One of the very first car accessories was a simple red flag. This was thanks to a law that required that every car had to be preceded by someone walking at least 60 yards ahead holding the red flag as a warning to other road users. Most of these other road users were still using a horse and carriage at this point.
Things have changed a lot since those days. Each year, new accessories and gadgets for your car appear on the market, taking advantage of the latest technological developments.
What are the coolest car accessories in 2020? Which are the latest tech innovations you should check out?
Read on as we look at 10 of the Coolest Car Accessories and Gadgets of 2020.
Table of Contents
1. Heads Up Display
We now have access to huge amounts of information whilst we’re driving. You can access maps for navigation, see how far you can go on your remaining fuel, and even see phone notifications.
The trouble is, to access this information, you need to take your focus off the road, where it belongs. That’s where a heads up display can help.
These gadgets allow you to project the information from a smartphone onto your windshield so that it’s in your field of view as you drive. It means you don’t have to take your eyes off the road for an instant to follow directions or see notifications.
2. Smart Car Charger
On a long journey, it’s useful to be able to keep your phone charged. An in-car charger is great, but it’s hardly a new innovation.
Step forward the smart car charger. You can now get USB chargers that have voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa built-in. That means as well as charging your phone, you can also ask for the local weather, order some shopping, or get directions.
3. BlueTooth Tire Pressure Guage
For safe driving, it’s important that your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. In reality, many of us don’t check them as often as we should.
BlueTooth tire pressure gauges are clever gadgets that fit onto the valves of your tires and constantly monitor the pressure. This information is fed back to the unit you can keep in your car and it will inform you when your tire pressure gets too high or too low.
The beauty is that the main unit is solar-powered, so you don’t even need to access power.
4. Remote Start Systems
Having heated seats is one of life’s little luxuries. The only issue is that they take time to warm up and so does your engine.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to start your car from your phone, and step into a warm car that’s ready to drive? That’s what remote start is for. Have the system installed and you can start your car with just the tap of a button.
How does remote start work? You can learn more here.
5. In-Car Espresso Maker
If you’re on the road for a long time, sometimes you need a little pick-me-up. Unfortunately, the nearest Starbucks may still be miles away.
Don’t worry; quality espresso is at hand thanks to an in-car espresso maker. This gadget plugs into your power socket and can make a delicious cup of joe in a matter of minutes. You can use ground coffee or pods too.
6. Cell Phone Signal Booster
When you’re traveling down that lonesome highway, you may not have that many cell towers nearby. That means that your signal will be weak.
If it’s important to stay contactable, then a cell phone signal booster is just the ticket. This handy gadget will boost your cell phone reception significantly, allowing you to get a good signal even in the weakest spots.
7. Reversing Camera
Parking your car is an acquired skill. If you’re not that confident, a reversing camera can be a huge help.
These cameras give you a clear view of what’s behind you, allowing you to park safely without fear of damaging your car, or someone else’s. They’re a step up from parking sensors as you can see exactly what is going on, rather than relying on a series of annoying beeps.
8. Apple CarPlay or Android Auto System
We use our phones for almost everything these days, so it would be great if we could access more of their features on the go.
With Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, you can. These systems can be installed in place of your sound system in your car, and allow you to access apps on your phone straight from the dashboard. That means you no longer have to try to stick your phone to the windshield to access your favorite navigation app.
You also get access to all the music on your phone too, to help the journey sail by.
9. Smart Rearview Mirror
Rearview mirrors have been used on cars for decades without any real improvements. Until now.
Smart rearview mirrors use cameras to show you a much wider angled of the view behind your car. With a standard rearview mirror, you mostly get to the see the inside of your car, with a restricted view through the rear window.
Smart rearview mirrors allow you to just see the road itself, rather than the back seats. They reduce the risk of blind spots and make driving safer.
10. Radar Detector
We’ve all crept above the speed limit occasionally, sometimes unintentionally.
It doesn’t matter if you meant it or not, if you get caught by a radar then you’re in trouble. Radar detectors are handy pieces of tech that can detect radars before you pass them. With prior warning, you can ensure that you’re traveling within the speed limit by the time the radar picks up your car.
You’ll never have to worry about speeding tickets again.
Keep up With the Coolest Car Accessories
The coolest car accessories are constantly changing as new tech is introduced and new gadgets become popular.
If you want to keep up with all the latest technology from auto gadgets to apps and financing to phones then be sure to bookmark our site and check back regularly.