Learning to drive and getting behind the wheel for the first time is a memorable experience for most new drivers. It’s a major achievement and worth celebrating, and you want to make your car feel like it’s yours. These days there are upgrades and accessories for every type of driver, and new drivers are no different.
If you’ve just got your license, you’re working towards it, or you know someone who has just got their first vehicle, there are some must-have items for your motor. With that in mind, it can be tricky to know exactly what you need & want in your new car, and we wanted to help.
Below, we’ve listed some of our favorite accessories and gifts for first-time drivers. Some of these are important items that no driver should do without; some are less vital but just as useful. The team at Weekly Autos has all been driving for years now, and in my case, I have kids driving now, so we’ve got plenty of experience here.
Let’s get started!
Our Top 3 Gifts
For our top pick, the road safety beacons are a must-have for any driver and particularly useful for younger drivers. Used to help you stay safe in the event of an accident or breakdown, you should always have a set of these in your vehicle, and that’s why they get our top spot.
These beacons are missing some other safety features, and if you want a more extended pack (including flares and other tools) we have a couple of alternatives in the safety section further down this article. These are still a great addition to your car though, and the six-beacon set will help to keep any car or SUV visible in case of any emergencies.
- Wide compatibility
- Extending arm (from 5 to 8 inches)
Next up, almost every new driver will own a smartphone, and that’s a good and bad thing. Your smartphone is going to be invaluable with directions and contact, but at the same time, you need your phone hands-free for safety. Phone holders, like our favorite option here, will make tasks like navigation much safer and easier to manage.
There are a number of different phone holder styles, and we have a few runner-up choices later in this article. For our top pick though, the suction cup option allows you to mount this on any flat surface, and the adjustable arm makes it easy to see your phone from almost any angle.
- Great range of scents
- Lasts for up to 60 days
It doesn’t matter if your car is brand new or it’s done 100,000 miles, every driver wants a pleasant interior. A great air freshener can make the world of difference, especially on longer journeys with a car full of friends. There are plenty of options on the market, but our top pick here is the assorted set of freshener cans from California scents. They can fit into your cupholders or most other spaces in your car, and they last for up to 60 days!
There are a few other options for air fresheners we like, which you can find below. It was close, but these freshener cans came out as our favorite based on the wide selection of scents and their longevity.
Wireless Chargers
Where would we be without our smartphones? Even when driving our phone has become a vital accessory for navigation, music, and more. When you’re using your phone, especially on longer journeys, you can guarantee there is always someone who forgets their charger.
Especially for younger drivers, keeping your smartphone charged is a no-brainer. On modern cars there is usually a charging port, but if you have an older car or passengers, you might not have a charger available.
That’s why we always carry a spare charger, like the ones below. These are great in ’emergencies’ when everyone needs to charge their phone at the same time. It’s also a must-have accessory on cars without built-in chargers!
Our Wireless Charger Picks
- Incredibly fast charger
- Extended cable is helpful
- 30W charger for USB C
- 18W charger for USB A
- Includes two cables
Cup Holders
One of the problems with modern cars for the team here is the storage spaces – and this includes places for drinks. Looking back a few years I had a BMW 3 Series with pop-out cupholders. I used to think that was one of the best ‘mini-features I’ve seen on a car, and I wish I had one now. Fast forward to now, and my standard cupholders are almost useless.
Even in my previous Mercedes, the cupholders had springs to hold your drinks, but the space was way too small for large bottles. With that in mind, if you’re getting a car for the first time, a proper place for your drinks is a definite. This is especially helpful on long trips too. Having a secure cupholder makes things so much easier on most cars, and our favorite option is the expanding holder below – but we’ve seen a couple of other excellent designs if you want something a little different!
Our Cup Holder Picks
- It fits onto your car door easily
- Has space for cup handles
- Up to 44oz cup
- Extendable Base
- Includes Rubber Tabs To Secure
- Slides into any standard cup holder
- Easy to install and remove
Safety Kits
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been driving, there is always a risk of a breakdown or accident. Being prepared is a must, and I can remember the first time I broke down in my very first car. I had no kit and had to end up pushing it onto the side of the road and sitting in the dark for help to arrive. After that experience I’ve always carried safety kits in my cars, and that peace of mind is great.
There are plenty of different safety kits out there. For us, the warning beacons are a must-have, and I wouldn’t attempt a long journey without them. If you want even more kits we’ve found a couple of the best-selling safety packs here too, with everything from a high visibility vest to a glass breaker.
Our Car Safety Kit Picks
Phone Holders
Like it or not, almost every driver needs their phone for something on a journey. That might be navigating, music, or taking calls, and although most cars will let you connect wirelessly, older models don’t always have that feature. Even in my current car, which connects over Bluetooth, I still keep a phone holder in the car. It’s useful for Waze and helps on long trips.
For new drivers, if your first car is something a bit older, you’re probably not going to have a Bluetooth connection or anything like Apple CarPlay. Without that, you’ll need somewhere secure for your phone, and having one of these in your car will save you plenty of frustration.
Our Phone Holder Picks
- Enough strength to hold any smartphone
- Great adjustibility
- Wide compatibility
- Extending arm (from 5 to 8 inches)
- Great choice of colors
- Keeps your windshield free
Car Air Fresheners
Finally, arguably the most important part of a car – that new car smell. Keeping your car interior from smelling like a kitchen or a gym isn’t easy, especially if you’re spending a lot of time in it, so you’ll need some help. We’ve tried hundreds of air fresheners over the years, from hanging up those paper trees to electronic air diffusers. Overall though, you can’t beat something as simple as the scent packs you get from the likes of California Scents. It’s our go-to option, and they last for months.
If you don’t want a scent can, we would go with either a clip-on air freshener or just a simple spray bottle. They don’t last as long as the cans, but they’ll still keep your car smelling like new!
Our Air Freshener Picks
- The spray isn't overpowering
- Scent lasts for a few days
- Great range of scents
- Lasts for up to 60 days
- Extra pads allow you to choose scents
- Easy to attach to vents
Summary
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a first-time driver or you’ve just passed your test, there are too many choices out there. For us, everything from air fresheners to phone holders will be useful, but our top spot has to be a safety kit. Every driver needs one, and if you’re getting your first car, you never know when they might come in useful…
Thanks for reading!
If you want to find out more about car accessories and options, check out the below articles:
The Best SUVs For First-Time Drivers
Which Ford Models Have a Heated Steering Wheel?
The Most Expensive Audi Models
