Whether it’s a first car, an old car, or a brand new one, there are certain items that should always be kept in a vehicle. First and foremost are insurance and registration papers, of course. Then comes useful items like a receptacle for garbage, extra eyeglasses or sunglasses, tissues, the car’s manual for troubleshooting issues, and tools in case of emergency.
But there are also plenty of tech gadgets that would not only be useful to have in the car. but could be valuable devices in case of emergency as well. Some are nice-to-haves but others are musts to ensure a safe driving experience and the ability to contact emergency services if needed.
Portable Charging Bank
A portable charging bank is one of those underrated devices nowadays, since most smartphones boast improved batteries that last all day. But they can come in handy in case of emergency, especially if users look for the most important features in a portable charging bank. Drivers might need one in the car because a 12V adapter or charging cable doesn’t work, or there’s no power to the car after breaking down on the side of the road.
Whatever the case, it’s handy to have one that can hold a charge for a long period of time. Keep it in the glove compartment or center console to leverage whenever a phone is in the red and there’s no other source for charging on the go.
High-Tech Flashlight
High-tech flashlights come in all shapes and forms. Some double as phone chargers with USB charging ports. Some have multiple settings, including high beams, which can help if there’s an issue in the middle of the night.
For added reassurance, consider one that offers solar power or even crank charging like the Bosun SolarLight so there’s no need to rely on batteries or electrical charging for it to function. The last thing anyone needs is to be stuck in the car trying to change a tire in the dark with a flashlight that has dead batteries.
Jump Starter
While a jump starter typically requires a second car to give one a boost, there are higher-tech ones like the Worx 12V Multifunction Jump Starter, which can jump-start cars with gas-powered engines up to 4 liters as well as diesel car engines up to 3 liters. Each charge gives it the ability to provide up to 30 jump starts, and a battery status indicator will advise once it’s running low. It can work with other vehicles, too, like motorcycles, ATVs, lawn tractors, and marine batteries.
The neat device also doubles as a two-way charger for mobile devices, a work light, flashlight, and emergency light.
Durable USB Cable
Living in especially cold or particularly humid climates can do a number on cables, doubly so if they are left in the car 24/7. It’s a good idea to invest in an extra-rugged one that can withstand extreme temperatures as well as being twisted and pulled as everyone in the car uses it to fuel their mobile devices.
Belkin is one brand that has a wide range of durable charging cables for both Apple Lightning and USB-C devices, like the Boost Charge braided USB-C to USB-C cable, as well as microUSB for those with older-model phones. These usually have a braided design so they can’t get tangled and the housing won’t easily get ripped or frayed at the end. Search for the best iPhone charger cable for that device, or USB-C or microUSB for others.
12V Power Adapter
Originally known as the cigarette lighter adapter, most people now use these ports to pop in a 12V power adapter to charge up mobile devices in older-model cars. Newer-model cars usually have built-in USB ports, but the cigarette lighter adapter is perfectly positioned and can serve as another valuable port for charging.
Grab one with at least two USB ports to plug in two devices at once, like the Scosche PowerVolt PD60, to fuel both the driver’s and passenger’s phones. Some models even have a built-in cable so users don’t need to get one separately.
Solar Powered Charger
Along with a portable charger, a solar-powered charger is a useful device to keep in the trunk of the car. Once it gets exposed to the sun, it will slowly gain a charge. It won’t be as quick as electrically powered chargers, but it could be a lifesaver by providing enough power to give a dead phone a quick charge to contact emergency services or a loved one.
Goal Zero has tons of great solar-powered chargers, including the Venture 35 + Nomad 10 Solar Kit, a small solar-powered mat and charger that has a USB port, 8mm cord, and folds away nicely to tuck in the trunk.
Bluetooth Tracker
Bluetooth trackers like the Tile, Chipolo, and Apple AirTag are often touted as great for keeping on a backpack, gym bag, camera strap, or keychain. There are many items to keep tabs on using a Bluetooth tracker, including a car.
While a tracker is easily disabled by being turned off or even disposed of should a thief snatch a vehicle, it’s also easy to hide so the person doesn’t even know it’s there. Place it somewhere where a Bluetooth signal can still be reached, and using the crowdsourced group of other users around the world, it might be able to pinpoint the location of a lost or stolen vehicle.
Cellular Signal Booster
Cellular signal boosters can help strengthen a cellular signal in a rural area or known “dead zone” for wireless cellular service. There are boosters designed specifically for the car, like the SureCall Fusion 2Go 3.0, which includes an antenna that can receive a signal from any direction from the top of the car and transmit it to the vehicle to provide more precious bars.
This can help provide a GPS location, and ensure an important call isn’t dropped and messages are properly received.
Amazon Echo Auto
Get hands-free Alexa voice control in the car using the Amazon Echo Auto, which connects to the car’s built-in speakers. It has eight microphones and far-field technology so it can hear commands, even with loud music, air conditioning or heat running, or even loud road noises, like construction en route.
Once connected to the car and a phone, drivers can stream content like eBooks from Audible, music from Amazon Music and other services, hear news updates, make calls, or even add appointments or items to a to-do or grocery list before they are forgotten.
Phone Mount
If the car does not have a dashboard screen that can display things like step-by-step navigation directions, a phone mount will come in handy. Ideally, get one that doubles as a wireless charger for wireless charging-compatible phones to kill two birds with one stone, like the iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2. It’s a good idea to grab one of the best wireless chargers for iPhone to use at home, too.
Mount the phone, then use apps like Waze for turn-by-turn directions to a destination. Use voice assistants as well to answer or make calls, read messages safely aloud, or play videos for the passenger. Find one that secures the phone tightly and that nicely mounts to the dash using a suction mount or to the vent using a sturdy clip. Ideally, the phone will be able to rotate from portrait to landscape mode to display the desired orientation.
