Know a guy who really, really loves his car? Someone who spends hours detailing it and is always buying the latest auto gadgets and tools? We've got a few gifting ideas. From driving shoes to car coolers, here are some practical gifts for guys who love their cars.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
$151 and up from Amazon
There are sunglasses and then there are Ray-Bans. A gift of classic Wayfarer sunglasses will make your friend or loved one look cool no matter what kind of car they drive.
$36 from Amazon
What car buff wouldn't drool over this richly illustrated 360-page book detailing the 130-year history of the automobile? It features more than 2,000 car models in its pages.
$12 from Amazon
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Forget those old pencil tire-pressure gauges, which aren’t especially accurate. Electronic gauges with digital readouts are more precise and easier to read. Many sport a built-in LED light for easy viewing and some even come with carrying cases. This stocking stuffer is especially useful for a driver with an older car that lacks a built-in tire-pressure monitor — remember, properly inflating tires extends tread life and helps with gas mileage.
Related: The Hottest Tech Gifts This Holiday Season
$145 and up from Piloti
A comfortable pair of driving shoes can make your feet feel like a million bucks while you're behind the wheel (and make you look pretty sharp, too). Made in Portugal, Piloti makes driving shoes and loafers in styles that range from contemporary to classic.
$29 from Amazon
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Misplaced car keys have been a part of owning cars since cars were a thing. That all ends with Apple Airtags. Attach it to a leather key ring, so that the bluetooth enabled tiny little square can spare you from countless frustrating moments where you’re trying to get out the door but can’t find your keys.
Prices vary from Virgin Experience Gifts
Not everyone can afford a Lamborghini or Ferrari, but with the gift of a Virgin Experience, any car buff can experience the thrill of driving an exotic sports car like these. (You'll also find Porsches, Audi, Nissan GT-R and other models at venues across the country.)
Related: Memorable Experiences Worth Giving This Holiday Season
$37 from WeatherTech
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WeatherTech is famous for its custom, laser-fitted floor mats, but its CupFone phone holder might just be the best auto accessory the company makes. Designed to fit snugly into any cupholder, it keeps your phone below the windshield, off the dash, and free from dangling cords when charging — all without being pinned to the heating vent.
$280 and up from Amazon
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The best car coolers are the ones that aren’t dependent on the amount of ice you can cram in with all the stuff you’re trying to keep cold. This fast-cooling fridge from JoyTutus gets cold in 15 minutes and has thick insulation to keep it that way long after it’s unplugged. It can hold 24 bottles or 28 cans, and an included adapter lets you use it at home, at the campsite, or anywhere AC power flows.
Related: Gifts for RV Owners That'll Put 'Em on the Road in Style
$200 from Amazon
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When the car lovers in your life aren’t actually in their cars, they can build the Land Rover of their dreams thanks to the Lego Technic version of the British brand’s Defender model. Highly detailed and true to the source inspiration, the completed model is an homage to an off-road legend that became a status symbol.
$19 from Target
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Even for drivers without babies, a good organizer can prevent your back seat from turning into a rolling storage shed for tissues, receipts, snacks, hair brushes, and all the other clutter that makes messy cars messy. The Skip Hop Style Driven backseat organizer hangs over either of the front seats and provides pockets and holders to keep everything neat and easily accessible.
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$159 from Home Depot
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A staple of auto emergency kits for generations, jumper cables are great — provided the stranded driver encounters someone who can help, who is willing to help, and who isn’t a ghoul who would jump at the chance to prey on a vulnerable motorist. A good, reliable jump box, like this DeWalt best-seller from Home Depot, puts the power in the hands — and the trunk — of the person whose car won’t start. With 1,400 peak amps, this rechargeable jump box can also deliver compressed air.
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$27 from Amazon
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Owners say this little vac has plenty of power to suck up dirt, gravel, leaves, and whatever other debris finds its way into your vehicle. It plugs into your vehicle’s 12-volt outlet and comes with three attachments plus a carrying case to keep everything together when you stash it in the trunk.
$72 from Amazon
If dog is your copilot, reviewers say the Kurgo pet seat provides a safe, comfortable place for your pup to sit. Most owners rave about how much their dogs love being able to sit up and gaze out the window, but add that the seat may be too small for larger pets to lie down. Installation is fairly simple, and there's a clasp to secure a pet's leash to.
$22 from Amazon
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Auto lovers may not ordinarily treat themselves to high-end car waxes, (or wheel cleaners, tire dressings, and the like ...) but these practical maintenance supplies typically cost $5 to $20 at big-box or specialty retailers. Stick with premium brands such as Mothers or Meguair's.
Related: Show Some Brotherly Love with These Great Gifts for Brothers
$25 and up from Amazon
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For about twice the price of a standard outlet converter, you can get a device that turns your vehicle's 12-volt outlet into two USB charging ports while also purifying the car’s cabin with ionizing technology. This purifier not only conquers smells from grossness like food and pets, but it removes allergens, pollen, dust, and bacteria from the air — all without masking scents from traditional air fresheners.
Related: Gifts for Men Who Have Everything
$6 from Amazon
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Many competing brands sell phone chargers that draw power from the little 12-volt outlet in your vehicle. Few, however, have ratings of 4.7 on Amazon after nearly 28,000 reviews. This car charger adapter by Hussell has ports for two USB cords and stands out as one of the smallest options on the market. It promises charges at four times the usual speed — even when two devices are charging at once.
$28 from Target
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The tire pressure warning light is never a welcome sight on the highway, especially on road trips when an underinflated tire is calling for relief and the nearest gas station is miles away. A must-have item for any roadside kit, a highly rated tire inflator like the Slime 12-volt 40050 is powered by your vehicle and inflates sluggish tires on cars, SUVs, and light trucks for those times when help is not on the way.
$100 from Chemical Guys
Help your guy give his cars all the love and attention they deserve with this detailing kit. It includes six detailing products like leather conditioner and gloss-enhancing spray, plus plenty of microfiber applicators and towels.
$20 on Amazon
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“Why We Drive: Toward a Philosophy of the Open Road” is, according to Amazon, a “first-of-its-kind celebration of driving as a unique pathway of human freedom, one now critically threatened by automation.” An examination of humanity’s love affair with the automobile, it’s available for different prices as an ebook, audiobook, paperback, or hardcover.
Related: Clever and Creative Gifts for Book Lovers
$8 from Amazon
This unassuming-looking blob of slime might be one of the best sub-$10 purchases for anyone who's fanatical about making their detailing last. It gets into the nooks and crannies normally reserved for cotton swabs, but is much better at grabbing dirt and grime from fragile dust magnets, including fan vents. It's also great for cleaning delicate and hard-to-clean surfaces such as laptop keyboards.
$140 from Home Depot
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This 210-piece set from Stanley contains most of the hand tools an avid DIYer will need for repairs, modifications, and upgrades on a car while also coming in incredibly handy around the house. It includes a range of drive sockets and ratchets, hex keys, screwdrivers, wrenches and more, all crafted to meet or exceed ANSI standards and all backed by Stanley’s famous full lifetime warranty.
$19 and up from Amazon
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Winter means snow, slush, sleet, and ice, all of which can ugly up and devalue a vehicle’s carpeting. These FH Group heavy duty floor mats have tall outer ridges to trap whatever gets tracked in, they’re available in several colors to match a vehicle’s interior, and are custom fit to your car—just use the dropdown menus to enter your vehicle information. Since they’re made of rubber, they’re easy to clean.
Related: Useful Gifts for All the Practical People On Your List
$30 from Home Depot
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A roadside emergency kit like this Orion 60-piece package contains the basics needed to get through a bad situation if something goes wrong. The kit comes with jumper cables, first-aid, light sticks, flares, gloves, cloth, and a poncho and reflective vest for staying safe and dry while making roadside repairs. It’s all packed in a handy carrying case designed to fit in the trunk and is likely the only gift you hope never gets used.
$10 and up from Advance Auto Parts
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When all else fails, a gift card from a local auto parts store is a sure win. Gift cards acknowledge a love of cars while affording the giftee free reign over what to buy, relieving the gift giver from making tough choices. Car people know what their vehicles need, what maintenance is needed, and what brands they like. AutoZone, O’Reilly, and most other auto parts chains sell gift cards in various denominations, and many can be ordered online.
$90 from Amazon
For car enthusiasts who also own a PS5, this is the ultimate video game to make them feel like they're on the road even when they're not. Players can join a global community of race drivers to swap tips, strategies, photos — and, of course, to compete.
$37 and up from Etsy
Upgrade his car key situation with a gift of custom leather keychains, available in a set of two. Made from distressed leather, the keychains can be embossed with his initials, full name, dates, or even a meaningful phrase.
$57 from Amazon
Perfect for fall and winter car trips, these driving gloves are a fashionable addition to any car enthusiast's wardrobe. They're made with genuine leather, and are available in 10 different colors (we're partial to the cognac).