Want to make your summer drives better? Try this tech

I don’t know about you, but I find that I do most of my road trips and long drives during the summer. However, any good road trip needs the right gear, so we’ve compiled a list of useful car gadgets to improve any long drive.

Whether you need to work on the go or want to upgrade your car’s infotainment, there are some options here for everyone.

A dashcam*

If you want to record your drives or just need extra insurance while on the road, the Botslab G980H Dual Dash Cam is a solid choice. It has a 4K camera in the front and a 2K one in the back, so you’re covered from both angles. 

This version also has a computer vision system that will warn you of pedestrians and other hazards on the road or behind you in parking lots.

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A good car charger

Everyone needs to keep their phone topped up on the go, and sitting in a car is a great place to do it. While most modern cars have a few USB ports built-in, it’s always a good idea to have an extra plug just in case you drive more people than usual.

We’ve selected this simple two-port USB-C design to supply up to 30 watts of power. While it’s not enough for anything larger than a MacBook Air or a tablet, it’s small and can charge two phones or a phone and a tablet at the same time, and I think that’s likely enough to cover all your bases. In a pinch, it would charge a larger computer, but you might have to leave it closed, and it might be slow. If you need something with more power, check out this option

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Wireless adapter for CarPlay/Android Auto

If your car is new enough to have CarPlay/Android Auto, but not new enough to support the wireless version, you can buy adapters to make your system wireless.

There is a wide variety of these, and some even support both Android and iOS. The one we’ve chosen for this list supports both and has a USB-A plug built-in, which I think will work the best with the types of cars made pre-wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, since they’re more likely to have USB-A. This unit also comes with an adapter to use it with a USB-C port as well.

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A power washer

Okay, so this one isn’t super technical, but it is a gadget that every car owner can use. Plus, at this price, it will pay for itself over time since you won’t need to make any more trips to the car wash.

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MagSafe phone mount

MagSafe is great for a lot of things, but using it in your car to hold your phone up like a GPS is one of the best use cases. It makes it easy to grab your phone when you want to get out of the car and just as easy to put it back in the next time you need to go somewhere. If you have an Android phone, you can always get a case that supports the magnetic attachment standard. There are also simpler mounts that clamp onto your phone.

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A laptop bench for working in the car

If you travel a lot for work and need to get a bit of work done in your car, these laptop benches that attach to the steering wheel can help. Obviously, these aren’t for when you’re moving, but when you park and need to work, this turns your car into an office. This is also a good option for anyone with an EV who spends a lot of time at charging stations.

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Portable air compressor

Whether your car is old or new, being able to pump up your tires on the go is a great option, and the portability of small air compressors nowadays makes them super easy to keep in your trunk for emergencies. The model we’ve attached to this list even has a flashlight and a seat belt cutter to help with other car emergencies.

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Seat gap fillers

This probably isn’t needed with all cars, but if you find yourself constantly dropping your phone down the side of your seat, these devices will stuff the gap to make sure it’s easier to retrieve.

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Laser-guided garage parking assist

If you’re having trouble mastering parking in your overfilled garage, or have some teens learning to drive, this little device can help. It mounts to the ceiling, and then you can aim two lasers at the ideal parking spot to help make sure you line up your car every time.

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*Denotes paid partnership.