Best car accessories 2024: car tech you never knew you needed

This isn’t going to be a list of Pimp My Ride-worthy supersonic sound systems, hot tubs in the back of the truck, aquariums, or even chandeliers, but a practical list of all the car accessories that may actually improve your driving experience.

From the best dash cams that will prove your innocence in an accident to wireless Bluetooth transmitters for car sound systems that predate smartphone connectivity, the car accessory market is certainly a variable one.

We've also got the best sat nav and the best car phone holder, for those really looking to upgrade their car cabin.

But before we get into the cool gadgetry, there’s one necessary item that clinches the top spot. Dog hair, crisp crumbs, mud, hairpins and the odd penny coin; by the end of the month, your car probably looks like a detritus dumping ground. That means the clever and convenient Dyson V6 Car & Boat is a no-brainer when it comes to ‘need to buy’ car accessories.

The others? We’ll leave the ‘need to buy’ decision up to you – they are all pretty cool, though.

Best car accessories you can buy

The AA Wireless Dongle for Android Auto is a really handy bit of kit that allows you to enjoy everything that Android Auto has to offer, but without the cables. It's tiny and very unobtrusive, but the best bit is the ease of setup and installation. 

Simply download the supporting app and plug in once, so you can configure it. Follow the steps and it'll be up and running in minutes, with no further need to connect your phone using a cable thanks to the way the device sets up its own Wi-Fi connection.

While the AA Wireless Dongle for Android Auto works with most car brands and head units, it is worth going to their website where you can check compatibility. The same goes for phones, because while it'll work with most, there are exceptions. Most notably, the AA Wireless Dongle for Android Auto will not work with Huawei handsets.

Carly is a cool new car tech device that’s already going down a storm in Europe and the US. Boasting over two million users so far, Carly is a gadget for carrying out diagnostic checks for faults with your car. It plugs into the ODB II port in cars manufactured from 200 onwards. Clicking it into the ODB II port is easy enough and this is usually located somewhere below the dash. In short, it lets you get to the bottom of faults.

The device itself is small and fairly innocuous to look at, but the potential it offers for getting to the root of head-scratching car faults is hugely appealing. This is normally the sole preserve of mechanics and their laptops, so the Carly is a real boon for anyone who’d prefer to dodge expensive garage bills.

Carly comes with a supporting app, which means that you can get the lowdown on any technical issues as well as viewing live and historical data about your car’s health. There are a few package variants too, with the scanner only and free app needing only a one-time purchase with the option to upgrade to a pain annual subscription through the app.

Alternatively, head for the Premium Package, which is a single brand annual subscription that comes with the scanner. If you upgrade to Carly’s All Brands package, this gives you diagnostic access to all makes of vehicle. There’s a Smart Mechanic option too, with lets owners tap into decades of automotive technical expertise.

There’s nothing more annoying than trying to explain to the insurance company that the accident wasn’t your fault, no matter what kind of tangled web of lies the third party is trying to weave. Well now, the proof is in the camera. 

Recording in 4K quality, this smart dash cam allows you to record and easily transfer footage from the device to your phone or home PC. It uses a magnetic pad to secure itself to the dashboard and it tracks your GPS and speed to ensure everything's fair and square whenever you happen to have an accident.  

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While the bloke from Britain’s Got Talent may have enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame (can’t remember ‘where me keys, where me phone’? Look it up on Youtube, it’ll blow your mind), we know only too well the frustration of actually misplacing them. 

This handy gadget attaches to your keys; you can ring it from your phone or consult the app to see when they were last seen. You can also press the button on the Tile Mate itself and it’ll ring your phone… and it’ll even make a noise on silent mode – handy, eh?  

The Divi USB charger is one of the most compact car chargers on the market, with a slimline design, which sits almost flush with the edge of the outlet. It'll allow you to simultaneously charge two devices at full speed with 2.4A in each USB port. 

The aluminium case looks more premium than the plastic options on the market, and the scratch resistance technology keeps it looking like new. The Divi charger has a number of safety guarantees, and comes with a 12 month manufacturer warranty.

Add Bluetooth to your car audio system with Firefly, the world's tiniest music receiver. Firefly allows you to stream music from your smartphone to any device with an AUX input.

Just plug Firefly into your audio system and a USB power source, and pair it with your smartphone. Once paired, Firefly will remember your device and auto-connect whenever you're close by.

• Best Bluetooth transmitter

The Noco Boost Plus Jump Starter has been cleverly designed in the US, so it boasts plenty of clever features that help to add value. You can recharge smartphones, tablets and, indeed, any other device with a USB port, which makes it doubly useful. Equally, the Noco Boost can be recharged via USB too, thanks to a combination of ports on the body of the unit.

You also get a built-in 100 lumens LED flashlight, which is an integral part of the jump starter body. That’s going to be a real bonus if you’re ever stuck by the edge of the highway in an emergency situation. You’re even able to set it to strobe or flash in an SOS manner if need be. A really nice touch. 

The Fanttik X8 Apex air inflator is one of those invaluable gadgets that's really worth keeping in the car. A slow puncture can happen at any time and this little beauty is just the thing to get you on the road again. It's wonderfully small, but there's a sizeable digital display that tells you everything you need to know in terms of setting pressures.

You also get the benefit of an internal battery, which in our experience seems to have a reassuringly long life before you need to recharge it. A USB power port is handy if your phone dies too, while there's an LED light built in if you're stranded after dark. Granted, it's pricer than many footpumps, but the quality is obvious. Better still, it makes light work of inflating things, from car and bike tyres through to small boats and inflatable kids toys.

When the radio jingles literally make you want to blow a gasket, hook up your phone to this transmitter and play your own tunes through your car stereo. With an in-built microphone, echo cancellation and noise suppression, this transmitter handily doubles up as a hands-free calling device and triples up as a charger. 

Plugging right into your cigarette lighter socket, this transmitter is easy to use and, according to people who’ve already bought it, provides oodles of performance qualities, too.  

If you've just got a new car, or are looking to update your old model, you'd be surprised how effective a thorough clean is. If you're looking for a total clean, you can't go wrong with Autoglym's Supreme Car Care Collection.

The kit contains everything you need to get your car sparkling again, including bodywork shampoo, super resin polish, extra gloss protection, clean wheels, instant tyre dressing, alloy wheel seal, interior shampoo, car glass polish, vinyl and rubber care. There's also everything needed to apply and buff off the products including a sponge, hi-tech finishing cloth, and finally, an aqua dry cloth.

• Best car polish and car wax: refresh and protect tired paintwork

If you’re on the go for work, taking phone calls every five minutes while browsing online spreadsheets can take its toll on your battery, so if you’re driving in between clients, it’s a great time to give your phone a boost of charge. 

This Scosche USB charger is small and fits neatly into your cigarette lighter socket. It works with all smart phones and devices, and there’s two ports so you can charge up your tablet and your phone at the same time.  

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Combining Dyson’s powerful cyclone technology with accessories specifically designed to clean your car, this one is a no-brainer if you’re always cursing at stray dog hair and crumbs in the back seat. 

From the crevice tool to the mini motorised tool for picking up dog hair, this small and light hoover is versatile and offers up to 20 minutes of charge, so you can quickly clean your car without forking out any extra at the local hand car wash. 

Check our Dyson discount codes to bag the best deal.

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The AA Emergency Winter Car Kit is essential if you want to be prepared for winter conditions and comes in a handy storage bag to stow easily in the boot of your car. The folding shovel is compact but strong enough to tackle thick snow and the snow snow and ice grips will ensure you remain sturdy on your feet in wintry conditions. 

A Hi-Vis jacket ensures other motorists can see you and a handy torch to help you see and be seen on those cold dark nights. Also included is a foil blanket to keep in body heat should you need to wait for a breakdown rescue. This kit also includes a rain ponchos plus a set of fully insulated booster cables in case of emergencies.

This first aid kit from AA is ideal for road trips, camping or caravanning. Everything is contained within an easy-to-carry storage pouch, and you know it's a quality product, from the AA.

The extensive kit contains: wound dressings, triangular badges, first aid dressings, first aid compress, bandages, an emergency blanket, adhesive plasters, a pair of scissors, adhesive tape, and instructions on how to use everything.

• Chris Digital Assistant review

Chris is a digital assistant, like Amazon's Alexa, for drivers. The smart hardware supports you like a real co-driver, giving you directions, reading messages, controlling music, and accepting calls.

Chris is attached to the windscreen like a sat nav and paired with the mobile phone via Bluetooth, and best of all, Chris also works offline, without any internet connection.

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