Stuff We Love
by Melissa Fenton | May 28, 2018
Your teen just passed their driving examination with flying colors, and while you may be sweating in the corner full of panic and worry about the potential speeding tickets, inevitable fender benders, and your new obscenely high car insurance bill, your teen on the other hand is ready to hit the road. But before they peel out of the driveway and make a beeline to all of their favorite fast food drive-thru’s, you may want to stock their car with some practical car accessories and safety gadgets.
Note: We receive compensation from purchases made through some of the links in this post.
Car Accessories for Teen Drivers
1. Roadside Emergency Assistance Kit, $39.95
This is the most important of all the car accessories on our list for your teen’s car (and yours as well.) This kit includesa Premium 58 First Aid Kit, Heavy Duty Jumper Cables, Heavy Duty Tow Strap, Emergency Blanket, 9-In-1 Multi-Tool, Bungee cords, Magnesium Fire Starter, Roadside Warning Sign, Roadside Emergency Tools, and more. This is everything you need until help arrives.
2. Smartphone Car Air Vent/Mount Holder, Universal, $8.99
Simple installation with no screws or adhesives, and fits most cellphones, iPhone 7, 7 Plus iPhone 6s Plus, 6s, 5s, 5c, Samsung Galaxy S6, HTC,LG, Nexus, Nokia, and other cradle devices. Check with your state’s hands free laws, because this could be a must own.
3. Portable Car Collapsible Trash Can, $11.99
Take a look at your teenager’s bedroom, then transfer that image to their car. Yep, trash everywhere! Go ahead and buy two of these cans. Because fast food wrappers. These are among our favorite car accessories so consider one for you, too.
4. Lifehammer Brand Car Safety Hammer, the Original Emergency Escape and Rescue Tool with Seatbelt Cutter, $27.95
The hope is your teen will never, ever have to use these, but they need to have them anyway. Store in the car in an accessible place to driver and/or passenger (not trunk because you may need to reach them while seatbelt is fastened), and rest assured escape is just a slash cut away.
5.Drive Auto Products Car Trunk Storage Organizer with Strap
You won’t believe the amount of crap….errrr, STUFF your teenager will begin to collect in their car. Get this organizer and help them keep their stuff all in one place, and not littered across the backseat. And the front seat. And the trunk. And the dashboard. Just buy it.
6. Car Wash Bucket Kit, $28.05
Now that their car is clean and organized on the inside, time for some soapy shine on the outside. This all in one kit includes everything your teen needs to start “workin’ at the carrrrrr waaaaaash!!”
7. Disposable Camera, Pack of 2, $13.50
Right now you’re asking yourself why your teen needs a camera in the car because they have one on their phone, right? Well they do, but that camera only works if the phone is charged and working. In the event of an accident that damages their phone (or said phone is dead), they will need this to snap photos of the accident scene. Keep in glove box and pray you don’t ever need it.
8.2 Pack Premium Car Fragrance Essential Oil Perfume Diffuser, $10.09
Their car will stink. Stink like sweaty gym socks plus week old onion rings plus filthy soccer cleats. The end.
9.Darth Vader Light Up Key Chain with Evil LED Eyes, $8.90
Their new car keys need to hang from Darth Vader, because of course they do. And because a key chain this cool may help them losing their keys over and over and over again.
10.Dashboard Hula Girl, Hawaiian hula girl dashboard bobble doll, $12.99
I mean really, doesn’t every dashboard need a dancing Hawaiian hula girl? And if the girl is not your speed, they make a hula dude, too. Just sayin’.
Related:
Here are the 5 Types of New Drivers. Which One is Your Kid?
Graduation Gifts for Your Teen’s Friends
Melissa Fenton is a freelance writer and adjunct librarian at Pasco-Hernando State College. Find her writing all over the internet, but her work mostly on the dinner table. She is on Facebook at4BoysMotherand on twitter at@melissarunsaway.
Home / Articles / Gift Ideas / Stuff We Love / Ten Practical (and Fun!) Car Accessories for Your New Teen Driver
About Melissa Fenton
Melissa Fenton is a freelance writer and adjunct librarian at Pasco-Hernando State College. Find her writing all over the internet, but her work mostly on the dinner table. Find her on Facebook
and on twitter at@melissarunsaway
Read more posts by Melissa
Dorm Shopping
Apartment Essentials: 40 Things to Make Your Apartment Feel Like Home
by Madeleine Korn | March 28, 2024
Moving into your first college apartment is such an exciting time. Especially after living in a dorm, the apartment gives you so much more space and the convenience of a kitchen. If you are moving into a new apartment, there are many things you will need that you might not typically think of. Also, if…
Continue Reading
Dorm Shopping
The 5 Best Dorm Room Rugs of 2024
by Christina Montoya Fiedler | March 26, 2024
Decorating a dorm room can be challenging. You have limited space, roommates to contend with, and (of course) a budget to stick to. Once you have the essentials, it’s time for the big stuff — something to tie the whole room together. Rugs are a big part of the ambiance of your student’s dorm room,…
Continue Reading
Stuff We Love
41 Things We Love On Amazon’s Big Spring Sale – UPDATED
by Helene Wingens | March 20, 2024
Amazon is doing something new this year, a Big Spring Sale for 6 days in March. If you’re shopping for gifts for graduation, Father’s Day and/or Mother’s Day, you may find EXACTLY what you want and pretty great prices. Here is our UPDATED list with some fantastic deals that we want to share with you.…
Continue Reading
Stuff We Love
The 18 Best Amazon Big Spring Sale Tech and Laptop Deals
by Anna Lane | March 19, 2024
Surprise! Amazon just dropped a whole new day of deals called the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Starting on Wednesday, March 20, and running until Monday, March 25th, the Big Spring Sale promises to offer a plethora of ways to save money on all the tech that teens and college kids want. From laptops to routers…
Continue Reading
Stuff We Love
The 30 Best Gifts for Guys In Their 20s
by Amanda Oliver | March 16, 2024
Trying to find the best gift for guys in their 20s can be a challenge, to say the least. Whether he’s a new graduate, a new husband, or even a new dad, he can be very particular about the things he uses and wears. He likes what he likes—and in some cases, he’s still trying…
Continue Reading
Stuff We Love
Spring Break Reading: Top 10 Picks for College Students, Everyone!
by Phoebe Rak | March 14, 2024
Spring break is usually a much-needed break from college classes, essays, homework, and required reading. Finding yourself uninterrupted to read without the stress of the assigned reading looming over you is so freeing. Here are my suggestions for spring break reading: books with great characters and plot lines but the ability to read without thinking…
Continue Reading
Stuff We Love
58 Trendy Gifts for Teen Girls They’ll Absolutely Adore
by Belle duch*ene | March 12, 2024
Teenage girls can be, like, the worst–to shop for. Love them as we do; they can be a tough crowd to please — and nearly impossible to impress. With new products going viral weekly, finding the best gifts for teen girls is no easy task. Gen Z digital natives are hyperaware, always in touch with…
Continue Reading
Stuff We Love
19 Incredible Easter Basket Ideas for Teens
by Grace Cooper | March 4, 2024
With Easter fast approaching, the time to prep Easter baskets will soon be here. While it’s pretty easy to fill a basket full of goodies for younger kids, coming up with Easter basket ideas for teens can be a little more difficult. They’re not as assumed with gimmicky toys, and some have very strong opinions…
Continue Reading
College Care Packages
The 14 Best Sick Care Package Ideas to Send to Students
by Hannah Fierick | February 29, 2024
Spring might be coming early this year, but the cold season remains in full swing. If your teen is away at school for the first time, being sick without anyone there to care for you can be scary and overwhelming. While you might not be able to be on campus, nothing says you’re thinking of…
Continue Reading
Empty Nest
The 14 Best Home Gym Equipment Pieces to Build Your Bonus
by Sara Hendricks | February 23, 2024
When your child flies off to college or post-grad life, their absence may leave a space in your heart. It also leaves you with some new space in your home. Not sure what to do with this new, wide-open room? Once you’ve checked (and double-checked) that your child isn’t expecting you to maintain a shrine…
Continue Reading