items:
- Bandages
- Burn gel
- Antiseptic wipes
- Antibiotic ointment
- Medical tape
- Gauze pads and rolls
- Tweezers
- Flashlight
- Disposable non-latex gloves
- Medical shears
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Instant cold packs
- CPR mask
- First aid manual
17. Emergency Keychain Car Escape Tool
These handy tools serve as a seatbelt cutter or window-breaker. They easily fit on keychains for quick access when needed. We love the peace of mind they offer, which is why they round out our list of the top underrated car accessories.
Upgrade Your Ride With Shevron’s Premium Car Accessories
Underrated car accessories, such as sun shades, boot organisers, and car first aid kits, can upgrade your driving experience. These handy car accessories and gadgets can add comfort, safety, style, and function.
For more ideas on transforming your car with premium accessories, contact our team. We’ve been offering premium seat covers and custom auto accessories since 1988.
Our family-owned and operated business is proud to be one of Australia’s largest manufacturers and distributors of custom car accessories. Contact us with questions or for personalised recommendations on upgrading your vehicle.