These 10+ car gadgets upgrade your daily commute for cheap
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Tech Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. 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Written by Kayla Solino, EditorEditor Aug. 24, 2026 at 3:00 a.m. PT Lisen Retractable Car Charger | for $17 (save $3) Lisen Retractable Car Charger for $17 (save $3) View now View at Amazon Scosche MagicMount Charge Pro | for $31 Scosche MagicMount Charge Pro for $31 View now View at Amazon Car Seat Headrest Hooks 4-Pack | for $7 (save $4) Car Seat Headrest Hooks 4-Pack for $7 (save $4) View now View at Amazon Pioneer Qi2 Charger Mount | for $55 (save $10) Pioneer Qi2 Charger Mount for $55 (save $10) View now View at Amazon Lamicall Car Vent Phone Mount | for $9 (save $4) Lamicall Car Vent Phone Mount for $9 (save $4) View now View at Amazon Pioneer 20W Dual Port USB-C Car Charger | for $22 (save $4) Pioneer 20W Dual Port USB-C Car Charger for $22 (save $4) View now View at Amazon Hulkman Alpha Jump Starter | for $80 Hulkman Alpha Jump Starter for $80 View now View at Amazon ESR HaloLock Dashboard Phone Mount | for $30 (save $5) ESR HaloLock Dashboard Phone Mount for $30 (save $5) View now View at Amazon AAWireless Two Plus | for $75 AAWireless Two Plus for $75 View now View at Amazon She's Birdie Personal Safety Alarm | for $30 She's Birdie Personal Safety Alarm for $30 View now View at Amazon Statik Tire Hero Inflator | for $70 Statik Tire Hero Inflator for $70 View now View at Amazon Nomad ChargeKey V2 | for $35 Nomad ChargeKey V2 for $35 View now View at Nomad Goods Show more (7 items) Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.Any time is a good time to score practical purchases that will make your life easier. And if you've got a road trip planned soon, it's a great moment to consider outfitting your car with some new gadgets to upgrade your driving experience. Also: One of these 13 gadgets could be the hero your junk drawer needs (here's why)From chargers to headrest hooks to emergency gear like jump starters and tire inflators, there's a lot to consider for your ride. Experts at ZDNET, including our in-house gadgeteer Adrian Kingsley-Hughes and me, have tested more than a few of these car gadgets. These are some of our favorite car tech devices you can shop right now -- many of which are on sale.The best car gadgets you can get for cheap Lisen Retractable Car Charger for $17 (save $3) Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET ZDNET writer Cesar Cadenas recommends this retractable car charger from Lisen. It's a 4-in-1 charging hub that makes powering devices in your vehicle much easier. It plugs into your car's cigarette lighter socket and includes a built-in USB-C cable, a Lightning cable, a USB-C port, and a USB-A port. The two cables extend up to 31.5 inches, making it easy for back-seat passengers to charge their devices.Also: I highly recommend this car charger for quick charging on the go - and it's cheap Show more View now at Amazon Scosche MagicMount Charge Pro for $31 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET Car mounts with built-in chargers are popular for stability and comfort when driving. ZDNET gadgeteer Adrian Kingsley-Hughes likes this one from Scosche. He says it's "rock solid and delivers on its promise of fast charging."Also: I finally found a MagSafe car charger that handles bumpy roads Show more View now at Amazon Car Seat Headrest Hooks 4-Pack for $7 (save $4) Kayla Solino/ZDNET These car hooks slip between your headrest and the top of the seat, adding a place to store purses, bags, and other incidentals from the back of the seat. This multipack from Amazon comes in over a dozen colors to match your interior or provide a pop of color, and I love having them in my car for my handbag. Plus, they're less than $10. Show more View now at Amazon Pioneer Qi2 Charger Mount for $55 (save $10) Kayla Solino/ZDNET This MagSafe compatible phone mount clips into your air vent or mounts to your car. It features a cooling fan, a built-in Qi2 charger, illumination, and more. It's great for charging your phone on the go while keeping your device hands-free. It also doubles as a mount to keep your phone stable while following directions or maps. Plus, the wireless car charger supports both iPhone and Android Qi‑enabled smartphones, and includes a metal ring to enable secure mounting and charging for non‑MagSafe devices and cases, too. Show more View now at Amazon Lamicall Car Vent Phone Mount for $9 (save $4) Kayla Solino/ZDNET If you don't want a car charger for your device but still want an easy and affordable way to mount it for long trips or hands-free travel, this clip from Lamicall has been a steady presence in my car for over 5 years. It's no-fuss and no-frills, but it's reliable and useful. Show more View now at Amazon Pioneer 20W Dual Port USB-C Car Charger for $22 (save $4) Kayla Solino/ZDNET Even with a MagSafe charger in my car, I still like to keep a charger for my cigarette adapter on hand. This one from Pioneer works with iPhone and Android, and it offers a USB-C and USB-A port for a dual-port experience. This is also a great option to plug in MagSafe charging mounts or other accessories if you don't have enough USB-C ports in your vehicle (or don't have any at all depending on your model car). Show more View now at Amazon Hulkman Alpha Jump Starter for $80 Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET A jump starter is an emergency essential that's always good to have on hand. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested this one from Hulkman, and was impressed. "This Hulkman Alpha went above and beyond, jumpstarting a car with a dead battery multiple times on my journey across England," he says. Also: My old car just survived a 500-mile cross-country road trip - I have this gadget to thank for that Show more View now at Amazon ESR HaloLock Dashboard Phone Mount for $30 (save $5) Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET If you're eyeing a car mount that's a bit cheaper, expert Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is also fond of ESR's HaloLock MagSafe charger, which is often available on sale. Also: I finally found the ultimate car charger for my iPhone Show more View now at Amazon AAWireless Two Plus for $75 Kerry Wan/ZDNET The AAWireless Two Plus enables wireless Android Auto and CarPlay connectivity, with a multifunctional button designed for quick pairing and switching between Android and iPhone devices. Editor-in-Chief Kerry Wan says the gadget delivers the best wireless Android Auto experience yet. Also: My favorite Android Auto wireless adapter just got its biggest upgrade ever - and iOS users will love it Show more View now at Amazon She's Birdie Personal Safety Alarm for $30 Christina Darby/ZDNET This gadget is more for your car keys than your actual car. The She's Birdie is a personal safety alarm with a wildly loud siren built-in. I've carried this on my keychain for almost 7 years, and it's a great investment for college students, parents with small children, older adults, and more, but for less than $30, I recommend everyone scoop one up. When the top pin of the Birdie is pulled out, a 130db siren sounds and a strobe light flashes for up to 40 minutes. To put that in perspective, a 130db sound is equivalent to a jackhammer and nearly equal to the sound of a jet engine in the distance, according to the Hearing Health Foundation. Also: My favorite personal safety alarm is as loud as a jackhammer Show more View now at Amazon Statik Tire Hero Inflator for $70 Kayla Solino/ZDNET Statik's Tire Hero air compressor does more than just fill your tires, making it the ultimate emergency accessory to keep in your car. I appreciate the added features, like the flashlight and portable charger, and am fairly satisfied with its performance. I don't think this is necessarily the answer to all PSI problems, but it's an efficient tool in any roadside emergency kit. Also: Going on a road trip? This multi-functional car charger has saved me so many times Show more View now at Amazon Nomad ChargeKey V2 for $35 Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET Nomad's Chargekey makes it easy to keep a way to power up on your keychain. The dual USB-C ends are compatible with plenty of devices, including the latest iPhones. Also: This $30 keychain accessory is way more useful than half the gadgets I tested last year Show more View now at Nomad Goods Featured reviews Framework's new Pro modular laptop is everything I wanted (minus the cost of memory) The best TVs of 2026: Expert tested and recommended After one week wearing the Pixel Watch 5, here's what I want most The Pixel Tag is Google's $29 AirTag alternative - with one big advantage Framework's new Pro modular laptop is everything I wanted (minus the cost of memory) The best TVs of 2026: Expert tested and recommended After one week wearing the Pixel Watch 5, here's what I want most The Pixel Tag is Google's $29 AirTag alternative - with one big advantage Editorial standards Show Comments Log In to Comment Community Guidelines Related I ditched T-Mobile for Mint after 10 years of service - now I'm saving $120/month Apple's smart home springs a leak - here's everything we expect to see in September 7 simple gadgets that can make your home smarter for under $100