Shopping for the loved ones in your life is hard under normal circumstances, but trying to shop for a car enthusiast can be all the more challenging. Car guys are known to be a bit picky about what they put in or onto their beloved cars, so if you’re looking to cross them off your shopping list, make sure you do a little bit of research first. There are gifts at all price points to fit your budget.

Below is a list of the Top 10 gift ideas to rev up your car guy’s heart.

Stupid Car Tray

Stupidcartray.com
$29.95-$34.95

Taking care of his baby includes keeping it clean inside and out. Do you know a car guy looking for convenience, cleanliness, and coolness? Look no further, because the Stupid Car Tray is what he needs. Its innovative and versatile design levels your passenger seat to hold food, laptop and more. With straps included that keep the items where they are placed, never again will your car guy’s pizza arrive home with cheese sliding off one end - and his laptop bag will stay put when he has to stop short in traffic.

Homemade Gift Certificates for Car Cleaning

Priceless

On a tight budget or the kids want to “do-it-themselves”? A handmade car cleaning gift certificate is just the ticket. Though most car enthusiasts may be hesitant to let their 5-year-old wash (and risk scratching) their exterior finish, they would be thrilled to get a gift certificate for hosing down the floor mats or dust busting the back seat. Regardless, this is one of those gifts your sentimental guy may keep long past the time he’s traded in his ride for a new model.

PetSafe Happy Ride Front Seat Mesh Dog Barrier

Chewy.com
under $25

Sometimes a man's best friend is also a driver’s worst nightmare. If your car guy has an excitable pup in his life who’s not exactly shotgun material, then the PetSafe dog barrier will make their day. The mesh construction lets furry friends keep an eye on their owner safely from the backseat while allowing drivers an unobstructed view of the back mirror. It’s easy to install or collapse and remove for occasions when the pooch is no longer a passenger.

Justin Case Commuter Car Emergency Kit

Amazon.com
under $30

The only thing worse than car trouble is being unprepared to deal with car trouble. If you want to show your car guy that you care, then a car emergency kit is the way to go. The kit includes all of the emergency essentials - booster cables, a first aid kit, flashlight, rain poncho, and gloves - but the real bargain is the 365 days of roadside assistance. The Justin Case kit garnered rave reviews across multiple sales platforms, so you can be confident purchasing an important product you know will actually work.

50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do

Barnesandnoble.com
$22.45

Every road trip warrior could use a little gas to fuel their wanderlust. This gorgeously illustrated book from National Geographic highlights notable travel experiences in every state, and each entry offers detailed travel information alongside interesting facts about locations across the U.S. and Canada. Sites include national parks, beaches, hotels, Civil War battlefields, dude ranches, out-of-the-way museums, and more.

Brush Hero Car Wheel Brush

Amazon.com
$29.99

Know a car guy with a sharp eye for grime? The Brush Hero car wheel brush is a multi-functional tool that will keep your guy’s car (and patio furniture, BBQ, grills - even pets) sparkling without scratching its surface. The brush is designed to rotate with continuous strength to provide the perfect balance of power throughout the entire brush head, allowing users to clean tough surfaces with ease. It can fit into a ½ inch crevice and is ideally suited for hard-to-reach places.

Craftsman 450-Piece Mechanic's Tool Set

Sears.com
approx. $300

Most car owners will have to spend at least some time under the hood, so you might as well make sure they have fun doing it with all the right tools. This Craftsman 450-piece tool set comes fully equipped with the gadgets needed for projects both big and small. Another perk is that the set comes in a variety of sizes and measurements so that your car guy can always have whatever tool they need on hand.

ThisWorx Portable Car Vacuum Cleaner

Amazon.com
under $40

A car guy’s car is his castle, and yours probably wants to keep his shining like the halls of Versailles. A portable car vacuum cleaner is a quick and convenient way to stave off crumbs, dust and dirt. It comes with multiple attachments for all the hard to reach places inside a car, and even includes a 16ft power cord that connects to the vehicle’s lighter port, meaning you’ll never have to worry about it dying in the middle of a deep clean.

Tile Pro Bluetooth Tracker

Thetileapp.com
under $35

The Tile Pro Bluetooth tracker will ensure that a car owner is never without their keys. The way this cool little tool works is by using Bluetooth technology to track down lost items within a 400-foot range. When out of range, Tile users can rely on the Tile community at large to help locate a lost item. It’s a lifesaver for anyone who sets their keys down one minute and loses them the next.

Race Car Driving Lessons

A variety of sources: $2500+

Buried deep within every car enthusiast is a race car driver waiting for his chance to put the pedal to the metal. For an extravagant, once in a lifetime experience, give him a training package at one of the many race car driving schools around the country. Guaranteed to drive his excitement level from zero to 60 in less than 3 seconds.

The thought really does count

Regardless of which gift you give your car guy, showing him you thought about his interests will let him know how valuable he is to you. So enjoy the shopping and wish him happy travels from us.


Planning to take that car on a road trip? Check out this road trip essentials checklist. And don’t forget a Stupid Car Tray to make the ride a little more organized.