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If you have a car lover in your life, you know that overall, car lovers are a fun-loving—yet also relentlessly practical—group. As such, you’ve also likely discovered just how difficult it can be to find a gift that captures both sides of the car lover dichotomy. The result? Entire gift-giving seasons (and birthday and anniversary and the list goes on) that find many car lovers’ loved ones debating whether to go with a fun car gift, a practical solution for an automotive issue—or even something completely unrelated, just to simplify the process.
In most cases, gift-givers struggling to find that perfect gift would simply ask the recipient in question what they’d like the most. Unfortunately, that tactic can open up an entirely different set of problems when it comes to car lovers. When asked what they’d like the most, your favorite car enthusiast is likely to rattle off a list of automotive parts and accessories you may not understand unless you’re a car lover yourself. Even then, car parts can require more of a cost commitment than you’re willing to undertake.
The Perfect Car Enthusiast Gifts
So, what’s someone who loves a car lover to do when it comes to choosing the perfect car enthusiast gift? We’ve searched everywhere for the items that make up this list of ideal car lovers’ gifts, with a focus on capturing that perfect blend of fun and functional. You won’t have to worry about finding a new set of rims or a cold air intake—and best of all, the car lover in your life will receive a gift that truly captures their love for autos.
Here is Our Roundup of the Top 10 Gifts for Car Lovers:
Car Cleaning Accessories
The vast majority of car lovers enjoy keeping their ride in great shape, both inside and out. In most cases, this means cleaning and shining the exterior painted finish, metal and plastic accessories, and glass, as well as the interior cloth, leather, plastic, and instrument panels. Build your kit by visiting your local auto accessory store and filling a wash bucket with items like washing soap, chrome polish, plastic restorer, detailing spray, ceramic coating spray, glass cleaner, leather protector, carpet cleaner, and tire shine as well as a wheel cleaning brush, a wash mitt, and microfiber cloths for detailing.
Car Lovers’ T-Shirts
Whether your favorite car lover drives a classic VW during the week, a race car on the weekends, or prefers to spend time tinkering in the garage, car lovers’ clothing can fit almost any niche. This fun, word-art-inspired racing tank is perfect for the race enthusiast in your life, while this classic Car Lover shirt suits any car show. From tank top to baseball tee and everything in between, Red Mountain Funding’s merch shop has you covered.
Bluetooth Accessibility
Is the car enthusiast in your life tired of fussing with the tangle of cords required to connect his or her phone to the car stereo? Alternatively, has your car lover recently upgraded to a new phone that lacks the 3.5 mm headphone jack necessary to connect to an auxiliary jack? Upgrading to Bluetooth functionality can solve both problems. With this Bluetooth Aux Adapter from Mpow, you can even avoid an expensive stereo system overhaul—just plug into a car aux port and enjoy!
In-car Mini-fridge
If your favorite car lover frequently travels and finds that when they get to their destination, they sorely lack cold, refreshing food and drink, the perfect car gift might just be a miniature refrigerator that can fit in a car. With the Uber Appliance Chill 2.0, your car-loving friend will have a way to keep lunch cool on the way to work or even a few beverages cold for those long weekend car shows. Best of all, there’s no need for a giant cooler full of ice that’s quick to melt in the Arizona heat.
Car Lovers’ Accessories
While car lovers can display their affinity for all things automotive while at home, the car show, or the races in the form of everything from clothing to the car itself, bringing that love of cars to work is a bit more complicated. Thankfully, fun car enthusiast gifts like printed car lovers’ mugs and vintage VW stickers allow the car lover in your life to bring a bit of fun to the job while remaining within the dress code. Find one cup for home and one for work to complete the ultimate car lovers’ gift set.
Superior Navigation
These days, turn by turn navigation is easier to get than ever, thanks to the rise in popularity of the smartphone. However, then you’re forced to find a place to mount your phone (hard to do in classic cars) and toggle between multiple applications at once while driving. Hands-free navigation can prove a great car lovers’ gift—especially this Garmin Speak Plus that comes complete with Alexa and a dashcam and mounts seamlessly on the windshield itself.
Car Key Finder Technology
If there’s one thing car enthusiasts share with the rest of us, it’s that constant, nagging, inability to locate car keys when you need them the most. Solve the problem for your favorite car lover with a Tile Mate Essentials Pack. This four-pack of Tile essentials includes the popular keyrings that can be tracked using a phone app or even send out an audible alert when lost. As a bonus, this pack contains different Tile devices for other technologies, wallets, phones, and more.
Cordless Tire Inflators
Car lovers know the risks of operating on a low tire; unfortunately, people tend to run low on air at the worst possible times or far from a convenient shop and air compressor. Fortunately, this Avid Power cordless air compressor features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and requires no external power source. Another great feature is its auto-stop sensor to prevent overfill.
Car Lovers’ LEGO Sets
The perfect car enthusiasts’ gifts for the car lover who’s young at heart, this LEGO Ford Mustang kit will capture the attention of the whole family. Just a bit more modern than a classic model car, but every bit as fun, there are LEGO car models in all makes and models depending on your car lover’s favorites and price range. If a Mustang isn’t their speed, opt for the Jeep or Porsche 911 instead.
Convenient Car Lovers’ Bags
With all this great car lovers’ gear, your loved one is going to need something to store it all in—whether on the way to work or school, at the race track, or a classic car show. Depending on which of the items you’ve chosen, a fun, graphic drawstring bag may work best. Alternatively, if your car lover often carries a large amount of gear on the go, a printed backpack complete with a padded compartment may be more suitable.
Gifts for Gear Heads Don’t Have to be Boring!
As this list of fun gifts for car lovers’ shows, practical automotive-related gifts don’t have to be boring. Similarly, many of the most fun gifts on the list also serve a useful purpose, showing that you aren’t forced to choose one or the other when shopping for your favorite automotive enthusiast. Best of all, the majority of the gifts on this list will remain useful no matter what upgrades your car lover decides to incorporate into their vehicle—and you may even find a few in our merch shop you’d like to purchase for yourself.
Here at Red Mountain Funding, we’ve built a lifelong love of automobiles that we like to share beyond our car financing and buying services. For more information about auto maintenance, purchasing, and car lifestyle topics of all kinds, visit our blog or contact us today.
Jenny has a passion for learning and sharing what she learns. She has researched, written and published hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics, including: SEO, design, marketing, ethics, business management, sustainability, inclusion, behavioral health, wellness, autos and work-life balance.
